Strachan admits mistakes have let Rangers grab lead

(Jeff J MItchell/Getty Images)

As Celtic were yesterday preparing to play their first league game of 2008 at home to Kilmarnock this afternoon their manager, Gordon Strachan, reflected on the "new challenge" of being SPL "chasers", and acknowledged that "human error" had left them trailing Rangers.

With the Old Firm derby on 2 January postponed, as well as Celtic's game with Motherwell on 6 January, both in the wake of Phil O'Donnell's death, Celtic's only game this month so far was last week's Scottish Cup win over Stirling. The hiatus has allowed Rangers to make inroads into their own fixture backlog, and move four points clear of Celtic, having now played the same number of games.

Celtic eased to the title in the last two seasons, and were well clear of Rangers at this time a year ago, but Strachan believes that his side have the "ability and character" to fight back.

"This is new for us," he said. "In the first half of the last few seasons, we've powered our way through to be ahead... [Falling behind] is definitely not because of lack of effort or determination – it's the fact that we have made human errors."

He said he could think of "four or five" errors that had cost eight points. "Now, only human effort, concentration and belief will get us those four points back."

Aiden McGeady, one of Strachan's more dynamic players, will be absent today, suspended. Celtic will otherwise be at full strength after successful recent comebacks for their goalkeeper Artur Boruc and Shunsuke Nakamura.

Rangers, who play tomorrow at Inverness, will be without their £8m-rated right-back Alan Hutton, who is banned, while winger Lee McCulloch is doubtful through illness.

The Rangers manager Walter Smith described reports that West Ham's Christian Dailly could be on his way to Ibrox as "premature". The 34-year-old utility player has been linked with the club, but is thought to be reluctant to move.

This lunchtime's Edinburgh derby will have more than usual at stake when Heart of Midlothian host Hibernian. Hearts have not won a game in any competition since early November and only Gretna are below them in the league. Hibs' new manager, Mixu Paatelainen, oversees his first league game, in the season's most bitter fixture.

He has lost a prized left-back in David Murphy but could field two new players – the returning former captain, Ian Murray, who left Norwich this week, and the midfielder John Rankin, just signed from Inverness.

Hearts should have goalkeeper Steve Banks back from injury, but striker Calum Elliot and defender Marius Zaliukas are both suspended.