Brendan Rodgers not in state of Celtic panic YET but boss needs 3 things to change the mood music

Brendan Rodgers is too good a manager to be panicking yet - and will know a win against Motherwell this weekend can quickly change the mood music.

That's the view of Paul Hartley who reckons their clash at Fir Park this weekend could flip the title momentum...just as it did for HIS Celtic team in 2008. The former Hoops midfielder was part of Gordon Strachan's side who found themselves trailing Rangers by seven points heading into the final seven games of the season, but recovered to win the league - kickstarting a big finish to the season by thumping Motherwell 4-1 at Fir Park.

That's where Rodgers takes his team this weekend and while the situation facing his side is nowhere near as stark this Sunday - should Rangers beat Hearts on Saturday, they will be looking to cut the gap back to two points - he certainly needs a similar result. Fans are beginning to turn on the Irishman but Hartley remembers it was a similar situation for Strachan, who recovered to win the league.

He told the Scottish Sun: “I remember the build-up to that Fir Park game clearly because the supporters were really unhappy. We had lost to Motherwell at Celtic Park the previous weekend, and some fans were calling for Gordon to be sacked.

“I remember we were booed off, and most people on the outside thought Rangers were going to win the title. By the time we arrived at Fir Park, we were seven points behind them, and we had also played a game more. There was no way we could drop any more points.

"There are parallels to the situation Celtic are currently in as they head back to Fir Park this weekend. They could be five points behind Rangers by Sunday, and while there is still a lot of football to be played, they can’t really afford to drop more points.