THE PENDULUM often swings in close-run title races and it is very much swaying in Celtic's direction at this point in time.
Despite boasting a six-point lead heading into January, Rangers have faltered on their travels and they find themselves trailing their arch-rivals by three points as well as languishing behind in the goal difference department.
It’s easy to point the finger at the recent away record, which simply hasn’t been good enough for a club with title-winning aspirations. Three points from a possible 12 since returning from the winter break is the kind of record that breaks a championship stranglehold.
Another contributing factor has been the late goals that have seen the momentum shift towards the East End of Glasgow.
Since the start of the league campaign back in July, Rangers have won just once by scoring within the last 10 minutes of the game.
Kemar Roofe’s 85th-minute penalty at Easter Road on the 1st of December extended the champions’ lead at the summit to seven points, albeit Celtic had a game in hand.
However, the Ibrox side have shipped four points from winning positions as a result of conceding late goals.
READ MORE: A dominating Rangers display but lack of cutting edge could cost title
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men conspired to drop two in Dingwall when Ross County’s Matthew Wright bundled home a 96th minute-equaliser to claim a draw for the Staggies in a pulsating 3-3 draw.
Two points were also thrown away back in October when Allan McGregor, uncharacteristically, flapped at a corner allowing former Ibrox youngster Craig Halkett to nod into the net for Hearts in a 1-1 stalemate.
Rangers have, therefore, lost two points, on aggregate, from late goals this season.
If we contrast that to Celtic we get a true sense of the seismic shift in momentum.
Ange Postecoglu’s men got off to a losing start at Tynecastle when Rangers-bound John Souttar netted an 89th-minute winner for Hearts.
However, since their opening day defeat in the capital, Celtic have gone on to win four league matches in the closing stages.
In October, Jota netted in the 84th minute to seal a 2-1 win away to Aberdeen.
In December, an Anthony Ralston header in the 97th minute claimed three points against Ross County in Dingwall.
In January, Liel Abada scored a 90th-minute winner as Celtic edged past Dundee United 1-0 at Parkhead and on Sunday, Giorgos Giakoumakis completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute to down Dundee 3-2.
That’s an aggregate of seven points gained from late goals and a nine-point swing in total between the two clubs, it’s a startling statistic and a big reason why Rangers are trailing in their wake.
They often say scoring late winners is a mark of champions and Celtic are certainly displaying all the hallmarks of that.
Throw in the recent away form of the two teams and you gain an understanding as to why the tables have turned.
Since being held to a goalless draw at St Mirren on the 22nd of December Celtic have gone on to win four out of four on the road.
Rangers, on the other hand, have failed to win in four since defeating Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle in mid-December.
On Sunday, they threw everything but the kitchen sink at a resolute Dundee United side who were defending as if their lives depended on it. Despite Joe Aribo setting up a grandstand finish, they failed to find that decisive winning goal.
Fingers have been pointed at Bobby Madden for failing to award two blatant penalties and Amad Diallo for opting to shoot on goal when a squared ball to Fashion Sakala would’ve presented the Zambian with a tap-in but, in truth, Rangers should’ve been out of sight given their dominance and chances created.
To score a solitary goal and record just three efforts on target in 28 attempts highlights a lack of cutting edge in front of goal and an issue that urgently needs addressing.
Going forward, if Rangers want to keep the Premiership trophy locked inside a cabinet in the Ibrox Trophy Room, they need to be more clinical in the final third and maintain concentration defensively in the dying embers of games.
Trips to McDiarmid Park, Dens Park and St Mirren Park line in wait before the split, failure to take maximum points from those three fixtures could see hopes of 56 evaporate.
There is still likely to be more twists and turns from here on in, however, Celtic are ticking all the boxes required to cross the finish line first.
Over to you, Rangers.
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