Anthony Stokes has acknowledged the importance of Celtic going in to Sunday's Old Firm showdown level on points with rivals Rangers.
Neil Lennon's side came within minutes of losing their 100 percent record in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday. It required a dramatic Gary Hooper goal in the 89th minute to secure a 2-1 win which ensured they did not go into next weekend's top-of-the-table clash at Parkhead trailing the champions.
"The last thing we wanted was to drop points ahead of the game against Rangers," Stokes told the Evening Times. "So, from that point of view, it was a massive, massive result. It maybe looked as though that was going to be the case with the game at 1-1, and only a minute of normal time remaining, but we never gave up."
He added: "When you play as well as we did, and you create as many chances, you've got to win. The manager said that it was as well as we have played and I have to agree with him. Some of our football was fantastic. It would have been a huge blow had we not won the match."
After taking the lead through the impressive Hooper, who coolly converted a Mark Wilson cross, the visitors were stunned just before the break when United striker David Goodwille's deflected strike landed behind keeper Fraser Forster.
The travelling support thought they had been awarded a penalty in the second half when referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot after Hooper went down after being challenged by Tannadice keeper Dusan Pernis.
But to the anger of Lennon, McDonald then changed his mind after consulting assistant referee Steven Craven and gave a bounce ball in the box.
Stokes admitted the decision also left him baffled.
The Irishman said: "If you point to the spot then you can't change your mind, surely? I was there, as were other players of ours, and we could have tapped the ball into the net instead of it then becoming a drop-ball.
"I thought we responded well and didn't allow it to disrupt our performance."
Source: PA
