Lafferty expects tough title run-in starting with Dons

Kyle Lafferty admits he is bracing himself for a gruelling title run-in after warning that Celtic will fight to the bitter end to get their hands on the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League trophy.

Rangers travel to Aberdeen tonight hoping for the win that will keep the pressure on Celtic at the summit.

The Scottish champions may have triumphed in the last two campaigns but Lafferty insists past success counts for nothing in the remaining games of this season.

The striker said: "I wouldn't say it's an advantage because it's really just down to the last eight games.

"Celtic are probably dying to get their hands on it having not won it for two seasons. Knowing Neil Lennon he will be getting his players up for it and we're going to expect a fight from them, so it's going to be a tough eight games for both sides."

Meanwhile, Rangers trio Ally McCoist, Madjid Bougherra and El-Hadji Diouf have all escaped bans following their roles in last month's explosive Old Firm derby.

Assistant manager McCoist successfully appealed the two-match suspension he was given for clashing with Lennon at the end of the Scottish Cup replay at Celtic Park on March 2.

Bougherra and El-Hadji Diouf, were both fined 2,500 and 5,000 respectively and warned about their future conduct but were not handed out additional bans on top of the automatic suspension for their red cards in the game.