GERS BOSS STEVIE FUMES OVER SILLY SAINTS STRIKES
Title race gap up to 12 points
LEIGH GRIFFITHS has warned rivals Rangers the Celtic squad are going to be ruthless and relentless in their pursuit of the title.
The Hoops hitman grabbed his first goal at Parkhead since August as the champions clobbered Kilmarnock to take another huge stride towards
STEVEN GERRARD rapped his ropey rearguard as Rangers slipped 12 points behind Celtic.
The Light Blues failed to capitalise on the feelgood factor of their stunning comeback
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retaining their crown. Celtic fans have already started the nine-in-row chants but it’s not just goals that sends roars around the ground these days.
Neil Lennon’s men were behind to a shock Killie opener yesterday yet moments later the place was bouncing as word spread about another Rangers stumble up the road in Perth.
Griffiths insisted the Hoops stars are ignoring the outside noise though and keeping their focus on the main prize.
He said: “Did what was going on elsewhere affect us? No. We just go about our business, victory over Braga on Thursday night as they made it only one point from their last three league games on the road.
An early strike from Callum Hendry and a late equaliser from Stevie May (right), both off shocking defensive blunders, cancelled out second half strikers
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looking to get the three points, and then we look at what has happened elsewhere.
“I think we have improved. There is a real resilience about this squad. There’s a never-saydie attitude, we keep going for the 90 minutes and are relentless.
“It’s the same in training and on the pitch. When you see the guys who can come in, it shows the strength in depth we’ve got.
“Scott Brown, James Forrest and Olivier Ntcham were all missing but look at the ones who came in and did the job.
“It’s a testament to the manager keeping everyone on from Florian Kamberi and Joe Aribo.
Gerrard predicted a Euro exit if they play as badly again in the second leg against Braga on Wednesday night as he admitted the result didn’t surprise him.
He said: “At times you have to accept that teams will get some their toes and working hard.”
Killie striker Eamonn Brophy scored in the seventh minute with a penalty he won when he was fouled by returning Hoops defender Jozo Simunovic.
However, goals from stopper Kristoffer Ajer, Odsonne Edouard and fellow striker Griffiths won the points.
Alex Dyer’s visiting side ended the game with 10 men after midfielder Alan Power, already booked, was sent packing by referee Kevin Clancy for his challenge on right-back Jeremie Frimpong.
Despite the 12-point gap to Rangers, boss Neil Lennon is taking nothing for granted. “The performance and reaction to going a goal down pleased me most,” said Lennon. “I felt the first goal shouldn’t have counted as Brophy was offside when he got the ball.
“But the title is a million miles away as far as we are concerned, we just want to concentrate on our affairs.
“In the second half we were outstanding, some of our football was simply irresistible.”
Lennon is confident Forrest will recover from the knock that kept him out to face FC Copenhagen in the Europa League on Thursday. joy against you but for St Johnstone to get the joy they did against us was just too easy. If we defend like that against Braga we haven’t got a chance.
“We were outstanding in the second half but we keep shooting ourselves in the foot by conceding silly, silly goals.”