BRENDAN Rodgers has revealed he was always confident Celtic would bounce back from their 69 game unbeaten domestic run being brought to an end - because there are no “d*******s” in his squad.

The Parkhead club’s British record-breaking streak of form finished last Sunday when they were thrashed 4-0 by Hearts in a Ladbrokes Premiership game at Tynecastle.

But Rodgers’s charges got back to winning ways on Wednesday when they defeated Partick Thistle 2-0 in a league game at Parkhead thanks to goals from Stuart Armstrong and Kieran Tierney.

The Northern Irishman, whose side will attempt to stretch their lead over Aberdeen to eight points with a win over the Pittodrie club at home today, expected his men to respond positively to the reverse.

“We had a reflective couple of days, as we always do whether we win, lose or draw,” said Rodgers. “It was a very good win for us. We scored two excellent goals. Everyone is delighted and fresh and looking forward to our next game now.

“It is all part of the culture we have here. We are very lucky. We have got no d*******s. There is no pointing fingers. So that is what is important. We are very self-reflective. There is no pointing fingers at anyone.

“We weren’t so good (against Hearts). But, as I said to the players, you are defined on disappointment in your life. As a man and as a team, how do you respond and get up from it?

‘The players did that. It could have been a very awkward game for us against a stubborn opponent. We controlled the game. What was important for our mentality was keeping our clean sheet. It was a good response.”

Rodgers added: “It is hard to forecast, it is hard to predict, but we have a real honest group of players. Sometimes what can happen, and you see it at clubs up and down the country, players can go into little corners and start pointing fingers.

"But we win and lose together, as a team, as a staff. Collectively, we didn’t have a good day. But it is about how you respond to that.

"Also, it is about closing off what was an amazing achievement. Like I said, to go 585 days and 69 games without losing and win four trophies is actually a really good start. Your name is now carved in history. So now let’s push on to the next phase.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers has predicted that Aberdeen will produce an improved performance against his side at Celtic Park this afternoon now that the uncertainty over Derek McInnes's future is over.

McInnes ended weeks of speculation linking him with a move to Rangers earlier this month when he decided to remain at Pittodrie following an official approach from the Ibrox club.

His side has since beaten Dundee, St. Johnstone and Hibernian and moved three points ahead of Rangers in second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

"I think the stability has probably really helped them," said Rodgers. "Even before my time up here Aberdeen have really been the team that has been up closest to Celtic. Last year they were and they are this time as well.

"There was obviously a choice for Derek to make a number of weeks back and I think he maybe said himself at the time that maybe there was an impact on the team in the couple of games they had against Rangers.

"But since that they’ve had a good reaction. They have shown consistency in their last three games which they’ve had in recent years.

"The players look like a good honest group of boys focussed on winning games and they’ve done that."