‘IBROX? THE PRESSURE IS ALL ON THEM,’ RODGERS 

BRENDAN RODGERS insists all the pressure is on the home team when champions Celtic travel to Ibrox on Saturday.

The Premiership pacesetters stretched their lead at the top of the table to an incredible 16 points with a game in hand after claiming their 14th successive league win with a 2-0 victory over Ross County last night.

First-half strikes from defender Erik Sviatchenko and midfielder Stuart Armstrong carried the Parkhead men to within three games of a Lisbon Lions’ club record of 26 domestic encounters unbeaten at the start of a season.

Rodgers’ side are now easing towards a sixth consecutive crown and he revealed he thought the result in Govan on Hogmanay is almost irrelevant.

He said: “There is huge pressure on them to get the result at home. We know it will be tough and it’s a game we are looking forward to. It finishes off a remarkable first half of the season for us. And we aim to go there and win.

“We have had a fantastic start to the season and, irrespective of the result, we will be happy with our work.

“We will go away, rest and recover and come back even better for the second half of the season. But we are greedy. We want to win every game and that’s the attitude at the weekend.”

The Irishman confirmed Australian playmaker Tom Rogic is out of the clash at Ibrox with an ankle injury, but expects him back after the winter break.

He said: “Rogic won’t make the game on Saturday. That’s disappointing for him as he’s been outstanding, but it’s about the collective and we will be ready.

“However, Tom will be back after the mid-season break. It’s not a long-term injury.”

Rodgers was pleased with the midweek win over the Highlanders and added: “It was a good goal from Erik Sviatchenko. I was wondering what he was doing that far forward.

“He is a defender, but hit it well, even if the goalkeeper might have done better. Erik hit it well enough and in the corner. Then Stuart Armstrong scored a great individual goal to put us 2-0 up.

“That’s eight games this month, seven wins and a draw in the Champions League. You cannot ask any more of the team.”