Kris Boyd claims Celtic are still favourites for the title despite Rangers slashing their advantage at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to a single point.
The race was blown wide open again yesterday when the champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Hearts in the lunch-time kick-off before Rangers responded in style with a 3-1 win over Motherwell.
With the final Old Firm derby set to take place at Ibrox, Rangers know they now have a real chance of ending Celtic's quest for a fourth successive title.
But Boyd was keen to play down their chances, insisting: "Celtic are favourites and we will hang onto them for as long as we can.
"We have to keep going about our business the way we did against Motherwell and hopefully it will be good enough at the end.
"We knew they had dropped the points but there is still a pressure to win every time you go out on that park.
"We got the three points, we did our bit, and we just have to carry on the way we have in this game."
Andrius Velicka opened the scoring after only two minutes before Boyd found the back of the net twice to secure the three points after John Sutton had thrown Motherwell a lifeline by pulling a goal back.
The brace brings the striker's tally to 98 goals for Rangers since his move to Ibrox in January 2006 and he is thrilled to be closing in on his century for the club.
"I said weeks ago that I wanted it and I've managed this week to get closer to it," he said.
"We go to Easter Road (to play Hibernian) next week and that will be another hard game but hopefully we can get the three points."
Boyd is one of a couple of players who are walking a disciplinary tightrope at a time when Rangers cannot afford to lose any more personnel.
But he is adamant the threat of suspension will not prevent him from giving 100% for the cause as they head into the run-in.
He said: "You need to just go out and win the game and take whatever comes with that after the game.
"You can't go out shirking tackles or not doing your bit for the team.
"You need to give it your all. If it means you get a booking, there is nothing you can do about that.
"The most important thing is the three points."
Motherwell boss Mark McGhee claimed afterwards Boyd was the difference between the two teams and Sutton found it difficult to disagree with his manager's assessment.
He said: "When you look at his first goal, he has taken a touch and hit it from about 25 yards.
"I guess that's pretty hard to defend. You wouldn't expect most players to score from that distance.
"He took his penalty well, too, and, from our point of view, that was pivotal to them winning the game."
With the final Old Firm derby set to take place at Ibrox, Rangers know they now have a real chance of ending Celtic's quest for a fourth successive title.
But Boyd was keen to play down their chances, insisting: "Celtic are favourites and we will hang onto them for as long as we can.
"We have to keep going about our business the way we did against Motherwell and hopefully it will be good enough at the end.
"We knew they had dropped the points but there is still a pressure to win every time you go out on that park.
"We got the three points, we did our bit, and we just have to carry on the way we have in this game."
Andrius Velicka opened the scoring after only two minutes before Boyd found the back of the net twice to secure the three points after John Sutton had thrown Motherwell a lifeline by pulling a goal back.
The brace brings the striker's tally to 98 goals for Rangers since his move to Ibrox in January 2006 and he is thrilled to be closing in on his century for the club.
"I said weeks ago that I wanted it and I've managed this week to get closer to it," he said.
"We go to Easter Road (to play Hibernian) next week and that will be another hard game but hopefully we can get the three points."
Boyd is one of a couple of players who are walking a disciplinary tightrope at a time when Rangers cannot afford to lose any more personnel.
But he is adamant the threat of suspension will not prevent him from giving 100% for the cause as they head into the run-in.
He said: "You need to just go out and win the game and take whatever comes with that after the game.
"You can't go out shirking tackles or not doing your bit for the team.
"You need to give it your all. If it means you get a booking, there is nothing you can do about that.
"The most important thing is the three points."
Motherwell boss Mark McGhee claimed afterwards Boyd was the difference between the two teams and Sutton found it difficult to disagree with his manager's assessment.
He said: "When you look at his first goal, he has taken a touch and hit it from about 25 yards.
"I guess that's pretty hard to defend. You wouldn't expect most players to score from that distance.
"He took his penalty well, too, and, from our point of view, that was pivotal to them winning the game."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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