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Celtic took a step towards the title on Sunday but must respond to any pressure Rangers put on them in the title run in.

Scott Brown’s winner sent Celtic eight points clear at the top of the table with 12 games remaining in the title race.

Rangers drew on Saturday, missing a great chance to put any pressure on Celtic before the trip to Rugby Park.

However, they’ll get more chances to do so in the coming weeks.

Both Celtic and Rangers have four league fixtures each before they next meet at Celtic Park on March 31st.

In three of those four match days, Rangers will play before Celtic. In the other fixture, they play simultaneously, with Celtic travelling to Hearts and Rangers hosting Dundee.

Whether Rangers are capable of winning all three of those games or not, Celtic must respond to any pressure they find themselves under.

Celtic have been in imperious form since the restart and look every bit of the title winning teams Brendan Rodgers has fielded in the last two seasons.

They are playing again with a swagger and a confidence that they will not be denied.

The task for Rodgers’s men is simple, they must continue to keep the foot on the pedal.

They have to assume that Rangers will win every game, and they cannot slip up in theirs.

In the likely event Rangers drop even more points, Celtic will be in prime position to take advantage again.

In that sense, the fixture list can work in Celtic’s favour. It’s unclear whether Rangers can handle the pressure of playing before Celtic.

Celtic won’t be denied

The victory over Kilmarnock will go down as a significant one should Celtic go on and win the league.

It showed the double-treble winner’s character, going until the last whistle and getting their rewards with a late winner.

Their eight point lead may be cut to five before they entertain Motherwell at home on Sunday.

If it’s any more than five, then Celtic can take an even bigger step towards their eighth straight title.