Mowbray exhorts Celtic to launch title charge

Tony Mowbray says Celtic’s clash against Dundee United on Saturday is a must-win match if they are to stand a chance of regaining the Scottish Premier League title.

Celtic find themselves 10 points behind fierce rivals Rangers in the race for the SPL championship after they were held to a 4-4 draw by Aberdeen at Pittodrie last weekend.

The two giants meet next weekend at Ibrox in the third Old Firm fixture of the season and Mowbray knows Celtic can’t afford to find themselves even further behind.

And the Hoops manager has urged his side to get over their disappointing draw with the Dons and produce wins in their next two games to make the championship run-in more interesting.

“We have to cope with the frustration of the draw at Aberdeen, stick together and move on,” he said.

“We now find ourselves in the same position as we did a few weeks ago, when we chipped a couple of points off Rangers’ lead and then dropped points ourselves.

“What we have to do is get back to chipping the points away again. To do that, we need to get a positive result on Saturday against Dundee United and go into the Rangers game full of confidence.

“We were all disappointed after Saturday but if we win our next two games, it makes life very interesting. There are points to be won and lost — starting with our game against Dundee United. We will do everything we can to get a positive result.”

Despite his extensive dealing in the transfer market during January the Celtic manager finds himself light in numbers in defence.

Darren O’Dea is suspended while both Glenn Loovens and Jos Hooiveld are injured.

It could mean teenagers Josh Thompson and Thomas Rogne are partnered in the centre of defence although Mowbray has hinted at moving experienced full-backs Lee Naylor, Mark Wilson or Andreas Hinkel into the position as cover.

Ranger boss Walter Smith has the luxury of picking from a full squad with no fresh injury worries prior to the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at St Johnstone.

His side are unbeaten in the league since November and easily dispensed with third-placed Hibernian in a 3-0 win last Sunday.

The Ibrox side triumphed when they met the Saints in the League Cup semi-final earlier this month but Derek McInnes’s team are on a high following their 5-1 win over Hibs in midweek.

John Hughes takes his Hibernian side to Fir Park to take on Motherwell on the back of two straight defeats, their worst run since September.

Motherwell, on the other hand, are in great form since the arrival of Craig Brown as manager and are unbeaten in seven matches.

Kilmarnock take on St Mirren at Rugby Park with both sides looking to pick up points in their bid to climb away from the relegation zone.

Bottom club Falkirk take on Mark McGhee’s Aberdeen two weeks after they defeated the Dons at Pittodrie.

McGhee has come in for criticism after his side were knocked out of the Scottish Cup in mid-week by First Division Raith Rovers, while new Bairns boss Steven Pressley is still looking for his first win.

On Sunday Hearts face Hamilton at Tynecastle. Jim Jefferies finally claimed his first win in his second spell in charge of the Jambos with a 3-2 over Falkirk last week, while Hamilton hover near the relegation spot.

Fixtures

Saturday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Celtic v Dundee United, Falkirk v Aberdeen, Kilmarnock v St Mirren,

Motherwell v Hibernian, St Johnstone v Rangers (1245GMT)

Sunday (1500GMT)

Hearts v Hamilton