Source: Team_Talk
Advantage Celtic, says Aitken
The former Scotland midfielder feels Rangers' poor recent record against Dundee United at Tannadice makes their two-point lead vulnerable.
Aitken has also backed Celtic to follow the lead of one of the club's most famous final-day turnarounds.
The Birmingham coach was in the Celtic team that beat St Mirren 5-0 in May 1986 to win the title on goal difference, as long-term leaders Hearts suffered their first defeat in 32 games by losing to Dundee.
Aitken believes the current Celtic team can put similar pressure on Rangers by getting a good early lead against Hearts at Parkhead on Sunday.
The Ibrox side have only won once in their last nine visits to Tannadice and Aitken feels the strain of some bad news from Parkhead could tell on Walter Smith's players.
Aitken said: "Rangers haven't won at Tannadice for a long time - that puts added pressure on them. The other argument is that they have to win there some time.
"But their record at Tannadice is dodgy. If Celtic put pressure
on by getting a good early lead, it all depends on how Rangers handle the pressure.
"The odds might be slightly in Celtic's favour because Rangers haven't got a good record at Tannadice."
Aitken added: "They will both be under pressure but Celtic are
at home and their home record has been good.
"Rangers are also up against a Dundee United team who really need to get a result."
Celtic were clear second favourites back in 1986 as Hearts chased the point they needed to win their first title since 1960.
But, like United on Sunday, Dundee were looking for points to get into Europe and substitute Albert Kidd netted twice in the final seven minutes to spark jubilation among the Celtic contingent at Love Street.
"Hearts all season had set the trend in terms of points in the league," recalled Aitken, who was promoting Setanta Sports' dual coverage of Sunday's matches.
"But in the run-up to the game, we had played a few games in and had won seven games on the trot.
"We were two points behind but we knew victory at Love Street would put real pressure on Hearts at Dens Park.
"The main teamtalk by Davie Hay was that we had to put as much pressure on Hearts as possible. We were four up at half-time.
"I know from speaking to people years later that the half-time situation at Dens, when the Hearts players walked in and found we were 4-0 up, put real pressure on them.
"They knew they were going to have to win their game. That showed in the second half when Albert Kidd came on to score the goals that won us the championship.
"They had a fantastic season but they came up against a Celtic team that were equally determined. In typical Celtic tradition, we went right to the end and handled it better."
