Strachan plays down dismal pre-season

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan insists the Hoops’ dismal pre-season form will not have any bearing on the champions’ defence of their Bank of Scotland Premier League trophy.

The Bhoys go into Saturday’s curtain-raiser against Kilmarnock at Parkhead on the back of a pre-season campaign that yielded four defeats, two draws and one win, and the paltry total of two goals.