Old Firm clash 'won't decide' title

23 April 2011 06:00

Mark Wilson does not believe the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race has boiled down to a winner-takes-all Old Firm clash at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Hoops travel to Govan one point behind Rangers but with a game in hand and only five fixtures to come after this weekend.

However, the Celtic full-back dismissed the notion the last of seven meetings between the two Glasgow giants this season is effectively a league decider, saying: "I wouldn't think so. Obviously it is very important to both teams to try to win the game but I wouldn't say it was a league decider."

"We have five games left after Sunday and there is plenty of time for whoever wins the game to drop points.There are plenty of teams who will give the Old Firm plenty of problems in the run-in."

The normally volatile fixture will be more tense than usual with a huge police presence after news parcels "designed to cause harm" were sent to Celtic boss Neil Lennon, Paul McBride QC and Labour politician Trish Godman. The latter two also have links to the Parkhead club but there is no evidence to suggest those responsible are Rangers fans.

The Celtic players showed their support for their boss in the best possible way by thumping Kilmarnock 4-0 at Rugby Park in midweek and Wilson insists they will retain their focus for the run-in.

"It has been a tough week for everyone at the club but it was the nice the way we responded against Kilmarnock," the former Dundee United player said.

"It is all over Britain so it's hard not to be aware of it and obviously the players spoke about it when it first came out. It is natural to do that.

"But it was important to get it out of our heads for the game against Kilmarnock and I think we did that pretty well.

"There was a lot of eyes on the game, wondering how we would react but we all responded in the right way."

Source: PA