1955 was the third and final event that neither Celtic or Rangers claimed a serious honour in a season… may we lastly see a repeat?

It was the year in which Winston Churchill resigned as prime minister and Clement Attlee stepped down as Labour leader.

An ITV franchise began broadcasting commercial television for the first time. Kim Philby was named as the ‘third man’ of the Cambridge Spy Ring.

For followers of the Scottish game, 1955 was to be something of a collector’s item.

Aberdeen were crowned champions although fifth-placed Hibs competed in the inaugural European Cup the following year as they were the only club with floodlights.

Clyde won the Scottish Cup after defeating Celtic in a replay. Hearts claimed the League Cup for the first time by defeating Motherwell.

Some 71 years on, that moment in time still resonates; It was the third and last occasion that neither Celtic or Rangers claimed a major honour.

What price a little historical revision by the time this engrossing campaign has played out?

St Mirren already have the League Cup under lock and key. Either Rangers or Celtic will exit the Scottish Cup at Ibrox on Sunday. Top of the league since September, Hearts have all the hallmarks of champions as the home straight comes into view.

We live in interesting times. Since time immemorial, a poor season for one half of the Old Firm has invariably meant a bountiful one for the other. Maybe not this year.

While both clubs could clearly yet win the double, you’d get long odds against that. Celtic and Rangers just look too vulnerable to produce the perfect finish which would be required in both competitions.

The smart money would be on one of them ending up empty handed come May. And it’s entirely plausible that both might not win a thing.

The fear of having zilch to show for their efforts adds another layer of intrigue to the latest skirmish which will unfold on the south side of the city one week after honours were scored even on league business.

As treasured as the Scottish Cup always has been and always will be, ordinarily, winning it would be seen to be of secondary importance in the wider scheme of things. Perhaps not this year.

With Hearts enjoying a five-point buffer at the top of the Premiership, the importance of the national knock-out tournament to the big two has been amplified. If any side’s season is going to be saved, then Sunday at Ibrox would be an opportune time and place to get started.

If Danny Rohl had needed a crash course in exactly what he’s signed up for as Rangers’ head coach than the past week will have provided it.

At half-time last Sunday, the German was being lionised by his club’s supporters.

Deservedly two goals up after dominating a Celtic side which looked shell-shocked, the question did note seem to be if Rangers would win but what the margin of victory would be.

 Brought trackside to make the half-time draw, former Rangers striker Tore Andre Flo was so impressed with what he’s seen that he changed his score prediction from 5-1 to 5-0. It’s to be the hoped the Norwegian didn’t put his money where his mouth was.

Rangers actually re-started the game well, but the entire flow of the match flipped on a casual back heel from two-goal Youssef Chermiti.

Did Rohl’s men run out of gas or belief? Did Celtic suss out how to play against an aggressive 4-2-2-2?

Whatever the reason, Rangers players and fans were in panic mode from the moment Kieran Tierney halved the arrears.

Had Reo Hatate scored a penalty rebound any earlier then the 91st minute then Celtic would have been fancied to finish the job.

The way the game played out ensured Rohl got it tight from many of his own fans in the days such followed.

Three successive draws on the road would have been forgiven if Ibrox had remained a fortress. But after seven straight wins on home soil, here was a draw which felt more like a defeat.

It left Rangers six points behind Hearts with nine games remaining, two of which are trips to Tynecastle and Celtic Park.

Rohl had been praised to the heavens for cutting a 13-point gap to the leaders to just two, but the response to then engaging reverse gear was savage. His side now need to be perfect and hope from favours from elsewhere.

It was not, in truth, an outcome which did Celtic many favours either. Amid the euphoria which came with a spirited comeback, the side’s inability to deliver a 90-minute performance wasn’t lost on anyone.

It was the fourth domestic game in five in which Martin O’Neill had needed an injury time goal to win or draw. Seven league defeats by March do not normally a champion make.

With Rangers and Hearts both due at Celtic Park after the split and O’Neill’s men winning their game in hand at Pittodrie on Wednesday, they are evidently in better shape in the league than the Ibrox men. But not by much.

Benjamin Nygren has been an outstanding signing. He notched his 19th goal against Aberdeen. Without him, Celtic would be sitting fourth in the table.

To stand any chance of finishing the season with silverware, it’s imperative the Swede remains fit and available. The goals simply aren’t coming from elsewhere.

Rohl has a few more eggs in his basket. Chermiti looks a different player from the one who laboured badly earlier in the season. All bar one of his nine goals have come against Celtic or Hearts. Bojan Miovski has 10 to date and Ryan Nediri has two in six matches.

Given the shambles he inherited, the German coach deserves praise for guiding Rangers into a position where they are in contention for two trophies. Only if he delivers in one or both, though, will the season be deemed a success.

The fear among Rangers supporters is that a loss to their great rivals in the Scottish Cup would shatter morale just as the title race is coming to the boil.

‘I think Danny Rohl needs it more than Martin O’Neill,’ said former Celtic striker Chris Sutton.

‘The reason I say that is Martin O’Neill as a manager this season has twice come in and kept Celtic hanging on in a title race.

‘The Celtic fans aren’t going blame Martin O’Neill for the mess the club has been in this season. We know where the anger and ire and blame is laid out from the Celtic support.’

With three times the number of visiting fans inside the stadium as there were a week ago, it will be a derby with a retro feel.

The abolition of replays, though, means one link with the past has gone. Come what may, the issue will be decided on the day. Few will view this as a bad thing.

When the sides last met in front of fans in the cup at Ibrox 15 years ago, a 2-2 draw with a red card apiece was merely the warm-up for the main event on a midweek night at Celtic Park.

That was the so-called shame game with the Scottish Government ludicrously calling a summit after two more red cards (both for Rangers) and some heated exchanges on the touchline following a 1-0 Celtic win.

Given the current composition of the league table, if anything, the stakes for this one are higher.