Scotland have reached now or never time in our Euro 2020 qualification group.
The Kazakhstan defeat has left us playing catch-up and in need of a couple of big results to drag ourselves back into the hunt for the top two spots.
Belgium will win the group and beating Russia at home is a must if we want to catch them.
So that’s three points needed on Friday night at Hampden and maybe even a point on Monday against the Belgians.
Perhaps this is when we’re at our strongest.
We’ve slipped up and have probably been written off by the top two nations in the group.
Steve Clarke will now have a good idea of the players who can fit into the system he wants to adopt and the players will have a good idea of how he wants them to play.
Even if we end up going into the play-offs, it wouldn’t be great for confidence for our group to be finished by the halfway stage.
* It’s the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup for us at the weekend.
Dick Campbell wouldn’t want to lose a friendly, never mind a competitive cup game, so Arbroath will be giving the competition full respect when we face United at Tannadice.
We’re looking to build on a great result against Dunfermline last weekend.
That being said, it says everything about the progress we’ve made in the last couple of seasons that the gaffer can contemplate making a few changes to have a look at some boys who haven’t had as much game-time.
The Arbroath fans have been spoiled and long may it continue.
* Who knows what the result would have been in the Dundee derby had Danny Johnson’s goal not been wrongly disallowed.
But what wasn’t in doubt was that United thoroughly deserved their win by the end.
They were clinical.
It was a sore one for James McPake and I must admit I was surprised that the young boy Finlay Robertson didn’t play.
James will be concerned at the goals they conceded and the way they collapsed.
From the city’s point of view, what a great watch the game was – a brilliant atmosphere, loads of goals and controversy.
BT Sport have won a watch and we’re all looking forward to the next one at Dens already.
* Credit to Scott Brown for not reacting to the idiot who taunted him about his sister after Sunday’s game at Ibrox.
I’m not sure I could have kept my cool.
And credit to Rangers fans for disowning him.
On the pitch it was an emphatic win for Celtic.
The first touch by Edouard for the opening goal was sensational and he gave Greegsy no chance with an ice-cool finish.
I’m obviously really pleased for Lenny.
He’s taken a lot of stick early in the season and this game will have answered the critics. The same is true for a couple of the new signings. Christopher Jullien was outstanding.
Celtic have been very busy in the transfer market since the weekend. Now the challenge for Neil is to integrate the new recruits into the team. The beauty of Sunday’s win is that it buys him time to do that.
