Ally McCoist has admitted he fears a Celtic backlash following their 3-0 defeat to Rangers. The former Rangers striker made the confession in a discussion about the recent Premier Sports Cup tie at Ibrox.

McCoist said he was taken aback by the scale of the result. "I'm going to be honest, I couldn't see that coming," McCoist said. The loss on September 13 saw Dan Neil score twice for Rangers, with Kevin Kelsy also netting his first goal for the club.

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown, who was part of the conversation, offered a blunt assessment of his old side's performance. "They were strong," Brown said. "Del [Derek McInnes] got his tactics spot on."

McCoist agreed with Brown's view that Rangers' approach was effective and served as a wake-up call. He expressed concern that the nature of the defeat would fuel a desire for revenge within the Celtic squad when the sides next meet.

The result was a rare setback for Brendan Rodgers' team, who otherwise sit top of the Premiership with a perfect record of six wins from six games. They hold an 18-point total and a five-point lead over Rangers in the table.

Celtic's form in the league has been strong, with four consecutive victories following that cup defeat, including a 1-0 win at St Johnstone. Their next challenge is an away trip to face Dundee United on December 30. United currently sit 11th in the division. Check the upcoming fixtures for the full schedule.

The team will be without several key players for that match, including Yang Hyun-Jun, Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand and Jota, who are all currently sidelined. For the latest team news, visit our injuries page.

Read the full report at Daily Record Football

Celtic host Ferencvarosi TC in the UEFA Europa League on September 17, the club confirmed. The match is the first of the competition's league stage. It follows a 3-0 defeat to Rangers on September 13. Celtic's recent form shows four wins and one loss from their last five matches. The club currently sits first in the Premiership with 18 points from six games.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill addressed the media on September 19. O'Neill said his team is ready for Sunday's match against Rangers. "We're ready to go, we really are," O'Neill said. The manager acknowledged a 3-1 Europa League loss to Ferencvaros on September 17. Celtic have now lost their last two matches. The club remains first in the Premiership with 18 points from six games. O'Neill confirmed the team must assess players who came off against Ferencvaros. Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand remain sidelined.