Celtic head into another decisive weekend knowing there is no more room for hesitation. The margin for error has disappeared, and every fixture now feels like it carries consequences far beyond ninety minutes.
It has been that kind of season. Moments that could have shifted momentum have slipped away, and away trips in particular have become a source of frustration. For a side expected to dominate, too many games on the road have raised more questions than answers.
Dens Park is the next stop, and it is not just another away day. It is a ground where Celtic are still searching for their first victory of the season in the city, a detail that adds an extra layer of pressure to an already tense situation.
Supporters will travel with hope, but also with caution. They have seen this story unfold before this season. Strong starts that fade, key decisions that swing momentum, and matches that leave a lingering sense of what might have been.
And that is where another factor quietly comes into play. One that often goes unnoticed until it suddenly becomes the centre of attention.
Because ahead of this crucial clash, the focus has turned to the man in the middle.
The Scottish Football Association has confirmed that Steven McLean will referee this weekend’s encounter between Celtic and Dundee at Dens Park.
It is a familiar name for Celtic fans, and not always for the right reasons.
This will be the fourth time this season that McLean has taken charge of a Celtic match, and the previous three outings offer a mixed and, at times, frustrating picture. He was the referee for the 3-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle back in October, a result that set the tone for a difficult run.
He was also in charge during the 3-1 Glasgow Derby loss to Rangers in January, another game where Celtic fell short on a big stage. In between, there was the heated 2-2 draw with Hearts later that same month, a match filled with tension and key moments that could have gone either way.
For Dundee, McLean is just as familiar. He has already overseen three of their fixtures this season, including the Dundee derby in August, their defeat to Hibs in November, and their recent 3-2 victory over Aberdeen.
He will not be alone in his duties this weekend. Calum Spence and Douglas Ross will assist on the touchlines, while Matthew MacDermid will oversee VAR with support from Chris Graham at Clydesdale House.
All of it sets the stage for a match where every decision could matter.
For Celtic, the objective is simple but far from easy. They need a result. Not just to keep pace, but to shift the narrative that has followed them throughout the campaign.
And in games like this, where pressure is high and margins are tight, attention inevitably turns to every detail. The performance, the mentality, and sometimes, the officiating.
By the time the final whistle blows at Dens Park, one thing is certain. The spotlight will not just be on the players.