Celtic scare themselves again

Gordon Strachan calls it fear. The reason his Celtic team are sweeping all before them this season is the fear of losing. So strong is this fear that they just don't know when to stop, and their determination and resilience gets them results in matches that they really should lose.

Sunday was a case in point. Really, they should have lost. Inverness Caledonian Thistle took the lead, and were 90 seconds away from booking their place in the semi finals of the Scottish Cup, a place that they would have thoroughly merited. Yet the pressure from their opponents became inexorable, and when Celtic finally equalised through Steven Pressley, ICT looked spent. A minute after that they were in shock as Kenny Miller drove in the winner. It was harsh on the home side but they had been warned. Exactly the same thing happened the last time Celtic came to town on league business, turning the match and scoring 2 late late goals to take all three points.

So, no upset in the Highlands, but elsewhere there's romance and stories aplenty. Hibs overcame a spirited Queen of the South to get through to the semi finals again, and keep alive their dream of ending the longest hex in football - they haven't won this competition since 1902, and don't their rivals like to remind them.

Dunfermline cannot win in the SPL, but in the Scottish Cup it's a different matter. They are into the semi finals after a 2-0 win over Partick Thistle. And St Johnstone have a chance to keep their glorious record in the cups going when they play Motherwell in their delayed tie on Wednesday.

Celtic undisputed favourites, then... but they need to remain fearful of the dreams of others.