CELTIC keeper Craig Gordon has accused the Aberdeen players who have talked down their prospects of challenging for the SPFL Premiership title this season of being "at it".

Many of Derek McInnes' charges have, despite picking up 35 points out of a possible 39 in their last 13 top-flight matches, been dismissive of their own chances of winning the league.

Yet, goalkeeper Gordon, once again outstanding for Ronny Deila's side in the narrow 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the San Siro on Thursday night, is adamant the Dons are genuine contenders.

And the Scotland internationalist, who has done his prospects of forcing his way back into the national team no harm with his latest display in the Europa League, believes the North East club's players know full well they can triumph.

Asked if the Pittodrie club can pip Celtic to the Scottish title - despite their public insistence that the holders will prevail - he said: "Absolutely. I think they're at it. They know they have done very well and have strung a lot of good results together.

"They can say what they like in the papers, but they know they are in with a chance. They are not that far behind and it makes for an exciting league and an exciting game on Sunday.

"They seem to have a great team spirit. You don't string all those results together if you aren't all pulling in the same direction. They seem to have the formula right at the moment. They have got some good players and they are scoring goals. So it is a good challenge for us."

Deila's side go into the game against their nearest challengers in the Premiership - Aberdeen are three points behind having played one game more - on the back of a punishing 90 minutes against Serie A opposition in Italy on Thursday night.

In the past, Celtic have suffered from "European hangovers" on such occasions and have slumped to defeats in the games they would ordinarily win easily immediately after draining foreign excursions.

Gordon, though, has no fears that will happen on this occasion. He predicted the Celtic players will be determined to put the narrow defeat to Roberto Mancini's side behind them with an important victory.

He said: "It's a massive, massive game on Sunday. We'll recover after Thursday night. The nine outfield lads had to put in some shift to deal with being a man down. It's about recovery now over the next wee while and making sure we are ready.

"But the anger and hurt we feel is something we can use in the next game. You use it as motivation. We will get together as a group of players and chat about what happened. I'm sure it will make us stronger in the run-in.

"There are still a lot of big games coming up. We can feel very proud of what we have done, especially in Milan. We can use it to try and push us over the line and get a good end to the season.

"It's good to be put under pressure, to try and deal with that and come out the other side. When you play for Celtic there is pressure on every game. I'm delighted to be here and be involved in it.

"We have had wins against Aberdeen this season, but that also shows how well they have done against the rest of the teams. I don't think they'll have any fear coming to play us.

"They might think that us going down to ten men in hard game midweek might be to their advantage. But at the same time, everything we have been though in the San Siro will bond us closer together and make sure we come out fighting."

Gordon was one of many Celtic players frustrated by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak, who sent off Celtic centre-half Virgil van Dijk in the first half for two bookable offences in the San Siro on Thursday night.

The erratic display of the match official was summed up for the former Hearts and Sunderland player when he was yellow carded with less than 20 minutes remaining - for time wasting.

He said: "I think that is the first time I have ever been booked for time wasting when my team was losing. That is exactly what I said to the referee. He seemed to have a problem with me changing sides (at a goal-kick), which I thought I was allowed to do. But not this time.

"There were a lot of very disappointed and angry players in the dressing room. It was hard to take. I don't know what else I can say that won't get me in trouble."

Gordon was a key member of the Hearts team made a strong bid for the Scottish title back in the 2005/06 season and appreciates that Celtic can be caught and overtaken by Aberdeen.

"That Hearts team had a lot of good players in it as well," he said. "It was a really good team to play in and I enjoyed it. I think it would be a close game between that Hearts team and this Aberdeen team

"I think we could have gone a lot closer. There were certain things that didn't go our way. I remember a game around New Year when Celtic beat us 3-2 at home. I think if we'd won that it would have been back to a point difference or something.

"Takis Fyssas was sent off for a challenge on Shaun Maloney, which I didn't agree with and still don't to this day. That was the day that probably put the nail in our coffin.

"We kept going and managed to get second place. But that gap had gone to seven rather than one that so that was just about the end of that."

Celtic are still involved in all three domestic competitions - the Premiership, the League Cup and the Scottish Cup - and can theoretically win the fourth Treble in their entire history.

But Gordon said: "There is still a possibility we could end up with nothing. There is no prospect of thinking too far ahead. We have to do our jobs and make sure we are winning games. If we do that, then we'll get the rewards at the end. But we are not thinking that way at all right now.

"We have been playing well and I thought we did so again against Inter in difficult circumstances. We have a good group of players. There is a lot of talent in there and a good team spirit. That's what you need to have a successful season so we'll try our best to do that."