Celtic seek spark as Rangers aim for further derby joy

Celtic and Rangers square up again in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday with the champions reeling after a 3-0 defeat to the Ibrox side in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals last weekend and an opening Europa League 3-1 loss to Ferencvaros.

Pressure is intensifying on Martin O'Neill's side following those disappointing displays and yet Celtic have the chance to move eight points clear of their rivals.

A third loss in a row for Celtic would leave Rangers just two points adrift.

"We're ready to go, we really are," O'Neill said. "We're getting prepared for the game. It was a difficult game last Sunday and difficult last night, but we're ready to go.

"Confidence, we're far from rock-bottom. We're still in the lead in the league. If we can win this, we can extend the lead. If we don't, going into the international break, we're still going to be in front.

"It's not the thing that you would look forward to going into an international break on three successive defeats, if that's the case.

"We've got to be a bit more inventive but the crowd will be up for this. The players are capable of turning it around."

There were questions over whether recent signings fully grasped the occasion in the loss at Ibrox, with a number of new arrivals struggling to make an impact in high profile games.

"It will probably take a little bit more time, but I think anybody who experienced last Sunday, to know what it's all about, it shouldn't need many more lessons," O'Neill explained.