There is another night at Celtic Park, another football match, another opportunity for the Boys in Green and White to remind us why we love this club so passionately. Tonight, Celtic face Dundee United in Paradise, and I am in Glasgow and will be there, supporting my team as I have done so many times before.

Yet I must admit, I am not approaching this fixture with my usual sense of calmness. And believe me, that is saying something!

Normally, I would look forward to a night at Celtic Park with excitement, optimism and that familiar feeling that anything is possible when the green and white hoops take to the pitch.

However, knowing Celtic’s current situation, I find myself a little unsettled.

Not frightened, exactly, but certainly not entirely comfortable either. There is a difference, and any Celtic supporter who has followed our recent performances will understand precisely what I mean.

The question is simple: which Celtic will turn up tonight?

Will we see a team playing with confidence, determination and the attacking ambition that should come naturally to a club of Celtic’s stature?

Or will we once again find ourselves biting our nails, questioning the starting XI, analysing every misplaced pass and wondering why a supposedly straightforward football match has suddenly become an exercise in emotional endurance?

Honestly, supporting Celtic should come with a health warning at times!

Dundee United are the opponents, and Celtic Park is our home. On paper, Celtic should have enough quality to take all three points.

We have the players, the supporters and the magnificent atmosphere of Paradise behind us. What more could we possibly ask for?

Well, apparently, quite a lot.

I want to see a Celtic side that understands the importance of this fixture. I want to see players who take responsibility, move the ball with purpose and demonstrate that wearing the famous hoops means something.

I want to see hunger, aggression and a willingness to fight for every ball, rather than another performance that leaves us wondering whether the players have read the same match programme as the supporters.

And then there is the squad selection.

Will the starting XI be good enough? Will Martin O’Neill get his selection right? Will we see the right balance between experience and energy, with players capable of taking the initiative rather than waiting for somebody else to make things happen?

We shall see. I am not going to pretend that I know what will happen tonight, because football has a wonderful habit of making fools of those who believe they have all the answers. Nevertheless, I expect Celtic to approach this match with the seriousness it deserves.

We cannot afford to treat domestic fixtures as opportunities to turn up, do just enough and collect the points as though they were already sitting in the dressing room waiting to be claimed. They are not. Celtic must earn them.

Now, let me put on my English teacher’s hat and deliver my verdict. And no, this is not the moment for a generous marking scheme!

My prediction is a Celtic victory, but I expect a response rather than a miracle.

I believe Celtic will win tonight because I have faith in my club, and because I expect the players to recognise what is required of them. However, faith does not mean abandoning critical thinking, and supporting Celtic does not oblige me to applaud every performance as though we have just won the European Cup.

Three points are the objective. A convincing performance would be a welcome bonus.

I would love to see Celtic take control early, put Dundee United under pressure and demonstrate that Celtic Park remains a place where visiting teams must endure a very difficult evening. I want goals, intensity and that unmistakable Celtic spirit that makes the supporters rise to their feet. Most importantly, I want a team that plays with conviction.

My teacher’s final mark, before the examination has even begun? A provisional B for the expected result, with the possibility of an A if Celtic deliver the performance to match it. However, should we produce another display that raises more questions than answers, I reserve the right to reach for my red pen.

And believe me, I can be rather strict when marking disappointing work!

There is something special about attending a match at Celtic Park. It is not simply about ninety minutes of football. It is about the atmosphere, the voices rising from the stands, the green and white scarves, the shared anticipation and the feeling of belonging to something much bigger than ourselves.

Tonight, I will be part of that. I will be there to support Celtic, to encourage the players and to hope that the team gives us something worth celebrating.

That is what makes this situation so frustrating. We do not ask for perfection every single time the team steps onto the pitch.

Football does not work like that. What we do expect, however, is commitment, consistency and a performance that reflects the ambition of our club.

So, Celtic, please do not make this more complicated than it needs to be.

Get the job done. Play with purpose. Score the goals. Take the three points.

For fuck’s sake, Celtic, win this one!

Your faithful fan will be there, in Paradise, backing the Boys in Green and White. I will sing, I will support, and I will believe. But I would very much appreciate it if the team did not make me regret my optimism before the final whistle.

Come on, Celtic. Give us a night to remember for the right reasons.

Hail Hail!

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