Celtic’s Joe Ledley never gave up on catching Rangers

JOE LEDLEY always believed Celtic would peg back Rangers’ lead in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race ahead of tonight’s Old Firm clash at Parkhead.

Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Saturday, coupled with Rangers’ defeat at St Mirren, took the Hoops to within one point of the leaders, despite trailing them by 15 points in November.

Parkhead midfielder Ledley is hoping to complete the turnaround with victory tonight, which would see Celtic top of the table going into 2012.

“We always believed,” said Ledley. “We knew we weren’t playing as well as we could but now we are playing some good, attacking stuff. The boys have done well with good performances, especially away from home. It would be a great achievement for the management, the players and the fans to be top of the league going into the new year.”

Asked if the upturn in the Parkhead side’s form and the stuttering of Rangers made them valid favourites, the former Cardiff player said: “No. Obviously we are second, we are underdogs. They are top of the league by one point. We are at home which is a bit of an advantage but it doesn’t matter if we are favourites or underdogs.”