Leigh Griffiths was still nursing a stinging sense of grievance as he trudged off Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

Fuming at a penalty award he remains adamant should have been given, the sight of the visiting support lapping up a point – “as though they had won the league” - did not serve to lighten his mood.

And the striker has warned Rangers that Celtic will be ready to take it up a gear when the teams meet at Hampden in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final next month.

Read more: Exclusive: Leigh Griffiths admits public criticism from Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was hard to take

Rangers’ point this weekend coupled with the arrival of a new manager has penetrated the gloom that has hung heavy over Ibrox this term. But Griffiths is insistent that Celtic will be ready to hammer home their advantage at the national stadium.

“There will be a lot of hype again now,” said the forward. “Rangers fans will all get a bit excited now, thinking that they can come and do exactly the same to us in the semi-final as they did last season. “But that was probably our worst performance of the season last year – and it took the game going to penalties for us to lose it.

“Again, you would have to say that Sunday’s game wouldn’t have been anywhere the level that we have shown throughout the season. We know we are capable of playing so much better than that.

“You saw the Rangers fans after the game cheering as though they had won the league. They would have snapped anyone’s hand for a point before they came here. It just makes us all the more determined that we will try and get our focus back and keep moving towards the title and see where we are next month when we play at Hampden.”

Celtic could yet win the league before the international calendar takes precedence, if Aberdeen lose at Pittodrie in the lunch-time kick-off on Saturday to Hearts.

Read more: Exclusive: Leigh Griffiths admits public criticism from Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was hard to take

For Griffiths, though, the season has been a frustrating one from a personal point of view. The staccato nature of his campaign which has been owed to injury and the form of Moussa Dembele, has meant that he has had to content himself with being on the outside looking in for large chunks of it.

Given that he a permanent fixture in the limelight last term as he banged in 40 goals, goals that effectively won the title for Ronny Deila’s Celtic last year, it has not been an easy task.

With ten league games remaining and the possibility of two Cup games, the striker is determined to find some level of consistency before the curtain comes down.

“I just want to play as often as I can,” he said. “It has been frustrating all season. I want to make a difference, I feel that I can make a difference, whether that be coming off the bench or starting games. It is all about getting a wee run. I have come off the bench over the last two weeks and hopefully I am still in the manager’s plans and thoughts next weekend.”

Primarily, though, Sunday’s game at Dens Park is an opportunity for Celtic to take one of the final steps towards securing a sixth successive title, regardless of what happens at Pittodrie earlier.

Read more: Exclusive: Leigh Griffiths admits public criticism from Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was hard to take

“There is an international break coming up but first we have the game up at Dundee next weekend and we have to use that to bounce back,” said Griffiths. “We’ll go there and try to get the three points and you never know what happens with Aberdeen on Saturday, it could be a chance for us to win the league. Whatever happens, we will be going all out for the three points that takes us within touching distance of it.”

Craig Gordon was one of the few big players who performed on Sunday for Celtic, and his performance was not lost on Griffiths.

The keeper has just committed his long-term future to the club and the striker believes he in invaluable to the Hoops.

“There weren’t too many positives for us to take out of the game but you would have to give credit to big Craig,” he said. “He had two really cracking saves for us and I don’t think he had any chance with the goal that went in. We were all delighted when he signed here again. He is a cracking keeper and he has showed that time and time again.”

Meanwhile, the striker was still irked at the penalty that was never given on Sunday after he was fouled by veteran defender Clint Hill, who scored the goal to level things for Rangers.

“I’ll keep saying it - I am not going to pass up an opportunity to shoot from there,” said the striker. “I would fancy myself to hit the target from that position every time.

“If you watch it back, you can see I am about to shoot and he has caught me waist height – that is a foul anywhere else on the park because he kicks me off my balance. It was frustrating because I would score from them, I am sure of it. It was disappointing.”