O'Neill tries to lower expectations

Martin O’Neill today warned the Celtic supporters to expect the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions to lose more points this season than in the past.

The Parkhead faithful have been spoiled with success on the domestic front in recent years but this morning they woke up in shock after last night’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Aberdeen.

Darren Mackie and Fernando Pasquinelli had silenced them with two goals in an incredible first six minutes but John Hartson cancelled them out with a double.

After that the champions were looking forward to celebrating another joyous Parkhead success until young substitute John Stewart fired an injury-time winner.

O’Neill admitted his side’s defending is causing him concern but he still believes the improving standard of the opposition are making things harder for the Old Firm.

“We have dropped three points but Aberdeen have closed the gap on us,” he said.

“The more we are involved in Europe the more likelihood we will drop points.

“I am very pleased that Rangers are in the UEFA Cup secondly for Scottish football but firstly because they have more matches – I am selfish as always.

“The two teams will drop points and I think we will drop more points this season than we have in the last three or four years. Aberdeen have done great this season.”

Skipper Jackie McNamara echoed his manager’s concerns over their poor defending in recent weeks.

“Steve Walford said it was schoolboy defending the other week and a lot of the time it is,” he said. “That’s just not like us.

“We are losing goals from corners and making silly mistakes so we have to work hard to cut those out.”

Aberdeen could go above Rangers with victory at Ibrox on Sunday and manager Jimmy Calderwood believed their latest success would give them even more confidence.

He will try to sign a goalkeeper on loan this week to resolve their crisis with Ryan Esson and David Preece injured, but he has warned his players against complacency after the Celtic victory.

Calderwood said: “We have shown our confidence and to come to places like Parkhead and win you need to be a good team.

“We have had a lot of hard games and we are still battling away but this will give the lads more confidence to go to Ibrox on Sunday.

“They (Celtic) are a very good team and this is the hardest place to come in Scotland so we shouldn’t fear anybody.

“We will get a massive boost from it. We keep being asked questions but we keep answering them but we have got to keep our feet on the ground. That’s 22 points from the first 11 games so that’s good if we want to stay in the top six.”

Aberdeen are two points behind Rangers, six adrift of Celtic and McNamara believes the league is as competitive as it has been for some time.

“The league is open,” he said. “The lead at the top has been reduced and Rangers and Aberdeen will get a boost from that.

“There is still a long way to go and I just hope that we get more players back from injury.”

The club were anxiously awaiting results of an x-ray for Chris Sutton, who left the field with a shoulder injury last night.