The unwanted near-30 year first Celtic will be desperate to avoid when facing Rangers this weekend

It is exceedingly rare but not entirely unknown for Celtic to fail to score in consecutive games. As has been the case with their past two outings.

It is a different story when it comes to Celtic drawing blanks in three straight matches, though. It is more than 16 years since that occurred…and then in very different circumstances to the situation Brendan Rodgers’ men find themselves as they head to Ibrox on Sunday for their first derby meeting with Rangers this season.

In March 2007, Celtic were cantering towards the title. Their focus then moved to the bid to become the first Scottish club to reach the last eight of the Champions League. A quest Gordon Strachan’s men narrowly failed in at no less than the San Siro. Wherein their admirable resistance was ended by AC Milan striker Kaka who netted in the third minute of extra-time in the return leg to settle the issue. Their defensive stoutness reflected in the fact that this 30 minute period was required to produce a first goal across their two last 16 skirmishes against what would prove to be the eventual winners of the competition. After that 1-0 reverse, the hangover led to them suffering defeats by the same scoreline at home to Rangers and away to Falkirk in their following outings.

The last time Celtic did not score in three successive domestic encounters – and three 90-minute contests – was way back in October 1994. Then the league struggles of Tommy Burns’ team as they were forced to decamp to Hampden for a season to allow for their stadium to be fully redeveloped were exemplified by a 0-0 home draw to Aberdeen giving way to losing 1-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle and then 2-0 away to Falkirk. Certain excuses then could be made for Celtic failing to produce a goal across 270 minutes of football almost 29 years ago. Rodgers’ side will be afforded none if they cannot prevent that happening again come this weekend.