RONNY DEILA believes clubs are running scared of SPFL Premiership leaders Celtic once again - after watching Motherwell park the bus at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

However, Deila has warned his Hoops players that second-placed Aberdeen will still push them all the way as they bid to land a fourth straight Scottish title.

The Glasgow club leapfrogged the Dons in the top-flight table with an emphatic 4-0 triumph over the Steelmen in midweek, but Derek McInnes' men could go back to the summit if they beat St Johnstone tonight.

Celtic had to work hard to overcome struggling opponents who adopted an ultra-defensive approach in a desperate attempt to snatch a much-needed result.

But their Norwegian manager feels that Well putting 10 men behind the ball was a back-handed compliment that showed how well his side is playing at the moment.

The Hoops slumped to some disappointing results domestically and in Europe at the start of the 2014/15 campaign as he struggled to adapt to the game in this country.

They lost to Inverness Caley Thistle away and Hamilton at home and also drew with both Dundee and Motherwell.

But asked about Motherwell's game plan on Wednesday, Deila said: "I think that says people fear us more than they did before. That to me is good to see.

"We have to deal with breaking teams down, like Motherwell. Ross County did the same at home and I think it will be a quite similar match tomorrow.

"I am confident we can stay on top of the league now we are back there. That is the goal and I know we have a very strong squad. The main target is to win the league.

"I think I am more confident in the team now than I was two or three months ago. The levels are higher and I think we are growing more and more together.

"We understand what we expect from each other, the players and me. That gives me more confidence and I see more confidence in the players. They are much fitter than they were before and sharper.

"But Aberdeen have a very good team. They should be up there. They have had consistency in their team over the period and they have improved. They can win a lot of games. We have to think about ourselves and then we will see in April if it is two teams, or three teams, or one."

One Celtic player who Deila feels encapsulates that dramatic improvement from the early stages of the season is on-form striker Leigh Griffiths.

The former Scottish Player of the Year hardly featured under the Scandinavian manager when he first arrived and there was speculation he would leave - either on loan or permanently.

But the Hoops gaffer has been impressed at how the 24-year-old, who took his tally for the season to five with a strike against Motherwell, has embraced his ideas and lavished praise on him.

He said: "There's big competition up front. A lot also depends on the opponents we meet. But Leigh has made improvements in a lot of things. He looks sharp now and needs more confidence. But the goal on Wednesday was very important.

"I believe in him. I think he's a very exciting player. His left foot is world-class, and I've not seen any player have a better left foot in my life. He has skills, but, again, you have to perform over time when you play at Celtic.

"I wouldn't play him if I wanted him to leave. We made some demands of him and he has really, really worked hard to tune into that. He still needs to improve, everybody does, but he is getting to a new level.

"He has played the last two games and we have won the games and he has played well, so he is in a better position than three or four weeks ago."

Deila continued: "First of all, Leigh is a fantastic guy. He is always in a good mood and you get a laugh in the dressing room. Also, his fitness is 100 per cent better than it was and you can see that in matches. He works really hard to close people down.

"He gave 100 per cent in training and that is what you have to do in future to keep improving. That's why he's got his chance, because he is doing a good job.

"It's the same with everybody. You learn when you are together with people who wants to improve and make changes. These people always have a future. That's the culture I want.

"The only insurance I have to make sure we get results is to see that things are progressing, individually and as a team. If that doesn't happen, the problem comes back to me and the whole club.

"But every day I look to see if people are hungry to learn. Leigh has been a good example of that."

Deila, whose side take on Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium tomorrow, is pleased Celtic appear to be hitting a good spell of form as they near a month that will make or break their season.

The Hoops take on Rangers in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday week and then play Dundee away in the Scottish Cup the following weekend.

And, later in February, they face an eagerly-anticipated double-header against Italian opponents Inter Milan in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Deila said: "February is a very big month. I am excited. They are going to be very interesting games. It could make or break our season. Hopefully it won't. The trophies don't come in February. Hopefully we can extend that period."