Celtic are likely to respond strongly to Rangers kicking on.
There is no excuse for complacency at Celtic any more after a troubling start to the season.
Rangers are creeping up on them and sit just two points back from Brendan Rodgers’ side, in what appears to be the most open title race in years.
The positive news for Celtic, heading towards January, is that the board now have to respond.
The last time Celtic felt challenged, they did so in a major way.
This was after Rangers’ promotion to the Premiership in 2016.
Rangers were billed, wrongly, as title challengers.
Celtic took no risks, just to be sure.
They changed managers, bought him the players he wanted, and bagged bargains like Moussa Dembele in the process.
In recent seasons a poor Rangers side have led to some complacency from Celtic.
Even this summer it looked unlikely Rangers could catch Celtic, especially after the repeated hammerings they took last season.
This year the difference between the two sides looks more even.
The last time this was the case Celtic responded with real determination.
The board can surely sense the need to do so again, and will want to back manager Brendan Rodgers.
January could be a big month.
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