Northern lights are shining ... and Celtic are now on Reds alert

Now, let's make one thing very clear: I am not saying they WILL win the title.

But there is no doubt in my mind Derek McInnes' team COULD prevent Celtic making it four-in-a-row.

More significantly, I'm no longer completely convinced in the way I had been to this point that Celtic will overcome all of the problems they have had so far this season and come out on top.

The reason for my doubt? The league table as is stands today.

I simply could not have foreseen Aberdeen having made and, more importantly, maintained such a strong challenge.

Sure, Ronny Deila has every right to highlight the points Celtic have gathered in the last few months, winning eight games on the trot, then losing to Dundee United, drawing with Ross County before getting back on the winning track at Kilmarnock.

But Ronny is also right to highlight Aberdeen's run in this time. In fact, since they were beaten by Celtic at Pittodrie on November 9, they have not lost a goal let alone a point.

The manner of that defeat - with Virgil van Dijk scoring a stoppage-time winner for a Celtic side which had played with 10 men after Scott Brown's red card - should have been a real punch to the solar plexus of Aberdeen.

But, instead of going down, they have bounced right back up and put together this run which has been based on solid defending and decent chance-creating and conversion.

They are looking stronger as every week goes by, whereas Celtic have not always been consistent in performance and, laterally, in their results.

The irony is that Aberdeen have lost twice to Celtic this season, but have dropped very few points - especially in the last few months - to the other teams in the division.

This is in contrast to how things have tended to be with them in past years when they have managed to raise their game for the matches against Celtic, but let themselves down when they have played teams below them in the league.

A lot of the credit for this must go to Derek for the squad he has assembled and the confidence he has instilled in them.

Their fans are buying into what he is doing, and backing them by turning up in increasing numbers, home and away. They believe they can win the title.

Contrast that to Celtic, where their fans believe they can't lose it and, as a result, the attendances have been falling because many do not think there is any real contest to turn up and see.

Now, as the clubs turn for home in the title race, everyone at Celtic - fans, players, management alike - must share this belief that Aberdeen could win this title, and respond accordingly.

The fact Celtic have a couple of games in hand is being used as the reason they are trailing by four points. But these games still have to be won - along with very many more.

Until they are, Aberdeen are top, and are there on merit. The next meeting between the two clubs, on March 1, is already shaping up to be crucial.

Though it is much too early to be considered any kind of title decider, what is already clear is the result will be psychologically significant.

Celtic will not want to come out of that match still behind Aberdeen, so they can't afford to drop any points between now and then.

That run has to kick off at Hamilton tomorrow lunchtime where nothing - pitch and weather included - can be used as an excuse.

Ronny has to use Aberdeen's position - and the fact the bookies are already shortening their odds to finish top - as the extra motivation required to focus his players on what has always been the No.1 priority, retaining the title.

The upcoming League Cup semi-final against Rangers, and the Europa League ties against Inter Milan, will attract a lot of attention and could therefore be a distraction.

But the consequences for this could be severe, and you can be sure the likes of Hamilton will be only too ready to make them pay if they look beyond the game in front of them.

How Accies will react to losing Alex Neil, then losing to Dundee United, will be interesting.

But Celtic can't sit back to see. They have to take the game to them from the start, impose themselves on their opponents in the way they did against Kilmarnock when they nullified the pitch and the conditions with quick-passing, incisive football.

Ronny should also remind his players Hamilton hit them with a sucker-punch when they last met to take the points at Parkhead, and that finishing off their chances to avoid a similar shock to the system has to improve.

That could have cost them again at Rugby Park, and Accies have a much more potent strike force than Killie.

Hamilton have been the surprise package this season, but they are another side no-one can deny deserve to be where they currently sit.

I reckon they can finish top six, which would be a marvellous achievement in their first season back up.

It is the start of a heavy schedule of matches for Celtic, but momentum has to be built up from the beginning if they they are to finish where they need to be.

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