Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists his side have been hit by an attack of nerves after they moved closer to retaining their Premier League title with a home 1-0 win over Motherwell.
A 52nd-minute goal by Derek Riordan, who had replaced the injured Maciej Zurawski just before the interval, gave the Parkhead side their first win in four SPL games.
If Rangers lose at St Mirren tomorrow Celtic will be champions otherwise they can wrap the title up against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in their next SPL game in a fortnight's time.
Strachan said: "We are not seeing good football at the moment.
"Usually we have two or three players off form but we had more than that today.
"We started well and made some opportunities but when we didn't take them we got nervous.
"We have six or seven players who have never won championships before and it's a strange feeling trying to build up to it.
"It was the same when I was at Aberdeen and we were close to the title, we were scrapping for points against teams like Morton.
"Hopefully this will be a good experience for them."
Riordan scored his first goal since the start of February when he notched a double against Livingston in the Tennent's Scottish Cup.
Despite his reluctance to give the former Hibernian striker much of a look-in this season, Strachan has previously claimed that the player was the best finisher at the club.
And the Celtic boss moved to quash rumours that he has been less than happy with Riordan's application since moving from Easter Road.
Strachan said: "I keep hearing things about Derek's lifestyle and things like that.
"But he ran away from a bit of trouble last week and he got stick for that. It can only happen here.
"He's been as good a professional as I've worked with and this will help him in the long run.
"A lot of players have gone to a club and not settled in right away and this experience will do him a lot of good.
"So I'm really pleased for him."
To add to what has been almost a season-long debate on Riordan, Celtic defender Lee Naylor heaped praise on his team-mate.
He said: "Deeks (Riordan) is a good lad and without doubt he is the best finisher at the club and he proved it when he came on.
"He normally plays wide in training but he can adapt to any position and he is a handful for any player.
"He is skilful with a wicked left foot and can cause problems for anyone."
Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas rued a positive but ultimately point-less performance against the Parkhead side but insisted he had no regrets about leaving Celtic-bound Scott McDonald out of his side.
McDonald has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Parkhead side and there was some controversy when Malpas declared that the Australian, who played in the 1-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock on Tuesday, would be omitted for the trip to Celtic Park.
However, the former Scotland international said: "We had plenty of chances against Kilmarnock on Tuesday and Scott never scored.
"I still feel that I made the right decision.
"The players were more concentrated.
"If Scott would have been here it would have been a media circus but I'm delighted that our players turned up and played."
Motherwell defender Martyn Corrigan tried to play down the effect the loss of McDonald will have on the Steelmen next season.
He said: "If we had Maradona in the team then he couldn't be replaced.
"It will be difficult to replace Scott but I'm sure Maurice will be looking to bring someone in."
If Rangers lose at St Mirren tomorrow Celtic will be champions otherwise they can wrap the title up against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in their next SPL game in a fortnight's time.
Strachan said: "We are not seeing good football at the moment.
"Usually we have two or three players off form but we had more than that today.
"We started well and made some opportunities but when we didn't take them we got nervous.
"We have six or seven players who have never won championships before and it's a strange feeling trying to build up to it.
"It was the same when I was at Aberdeen and we were close to the title, we were scrapping for points against teams like Morton.
"Hopefully this will be a good experience for them."
Riordan scored his first goal since the start of February when he notched a double against Livingston in the Tennent's Scottish Cup.
Despite his reluctance to give the former Hibernian striker much of a look-in this season, Strachan has previously claimed that the player was the best finisher at the club.
And the Celtic boss moved to quash rumours that he has been less than happy with Riordan's application since moving from Easter Road.
Strachan said: "I keep hearing things about Derek's lifestyle and things like that.
"But he ran away from a bit of trouble last week and he got stick for that. It can only happen here.
"He's been as good a professional as I've worked with and this will help him in the long run.
"A lot of players have gone to a club and not settled in right away and this experience will do him a lot of good.
"So I'm really pleased for him."
To add to what has been almost a season-long debate on Riordan, Celtic defender Lee Naylor heaped praise on his team-mate.
He said: "Deeks (Riordan) is a good lad and without doubt he is the best finisher at the club and he proved it when he came on.
"He normally plays wide in training but he can adapt to any position and he is a handful for any player.
"He is skilful with a wicked left foot and can cause problems for anyone."
Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas rued a positive but ultimately point-less performance against the Parkhead side but insisted he had no regrets about leaving Celtic-bound Scott McDonald out of his side.
McDonald has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Parkhead side and there was some controversy when Malpas declared that the Australian, who played in the 1-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock on Tuesday, would be omitted for the trip to Celtic Park.
However, the former Scotland international said: "We had plenty of chances against Kilmarnock on Tuesday and Scott never scored.
"I still feel that I made the right decision.
"The players were more concentrated.
"If Scott would have been here it would have been a media circus but I'm delighted that our players turned up and played."
Motherwell defender Martyn Corrigan tried to play down the effect the loss of McDonald will have on the Steelmen next season.
He said: "If we had Maradona in the team then he couldn't be replaced.
"It will be difficult to replace Scott but I'm sure Maurice will be looking to bring someone in."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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