What a difference a week can make, at least in terms of overall feeling surrounding Celtic and their supporters.

Cast your minds back to this time last week, as the club found themselves dealing with the week-long aftermath of more dropped points in the league, this time against Kilmarnock. In a game that they had control of in the first half, they allowed the visitors to rally and in doing so, allowed them to strike late on, which cost Celtic another two points. Compounded with a comfortable win for Philippe Clement’s rejuvenated Rangers at St Johnstone, it left Celtic in second place for the first time this season, with the upward trajectory pointed directly in the direction of their greatest rivals rather than themselves.

A difficult spot to be in, especially given the position the club were in earlier on in the season. Well-clear of all of their competitors - including a seven-point advantage over Rangers – Brendan Rodgers and his side were in the driving seat, until they weren’t. Dropping points to the likes of Hearts, Motherwell and Hibs will do that to you. What was done was done, and Celtic had to rally, with the need to own their new role as the ‘hunters’ as a badge of honour rather than a hindrance.

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Reports of an emergency meeting the Monday after the Kilmarnock draw indicated a team that had lost their way as well as their stranglehold on the Premiership. The reset button had to be pressed, especially due to the fact the team would be playing after Rangers’ home match against Hearts, a game they won convincingly 5-0. Now five points behind the new leaders, questions would be asked of both Rodgers and his team, and if they had the stomach – and minerals – to handle a title race thrust upon them.

For 45 minutes at Fir Park against Motherwell, it looked as if they could not. Falling behind to a stunning strike by Blair Spittal on the stroke of half-time, the writing was on the wall for Celtic’s title hopes, as they were right up against it in the race for the retaining of their league crown. Would they crumble under the weight of expectancy? Or would they rally and fight for the title that was in their grasp for large parts of the season?

Step forward Adam Idah, the very definition of a player who understood the assignment that was required of him. He had already displayed his calmness a few weeks prior at Easter Road, with two converted penalties proving he had the backbone required to operate in pressure-filled moments. Scoring twice yet again, his 45-minute cameo reignited a down-and-out Celtic team that looked on the brink of total surrender. From a third-choice at Norwich City to his temporary club’s saviour, this past month or so will have been a whirlwind for the Republic of Ireland forward.

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Luis Palma’s goal further improved the scoreline, but Celtic will have known that they got away with one that afternoon. With three days from that game and Wednesday’s home clash against Dundee, there was hope that this was going to be a period of galvanisation between the players, the manager and the supporters present at games. Could they build on what they achieved at Fir Park? Or would it be another poor showing on an ever-growing list of sub-par performances?

They managed to achieve the former, with flying colours. Seven goals were scored, with seven different goalscorers named in Celtic’s 7-1 home rout of Dundee. It wasn’t just about the goals scored – which were plentiful – but the style and confidence in which these opportunities presented themselves due to their positive and incisive play.

It was a comprehensive win, which led to the team getting a standing ovation both at half-time and at the game’s conclusion, though it indicated that Celtic were willing to stand up and be counted for in this title race. In essence, they had shown that they had the required minerals to put up a fight in this battle between Glasgow’s two biggest sides. Rangers came from behind to beat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park – a place which both sides have struggled at in the past – restoring their two-point lead at the head of the table, though their favourable goal difference had been essentially wiped out. This was in large part due to Celtic putting seven past Dundee, though they will be frustrated they could not keep the clean sheet that would have put both sides on the same total.

For Rodgers’ own confidence in his players, this past week would have been a much-needed shot in the arm for the Northern Irishman. In arguably his first title race since his Liverpool days, the 51-year-old will be feeling a lot better about his chances of picking up another Premiership title, to go with the three he contributed from 2016 to 2019. Of course, there is a small matter of a capital trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts, as a perfect seven days could very well be on the cards for Celtic if they manage to pick up another three points away from home.

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Regardless, the last two games have shown that Celtic are well-equipped – both physically and mentally – to handle the pressures that a title race brings to the fore. With no margin for error, they seem to have got their act together just in time. Let’s see if this renewed optimism is enough to fire them back to the top of the table, regardless of when the opportunity presents itself.

The minerals are present. The stomach is certainly stable. Time will tell if both hold up from now until the end of the season. Rodgers will be hoping that they can.