Pressure is all on Celtic at Rugby Park

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald looks ahead to his side's clash with Celtic. Picture: SNS

Both teams head into the Rugby Park showdown desperate to secure all three points.

Killie have dropped five points behind Hamilton in the battle to avoid the relegation play-off.

Celtic, meanwhile, have a single-point lead at the top of the Labrokes Premiership and a game in hand over title rivals Aberdeen as the run-in approaches.

MacDonald admits that both sides are having to cope with huge amounts of pressure bearing down on their shoulders.

But while the livelihoods of many of Killie’s staff may be put at risk if the club were to drop out of the top flight, he says Ronny Deila’s players will feel the pinch even more if they fail to land the title.

He said: “We’re obviously under pressure because of where we are in the league but so are Celtic because they are expected to win it.

“It would be a disaster if they didn’t do that. They’re still top right now and could go four points clear if they win on Saturday - yet they are still getting dog’s abuse.

“That just seems to be the case if you play for Celtic or Rangers.

“We feel the pressure because of the threat of relegation but I don’t think Saturday’s match will be the definitive moment of our season - that will come in the games after.

“We want to get a result but no one expects us to win.

“But it could be a defining match for Celtic. Aberdeen just seem to keep grinding out results and keeping the pressure on.

“If Celtic were to slip up on Saturday it could prove costly, so I think the pressure is all on them if I’m honest.”

But MacDonald still believes the Parkhead outfit are favourites to land the title, despite the recent criticism directed at Deila and his players.

“They’re still the best team in the country in my opinion,” he said. “They’re still on top of the league but Aberdeen have done so well this season and it’s great they’re still challenging.

“There’s been a lot said about Celtic’s form this season but they will always come under scrutiny, especially with Rangers not being in the league.

“But instead of people celebrating the fact Aberdeen are making a race of it, it seems people just want to talk about Celtic faltering, which for me isn’t the case.

“They’ve been very unlucky themselves. They’ve kept five clean sheets in their last seven games but haven’t always got the results they deserved.

“Celtic have got a lot of players, though, and there are a lot of changes week-to-week, which I don’t always thinks helps.

“I read recently they had 17 midfielders on their books - we’re lucky if we’ve got 17 players.

“But they’re still a fantastic side and we will need to be wary at the weekend.”

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Pressure is all on Celtic at Rugby Park - Jamie MacDonald