Wilson anxious to put Rangers 'nightmare' to bed early

(PA)

Celtic full-back Mark Wilson expects more twists and turns in the title race following Dundee United's shock win at Ibrox at the weekend, but he is desperate to avoid an "unbearable" final day shoot-out.

Celtic received a boost following the late postponement of their Premier League game at Inverness on Saturday when David Goodwillie scored a last-gasp winner against Rangers.

That left Celtic ahead in the SPL table with 10 games left to play for each side ahead of their midweek fixtures, with Neil Lennon's side hosting Hibernian tonight. But Wilson anticipates a tight schedule and pitches battered by the harsh winter to play their part in the run-in and he does not expect Celtic to stretch clear of their Old Firm rivals. However, the Scotland international does want the championship safely wrapped up before the final weekend of the season.

Referring to Dundee United's victory, Wilson said: "It was obviously a good result for us. We were actually on the training pitch so we didn't know much about it until later on. It's a good feeling when unexpected things like that happen. But I think there are going to be slip-ups from both teams and that was the first one from Rangers.

"I hope we can go on a good run where we don't lose, but it's going to be very difficult with the number of games and especially the situation with some pitches the way they are just now, it's tough."

When asked if he was prepared for the title race coming down to the last game of the season, the former Dundee United player said: "No chance, I want it wrapped up before then. That would just be a nightmare because it's pretty tense as it is, so to boil down to the last day of the season would be pretty unbearable.

"You never know, you wouldn't say Rangers would lose at home against Dundee United and I'm hoping we win against Hibernian, but who knows what could happen? There will be slip-ups along the way and let's just hope it doesn't go down to the last day. I remember being a fan, watching Rangers pip Celtic twice, and that was unbearable so I don't know how that would feel to be a player.

"The manager and Thommo [coach Alan Thompson] have told us about it in the past and they say it's not a nice feeling, so I don't want that to happen."

Wilson is prepared to face four games in eight days should the SPL reschedule Celtic's fixture against Inverness before the split, although alternatives include delaying Celtic's visit to Kilmarnock on 20 April and waiting for Motherwell perhaps to tie up a top six place. Wilson said: "It's unusual but I think we have a big enough squad to deal with it."