Inside last Celtic triumph at Tannadice as night of anxiety and whirring helicopter contrasts with stroll to title line

Paul Hartley recalls a night of nerves before Celtic last clinched a title at Tannadice.

But the former Parkhead star believes a differing set of circumstances will ease any unlikely feelings of stress on Ange Postecoglou’s team tomorrow on Tayside.

Celtic are just about home and dry. Barring a ridiculous mathematical turnaround in goal difference, Postecoglou’s team could lose against Dundee United and then again to Motherwell on Saturday and still get over the line.

However, they want to secure it in style at the home of the Tangerines and the comfortable position is a far cry from which Hartley and his team-mates were in 14 years ago.

Gordon Strachan’s men headed north for the final game of the campaign level on points with Rangers.

Although goal difference was also in their favour back then, Celtic knew failure to win could have disastrous consequences.

In the end, they streaked clear. The Ibrox team, who, like this term, were in a Europa League Final that season against Zenit St Petersburg, were defeated in Aberdeen.

And when Hartley delivered a pinpoint corner onto the head of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to bullet home a winner on the night for the Parkhead side with Walter Smith’s Light Blues already a goal behind in the Granite City, it was all over.

Hartley recalls the evening vividly. He remembers the sight of the helicopter flying over the stadium on its way to deliver the silverware.

He remembers the sheer outpouring of emotion which accompanied the celebrations as the players, staff and club dedicated their triumph to club legend Tommy Burns, who had sadly passed away in the days prior to the game.

Hartley also recalls the tension as he said: “It was a very nervy night. It was a Thursday and we went