Broadcaster and author Richard Gordon assesses Aberdeen's title challenge in his latest monthly blog for the SPFL website.
For the past three decades the Scottish title has been claimed by either Celtic or Rangers. In some seasons the pair have gone head to head until the climax to the campaign, in others it has been a procession.
It has been the latter of late, with Celtic finishing 20 points clear of their city rivals in 2011/12, and 16 and 29 points ahead of Motherwell in each of the last two years.
There have been seasons in which the Fir Park side have mounted a minor challenge, Hearts have also had their moments, and way back in the early 1990s Aberdeen were still serious contenders, losing out only to Walter Smith’s all-conquering Ibrox team of the time.
But in the main, the supremacy of the big two has gone largely untouched.
This season, however, that has changed, and there is reason to believe we could be in for a most thrilling conclusion, with the potential of different champions for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s Dons scooped the honours in 1985.
Right now, it is the Pittodrie outfit who look best equipped, having put together the kind of run required of a side which is to be taken seriously as possible title-winners.
There can be no doubt that Derek McInnes’ team must now be viewed in that way.
The statistics behind their current sequence are highly impressive, and his players take to the pitch clearly brimming with self-belief and confidence. They believe they can win every match they play, and every victory further instils that. There is no panic if the opening goal doesn’t come, or indeed if they are sitting on a one-goal lead deep into a game. In fact, they seem very comfortable in such a situation, apparently safe in the knowledge that they will see the 90 minutes through.
They are not a swashbuckling kind of side, rather their success is based largely on a solid and organised defensive structure, but they do have flair and pace going forward, can counter-attack ruthlessly, and have for me, in Ryan Jack, the outstanding player in the Premiership this season.
There is much in the current Dons team that reminds me of the sides I grew up watching; they certainly seem to share the togetherness and respect demanded by Ferguson when he ruled the roost, and the fact that a succession of them have signed longer-term contracts suggests they are happy in the city and see future success ahead with Aberdeen.
Before the season, I was among the vast majority who anticipated Celtic securing the Premiership crown, and they must still be viewed as favourites to do so but, for the first time in recent years, they are under significant pressure and will have to react in a positive manner.
They did so last time out, with a fine performance at Kilmarnock, but will need to maintain that if they are to secure a fourth successive title.
What I think can be guaranteed is an exciting finish to 2014/15, with Dundee United, Caley Thistle and Hamilton Accies all making it clear they plan to hang around. The head-to-heads between the contenders are going to be pivotal, but so will the encounters with the other teams in the league and, right now, the Dons are proving their credentials by sweeping all before them.
If they continue to do so, the next meeting between Celtic and Aberdeen at the end of next month will be one to savour, a game which might just give a significant pointer towards who will be lifting the SPFL Premiership trophy in May.
You can follow Richard Gordon on Twitter @RichardGordon48
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