FROM NEIL DOHERTY IN GLASGOW: Celtic manager Neil Lennon wants his side to erase the memories of the 4-2 defeat at Ibrox in September – and win tonight over Rangers at Celtic Park.
“We didn’t do ourselves justice at Ibrox,” said Lennon.
“So I am looking to my team to be highly motivated and play better and compete better.”
But he warned that Rangers are always dangerous opposition, regardless of the situation or the timing of the game.
“So I don’t think the mentality of either team will change going into the game. We know if we win we go top and our focus is on winning. If that’s the rewards then so be it.
“We want to make our home advantage count and keep the winning run going, it’s very important to the players.
“We are in a good vein of form but we are playing our biggest rivals and there is not much between the teams at the minute.
“Our form has been slightly better than Rangers’ but they are the champions and they won the last Old Firm game so I don’t think there is much in it,” he said.
Welsh star Joe Ledley is also hoping to erase the memory of September.
“We just need to concentrate on ourselves and not get carried away with all the atmosphere and the build-up.
“It is hard but your learn. In my first Old Firm game we didn’t do too well but we’ve got experience in the team now.”
A ninth win in a row would put Celtic top of the pile for the first time this season.
“We stuck at it when we weren’t playing so well and it would be a great achievement to be top for the new year,” said Ledley, who may play left-back for the big game.
Meanwhile Ally McCoist has denied “pulling a fast one” after appealing a red card given to Lee McCulloch in the 2-1 defeat at St Mirren at the weekend.
By appealing McCulloch can play tonight. He was involved in an outrageous elbow incident on Saturday.
Match kick-off 7.45pm. Live on Sky Sports and BBC Radio Scotland.
Celtic: (from) Forster, Cha, Matthews, Wanyama, Mulgrew, Ledley, Forrest, Kelvin Wilson, Brown, Kayal, Ki, Rogne, Samaras, Bangura, Hooper, Stokes, Zaluska, Izaguirre, McCourt, McGeouch.
Rangers: (from) McGregor, Whittaker, Papac, Bocanegra, Bartley, Wallace, Davis, McCulloch, Wylde, Edu, Lafferty, Aluko, Jelavic, Alexander, Broadfoot, Bendiksen, McCabe, Weir.
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