RONNY DEILA has warned his Bhoys not be duped by the Dons.

The title race isn't over, even if Derek McInnes' side are trying to tell everyone it is.

The Hoops boss can see through the ruse, which is more a last throw of the dice by the Dons than a genuine submission the battle is over.

So Deila boss has put his men on guard against complacency ahead of tonight's home game against Partick Thistle.

He admits it would take a spectacular collapse for the champions to lose their crown, but cautioned: "Everything is possible in football.

"Nobody can take the points we already have.

"But we have to win more games before we win the league, and I've never taken anything for granted in football.

"If you do that, you can be made to eat your words.

"We're in a very good position, and we have to enjoy this. But this period is the most important so far."

Deila considers this the home straight and added: "We're getting closer all the time. But, when you get closer, the games get bigger.

"This is very big game for us. If we win, we put a lot of pressure on Aberdeen again.

"But, if we lose, it is open again."

Deila is a fan of the way Thistle play, and was impressed with their performance to draw at Pittodrie at the weekend.

He knows almost every team in the top division still has something to play for, but remains as concerned about the condition of the pitches as he is about the strength of the opposition.

Despite this, the Norwegian can see a light at the end of a tunnel which can lead to a Treble.

However, he is honest enough to concede he was not always sure he would be here for the entire journey.

The stuttering start made to his time in charge brought support not pressure from those above and around him.

But, it caused him to question if he wanted to be here.

Deila recalled: "There was a period when I doubted whether I wanted to do it.

"I felt it was a little unfair at times.

"I've always said I want to build things, create things. When you come in and everything is result, result, result, it's tough to think how are you going to fix this in the right way.

"If it's only about results, it's not fun.

"If I have to go in and think, 'I can't make mistakes today', there's no development there.

"But, we've got past that stage, and we are really getting better and better, and the culture's getting better.

"We have so much I want to do still, and that makes me excited.

"But, in the beginning, when I wanted to build a foundation, I didn't find the land where it was going to stand."

He expanded: "The first 2-3 months were like that.

"You know what the players want, but you just haven't got the message across.

"People are insecure, and that's a hard time for the coach and the players.

"Now you can see, when they go on the pitch, they are confident they will win and know what's expected."

Deila admits the absence of four league fixtures against Rangers has given him a little breathing space in his debut season.

The League Cup semi-final against the Ibrox side whetted his appetite for such occasions.

He found it to be "special" and conceded that, if Rangers get through the play offs and win promotion, "that will add something to the league."

But, Deila added: "The best teams are in the top league. So, if Rangers go up, they are good enough, and it's going to be some exciting games.

"If they're not good enough, we cannot force them to be. That's up to them."