By John Barnes

Rangers and Celtic are neck and neck at the top of the SPL

Ex-Scotland defender Tom Boyd believes former club Celtic will bounce back after relinquishing the lead in the Scottish Premier League to Rangers.

"I still think Celtic will win the title," Boyd told BBC Scotland, recalling that Rangers had a bigger lead at this stage last season.

"Maybe I'm a bit biased in saying that. They've been over the course before.

"And, coming back from last season's exploits, that will stand them in good stead this time."

Celtic at one stage had a seven-point lead over the Ibrox men, who now top the table on goal difference after Celtic drew with Motherwell on Sunday, 24 hours after their city rivals' win over Kilmarnock.

"I don't know if there's a little bit of the spark been lost by Celtic," said Boyd.

You need the big men, the key players, to come out and perform Former Celtic defender Tom Boyd

"I think they played well against Motherwell, but previously against Rangers and Inverness they only got one or two shots in total.

"They're not creating enough chances for the forwards and, at this moment in time, there's a confidence problem with the strikers trying to put the ball in the net."

With the Old Firm locked on the same points, it reminds Boyd of the time, during his playing career, when Celtic succeeded in stopping Rangers winning the title for the tenth season in a row.

"The pressure was on, the teams were neck and neck," he said.

"This year, both sides will feel the pressure as the season goes on. Celtic going for four in a row and Rangers trying to stop the monopoly that Celtic have got.

"Back then, the pressure was magnified and I think you saw that in some of the results of both clubs as they tried to get over the finishing line.

"There are situations in adversity when you are not playing well or not scoring - that's when the pressure gets to you.

"That's when you want the players who've been over the course before to step up to the plate.

"You need the big men, the key players, to come out and perform. That's what you rely on in those kind of situations.

"For us, there was a desire not to fail at the time when we won the title."

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