Lack of Rangers threat no issue, says Charlie Mulgrew

CHARLIE Mulgrew does not believe that the absence of Rangers from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is affecting Celtic’s domestic form this season.

The surprise 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday means the Parkhead club have won only two of their first five SPL games ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League opener at home to Benfica.

The Perth club went into the game bottom of the table without a win since March and with seven members of the squad having just recovered from a virus. But goals from Gregory Tade and Rowan Vine were enough to cancel out Kris Commons’ opener.

With Rangers in the Irn-Bru Third Division this season, it is widely believed that retaining their SPL title will be a formality for Celtic.

However, asked if that lack of competition from Ibrox is having an impact on his team’s league form, Mulgrew, still feeling the effects of an Achilles problem which had kept him sidelined in recent weeks for Celtic and Scotland, said: “I wouldn’t say that. We just didn’t turn up and it wasn’t good enough. The manager made it perfectly clear what we didn’t do but I think everyone knows it.

“We didn’t win the battle and do the ugly stuff to earn the right to play and we need to start doing that. We got off to a good start but we didn’t keep it going.

“We are all disappointed and determined to put it right the next time.

“We need to keep our eye on the SPL, that’s our bread and butter and I think everyone is focused towards that. Hopefully we will be back stronger, hopefully in the next match.”