No titles handed out in February but Celtic require perfect run to be in with a shout

Titles aren’t handed out in February but they can be lost. On a disappointing weekend for the Scottish Champions, Brendan Rodgers and his team were leapfrogged by their city rivals.

Celtic handed the title initiative to Rangers after dropping more points against Kilmarnock. Derek McInnes’ side were well drilled and probably took a deserved point thanks to their second half showing, in which Celtic looked poor.

The result now puts Celtic two points behind of Rangers, who beat St Johnstone in Perth today. Having been given two chances to take the lead on goal difference, Rangers seized their chance to go top of the table.

Celtic have been inconsistent throughout the season with the glaring lack of quality and identity on show. Now, Rodgers needs to do his best to rally this group of players and get the team firing for what is going to be a difficult few weeks.

Nothing but a perfect run until Ibrox is acceptable. Next weekend, Celtic travel to Motherwell to face Stuart Kettlewell’s side before a midweek clash against Dundee at Celtic Park. Following that, a Sunday trip to face Hearts at Tynecastle in the first weekend of March.

Two homes games in consecutive weekends follow, Livi at home in the Cup then St Johnstone in the league. The International break comes before a trip to Livi in the last game before the teams meet at Ibrox.

In the same time, Rangers will host Hearts, travel to Kilmarnock, host Motherwell, before away trips to Easter Road to face Hibs in the Cup then Dundee at Dens Park. Their final game before Rodgers’ team arrive in Govan is against Hibs at Ibrox.

There are banana skins there for Rangers but there can be no quarter given by the manager and his players. A perfect run until Ibrox is imperative towards determining the destiny of the title come May.