Whatever way you look at it, anything other than a win for Celtic on Sunday at Stranraer would be a disaster.

You have to say, though, that it is very difficult to see beyond Celtic.

They should certainly have too much about them for Stranraer to live with and so long as they approach the game with the right attitude then it should be relatively straightforward.

I would regard an upset in this instance as highly unlikely – although you just never know.

And the one thing that you have to say on the back of recent weeks and performances, perhaps excusing the Hearts game, is that the performances need to get much better.

They got the win in the very last minute against Partick Thistle at the weekend but the performance is not at the level that you would expect of Celtic. It needs to improve and they need to start winning games convincingly.

With that comes greater consistency and allows them to build on the league displays because they desperately need to piece together a decent run.

You have to remember that while they are not firing on all cylinders, they remain in the hunt for three trophies. If they are to be successful in their quest to get them then they need to step up the way they have been playing.

In that respect, this weekend’s game against Stranraer is another piece of that jigsaw, while there are also games looming against Ross County in the semi-final of the League Cup and a trip to Pittodrie on league duty.

If you are not playing to your full capabilities, then these games become much more difficult.

Collectively they have not been performing well and there is definitely an apprehension in the home displays.

When you know that you are not playing well then what you have to do is show the character to rise above that.

If you were to take one slight positive out of Saturday’s performance it would be that with 10 men, Celtic were able to conjure up a result but it was the way they played before that which brought so much consternation.

Now is the time when they have to show the spirit and character that helps you through a sticky patch like this. Now is the time when you need to be resilient and if you can do that then the performances start to come on the back of it.

It is about desire and commitment, about wanting to win and wanting to win in a certain way. You can’t keep simply hoping that it is going to improve, you have to decide to roll up the sleeves and push your way through.

THE team itself will be slightly changed at least for the game against Stranraer with Craig Gordon suspended for the tie after being sent off in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

That gives Logan Bailly his chance and as a back-up keeper he has to be ready to take it.

When you are in that position then you can’t pick and choose when you get to make your way into the team and he will desperately want to avoid being part of any Cup shocks.

He was signed for this very reason and it is up to him now to go and show his worth.

I also suspect Leigh Griffiths will keep his place in the side after his re-emergence from injury. One of the issues that arises from playing just one up front is the reeliance on him to be the guy who scores.

His goal on Saturday was a typical opportunist’s goal as he pounced on a deflection but he is one of the few players this season who has managed to keep up a relatively high level of performance.

Like Scott Brown, he is one of the guys that is badly missed now when he is out of the team.

Glasgow Times:

The transfer window is back upon us and the pattern that is emerging at Celtic at the minute appears to be buy young with the aim of developing into the finished article.

The Norwegian lad, Kristoffer Ajer, has been training with Celtic this week, while Ryan Christie is also at the club following his loan spell with Inverness in the opening half of the season.

Irishman Darragh Markey has also been invited for the club to take a look at and I think the danger here is that you close the door to the first team for some of the lads who are currently in your academy.

For the likes of Ajer, if you are playing at the level he is in Norway at the age he is at, then he is a decent player but whatever you are buying at this age, it is potential.

That is not to say that I am pouring cold water on the moves, but rather I just think that the academy has a decent reputation and there have been players who have come out of it – Kieran Tierney being the latest example.

Aiden Nesbitt is also tipped to force his way into the first team sooner rather than later.

The main priority has to be in bringing in players who can make a difference this summer when it comes to the Champions League qualifiers.

A centre half, a forward, a midfielder who is different to what they have got just now.

The rumours about a return for Aiden McGeady have been been steadfast since the summer but it is not one I have envisaged happening.

I know Ronny Deila and John Collins took in the game between Everton and Manchester City this week but I can’t imagine a return would be on the cards for McGeady.

Glasgow Times:

Whether Anthony Stokes feels justified in thinking he has had a raw deal or not, the time has clearly come when it is far better for him to get out of Celtic.

Whatever circumstances have led him to this point in his career, it is quite clear that he does not have a future at Celtic.

It is better for both parties that he moves on and plays his football elsewhere.

He has done well at Celtic, domestically at least, just as he did fine at Hibs. He will score goals for someone.

But although the Parkhead side are still on the hunt for another striker, it is clear that they have made up their minds that he is not the man.

Stokes is no longer part of the plans for whatever reason that may be and he needs to go elsewhere now and kickstart his career.

Efe Ambrose has also been linked with a move away from Celtic but until there is a bit more cover in that area of the pitch then I would suspect that any switch would be unlikely.

Often these transfers seem to bubble along quietly until the frantic final 24-48 hours when a load of deals then tend to be done.

I suspect that it boils down to a lot of brinksmanship and players weighing up their options before they make a decision.

It is a notoriously difficult window to bring in players who can make a difference and who are there for the long-term.

Your question for Davie

What was the biggest cup shock you were involved in?

The biggest one for me was the 1971 Scottish League Cup final. We lost 4-1 to Partick Thistle which was obviously a sore one to take. They had a decent side, but even at half-time when we were 4-0 down, we still felt as though we could come back. It wasn’t to be. We just didn’t play well at all and Thistle deserved it as they were by far the better side.