CELTIC WILL UP GAME AT RIGHT TIME, SAYS DODDS

IN most other seasons, a ninepoint lead in late February would be regarded as a powerful statement of intent. Celtic, though, have come to be judged by different standards.

Twelve months ago, Brendan Rodgers’ side enjoyed a yawning 24-point advantage at the head of the Premiership. En route to an historic unbeaten Treble, their league campaign was no more than a procession towards the top prize.

With two defeats against their name, things have not been as all-conquering this time around, however.

Bookmakers still regard them as 1/66 sure things for a seventh successive crown, but could Scottish football at least be able to talk about a title race while maintaining a straight face?

For those who detect a hint of that opportunity, this weekend could be pivotal. If Rangers can defeat Hearts at home on Saturday they would move within six points of their Old Firm rivals. An Aberdeen win over Celtic on Sunday lunchtime would leave Derek McInnes’ side a similar distance adrift.

There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes to enter into that equation. Not least the doggedly impressive form of Hearts and the fact Aberdeen have lost every meeting with Celtic since Rodgers was appointed.

Even if the squeezing-up scenario plays out, however, Billy Dodds does not exactly expect panic to set in at Parkhead.

The former Aberdeen and Rangers striker is a long-time admirer of the work done by McInnes (below) in the north-east and sees positive signs of progress at Ibrox. But an actual, edge-of-the-seat contest for the title? Sooner or later, he expects Celtic to quash any such notion.

‘I think if some team, Aberdeen or Rangers, can get to within six points then you can start to ask if there is going to be a title race,’ Dodds told Sportsmail.

‘To me, those teams are not set for it yet in terms of their squads. But I’m not saying that Rangers won’t be there over the next couple of years.

‘At Celtic, though, it is often about stages of the season. They seem to look at it as being: “Right, we have Europe just now, a lot of games to pack in and teams are trying to keep close to us”. Then they go and step it up. For me, there is not a title race. We’ll see if by some miracle a team goes and puts real pressure on Celtic — and by that I mean something like three points with three games to go. ‘But I can’t see that. Celtic will step it up at the right time of the season — or go and beat their nearest challengers at the right time of the season. That is how things have been.’ Dodds agrees that some of Celtic’s sparkle has faded. But then their last trip to Pittodrie — on October 25 — produced a 3-0 win and arguably their best domestic performance of the season. The argument this time around is that Aberdeen might not have a better chance to claim victory. A tough Europa League assignment against Zenit St Petersburg in Russia this evening means Rodgers’ men will have a wearying prelude to their trip north. ‘It’s about your mentality,’ argued Dodds. ‘Don’t get me wrong, it is tiring. When I played at Rangers and Aberdeen, you were away with European games and international duty. ‘So you might feel a bit tired, leggy maybe. But the best teams just get on with it. You see that. Celtic won’t use it as an excuse. ‘Listen, as a manager you will use anything to get an edge. I think Derek might say to his players that Celtic have been travelling away across Europe, let’s get out there and test them to see if they are tired. ‘It’s an interesting one. When I was assistant manager at Ross County and Brendan Rodgers first came in, Celtic were unbelievable on the ball. ‘But they also had the intensity to be all over you like a rash when you had the ball. You would boot it clear and they would attack again in waves. ‘They are not doing that now. They are not pressing the life out of the game. So I don’t think it will be a 3-0 on Sunday. I don’t think it will be a walkover. ‘Aberdeen are capable of getting something, but they will have to be at the top of their form — and they can’t play as badly as they did when losing against Hibs last weekend. ‘I could see Aberdeen getting a draw — I don’t know about winning it.’