A Cillian Sheridan double and a strike by Shunsuke Nakamura secured victory for Strachan's men as the Ibrox club were held to a goalless draw at Motherwell.

The champions have won nine SPL games in a row since losing at home to Rangers at the end of August and have put pressure on their great rivals who are desperate to prevent Celtic making it four titles in succession.

However, the Celtic boss refused to make too much of the increased advantage.

"It would matter if it was there was only one game left", he said.

"As we all know, form and results can change dramatically.

"We've won nine SPL games in a row and in that time we have had to play Champions League games and Co-operative Insurance Cup games and have had to deal with that.

"So the players can be pleased with themselves.

"I was pleased with their attitude against Kilmarnock, the stadium was not buzzing and we had to get the crowd on our side.

"There was good enthusiasm although we wasted too many chances which was the only disappointment.

"You are always nervous when it is only 1-0 but once we got the second I knew we were okay."

Strachan was particularly pleased with Sheridan, 19, who grabbed his second and third goals for the club since coming in to the side in recent weeks due to the injury crisis at Parkhead.

He said: "I couldn't have asked for any more, it was a terrific performance.

"When he came here to Celtic, he was raw but there was something about him.

"We've realised that he is an intelligent lad and he takes things in.

"The problem is he has played so little football over the last year and a half through injury, we thought we might be putting him in too early but it has worked out all right."

Killie boss Jim Jefferies was glad to get past the two games in a row against the Old Firm clubs, the defeat at Parkhead coming after a 4-0 loss to Rangers at Rugby Park last weekend.

Jefferies almost wrote the result off as inevitable as he looked forward to the visit of Dundee United to Rugby Park on Saturday.

He said: "We had injuries and there were two or three players playing for the first time in a long time but they plugged away.

"Celtic had a lot of possession but until the second goal went in, I felt comfortable enough.

"We didn't do enough in terms of attacking them, but we were well organised and if Alan Combe had held the ball they wouldn't have scored their second goal.

"Alan was hard on himself after the game because he let the ball slip.

"But I said before the game, my priorities lie in the next seven games, four of which are at home."