Nothing tests your mettle more in a title race than going a goal down at home to your bitter rivals.
The way Rangers flew into this one, with wide men doubling up on Celtic down the flanks, could have unsettled the home side completely.
How would they recover from the loss of an early goal? They were level by half-time and two ahead midway through the next period. O’Neill will have asked his troops to up their game and they duly delivered.
A moment of genuine, world-class quality always helps of course.
Maeda’s overhead wonder goal will be replayed over and over again. It was the physical manifestation of the control Celtic had wrested in the contest overall.
It was his second of the game. He could, and should, have had a hat-trick.
He’s saved his very best form for these crucial end of season matches. Hearts will have to take note, should things come to the crunch at Celtic Park in six day’s time.
It should be added, all of Celtic’s goals were good. Maeda’s first was a smart finish from an excellent Tierney cross, and Yang’s equaliser was built by Luke McCowan and Arne Engels and superbly dispatched by the South Korean.
