The unexpected 2-0 defeat Kilmarnock inflicted on Celtic will not, in all likelihood, affect the final outcome of the SPL.

The Hoops will, barring some unforeseen catastrophe, run out comfortable league winners once again come next May. Nor will the reverse to Kenny Shiels' team impact on the displays of Neil Lennon's side in the Champions League. The Scottish champions will still get themselves up for their remaining Group G showdowns with Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

But the failure by fringe players to stake a claim for a regular start when given a start at the weekend should seriously concern Lennon.

If his team pick up knocks - and captain Scott Brown is, for one, struggling just now - then he will need others to step up to the plate if his team are to progress.

On the evidence of a dire display against Killie there is no guarantee that they will do so.

NO - Alison McConnell

Celtic were lethargic, pedestrian and as flat as a week old coke on Saturday, but when the pressure is on and they need to, they are more than capable of bringing a bit of fizz to their game.

The jaunt towards the league title may not be proving as straightforward as we had all predicted, but there is still nothing to suggest that there is anyone capable of stopping Celtic from claiming the title.

The bottom line is that defeats such as the one on Saturday and the one earlier in the campaign to St Johnstone may irk Neil Lennon, but they actually count for very little.

Had Rangers been jostling for the title too, those results could have proved far more wounding.

As it is, Lennon will be disappointed that some of his squad players do not seem to want to seize the initiative when it is handed to them, but other than that there is no genuine need to panic after a bad day at the office