Gers keep both feet on pedals

CALLUM MCGREGOR insists Celtic are in the mood to take the final massive step in their pre-break push.

The playmaker set his side on their way to victory over St Mirren before James Forrest’s first strike in eight matches sealed the triumph.

Success maintained a five-point lead for Neil Lennon’s side going into Sunday’s Old Firm showdown against Rangers and Mcgregor is adamant the players are ready to put the seal on a fabulous spell.

Since winning the Betfred Cup and reaching the last 32 of the Europa League, the champions made a pact to win the next five Premiership matches to come out of the Old Firm game eight in front.

An 11th straight top-flight triumph in Paisley kept that plan firmly intact and Mcgregor said: “It was going to be a tough game so to come and win was excellent.

“We looked at the fixtures and at the last five before the break. We knew if we could win them all we’d be in a good place. We’ve done four, now we need to rest, recover and try to get that fifth one.”

Both sides went at it instantly in a strong opening 20 minutes. It’s at that point of a game, when the initial fire goes out of it, the quality comes to the fore.

Right on cue Celtic and Odsonne Edouard suddenly moved up the gears. He’d sprung to life by evading couple of challenges and whip one just over the bar. It was a warning for the home side and the next time the Frenchman got a run at their backline, they were a goal down.

Edouard was released from a central area and darted into the box before a touch inside seemed to have lost the chance.

But as Paul Mcginn and keeper Vaclav Hladky hesitated, Mcgregor sniffed an opening and nudged an effort against

JAMES AND GIANT PEACH James Forrest puts Celtic two in front in Paisley as the Hoops ran out 2-1 winners BUFFALO SOLDIER Gers sub Alfredo Morelos scores STEVEN GERRARD apologised to Rangers fans then insisted his team are in the best possible shape to face Celtic. The Light Blues boss, who has played down a move for Olivier Giroud, was gutted he couldn’t give his fans more festive cheer with their performance in the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock. Alfredo Morelos came off the bench to score the only goal of the game against stubborn Killie - his 28th goal of the season. Celtic’s slender win at St Mirren means it’s all to play for in Sunday’s Old Firm crunch with the Hoops five points to the good, with Rangers holding a game in hand. Gerrard said: “I’m delighted because we got exactly out of this game what we got out of Hibs - three points, a clean sheet and on we go. “I apologise if it didn’t look pretty for the supporters and that it wasn’t three, four or five goals. “We have incredible support and, with all due respect, sometimes they come here and just expect you to blow teams away. Liverpool supporters were the same when I played there. “Killie set us a challenge, ‘come and beat us’, and they made it very difficult for us. We found a way, which is very pleasing. “We set out to entertain, play well and for it to look brilliant on the eye but teams are not going to just allow that every week. “You have to give credit to Kilmarnock, who defended resolutely. They were getting a lot of men behind the ball. “They had no ambition to win the game but we have to accept that teams are going to come here and try to steal points away from us.”