St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson tells BBC Sportsound: "I think Celtic will have a lot of possession, we've got to make sure we're good when we win possession back.

"I don't think any time's a good time to come here. It's going to be a really tough game. We've got to make sure we make it really difficult for them.

"On the flip side, when we've got the ball, we need to actually make sure we have good composure, try and get up the pitch and create some problems."

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Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Celtic manger Neil Lennon has been speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound and was asked if this is a must-win game.

"Yeah, probably," he replied. "For a number of reasons. Obviously, we want to play well and win.

"We need to have maximum concentration. We know that results haven't been great. We have to put the performance together for the 90 minutes.

"We've got to take the game to St Johnstone, not give away individual errors and set-plays. If we're going to do that then we're going to have to defend them thoroughly.

"I feel we'll be good. I'm just looking for a positive and confident performance."

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So, Celtic now find themselves 14 points behind Rangers, with this the first of three games in hand. How will they respond?

Amid all the wailing and gnashing surrounding Celtic's sequence of just two wins in their last 11 games, it should be remembered that the defending champions have lost just one Premiership match this season.

Win the rest and a 10th title on the trot is theirs.

But how likely is that given the team's current propensity for calamitous defending?

What is certain is the already intense pressure on manager Neil Lennon will ramp up to new heights if there is any kind of slip today.

Celtic grabbed two late goals to beat St Johnstone 2-0 at McDiarmid Park back in early October, with substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Patryk Klimala on target.

Since then Saints are unbeaten in all competitions, a sequence of 10 matches.

Callum Davidson's side scored twice at Fir Park in their cup win and did the same to earn a point at Easter Road in their last league outing.

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"If it's something we deem out of order, he will be punished, there's no doubt about," says Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell, when asked about the Michael Gardyne incident.

“I know what (referee) John Beaton's version of it is, I heard what he said at half-time. What I’ll have to do now is go and get it from the words of Michael Gardyne and look for that bit of honesty on what was said. I’ll get the full story when I speak to him."

On the game, he adds: "The players gave me everything today, they emptied their tank.

"You need to try and capitalise when these one or two chances come about and we didn't."

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has told Sky Sports: “Another strong performance at a tricky place to come to. It’s a team full of confidence and I’m sure all week they were saying ‘let’s do the same to them as we did to Celtic’.

“The players showed a lot of quality to go and hurt Ross County at times. A pleasing performance.

“[James Tavernier] is certainly playing at a very consistent level. I’ve never seen him at this level game-to-game, and he’s got hunger.

“I’m really proud of him. He has to keep pushing the boys."

Regarding an incident just before half-time when County's Michael Gardyne was booked, Gerrard added: “I only heard what my own players were saying, not what came out of his mouth. That’s for Ross County to deal with."

It looked like Celtic would get a welcome shot in the arm when they raced into a 2-0 lead against AC Milan the other night, with terrific goals from Tom Rogic and Odsonne Edouard.

However, that surprise lead vanished in the blink of an eye and winger Jens Petter Hauge was too hot to handle in the second half, scoring one and setting up the other for the Serie A leaders.

"We looked a threat all night," said manager Neil Lennon afterwards. "But we've let ourselves down in not being physical enough in the tackle at times."

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The Perth side make three changes to their line-up today.

Callum Davidson restores Scott Tanser, Danny McNamara and the experienced Craig Bryson to the starting line-up.

Liam Craig and Callum Hendry drop to the bench while Callum Booth misses out with an injury.

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Just one change for Neil Lennon's Celtic following Thursday's 4-2 defeat at the San Siro, with Christopher Jullien returning to the defence and Hatem Elhamed dropping to the bench.

It looks like a 3-5-2 with Jullien lining up at the back with Kristoffer Ajer and Nir Bitton.

However, Jeremie Frimpong could be pushed further up on the right and Ajer moved out to right back.

Watch this space...

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Celtic: Barkas, Frimpong, Bitton, Jullien, Ajer, Laxalt, , Brown, Rogic, McGregor, Christie, Edouard.

Substitutes: Bain, Taylor, Griffiths, Klimala, Soro, Turnbull, Ntcham, Elyounoussi, Elhamed.

St Johnstone: Clark, Rooney, McCart, Gordon, Tanser, McNamara, Bryson, McCann, Wotherspoon, O'Halloran, May.

Substitutes: Parish, Kerr, Craig, Hendry, Kane, Melamed, Ferguson, McFarlane, Denham.

We'll bring you the thoughts of Steven Gerrard and Stuart Kettlewell soon, but first to the team news at Celtic Park.

Rangers captain James Tavernier has just told Sky Sports: “I’m happy we got three points, back to a clean sheet, and we move forward.

“I’ll be happy if I get to 20 [goals] before the end of the season. Anything is a bonus.

“We have been together for a couple of years and everything is coming together really nicely. We had a great pre-season.

“We always said we need the consistency after European games in domestic games. I’m very pleased we’re doing that but we’re taking it game-by-game and not getting carried away. It’s early days.”

Neil McCann
Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

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Connor Randall was guilty of a terrible close-range miss for County today but I don't think it would have made much difference.

His wastefulness and a good first-half save from Allan McGregor make it 14 clean sheets in 16 league matches for the Premiership leaders.

Rangers go 14 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Another goal from James Tavernier and two more assists for the Ibrox skipper.

Another clean sheet and yet another goal for Jermain Defoe to add to his collection.

Neil McCann
Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound