Rangers defender Dorin Goian has backed his team-mates to bounce back from their Old Firm derby disappointment as they start 2012 with a visit from Motherwell at Ibrox.
The 1-0 defeat to Celtic on Wednesday saw Rangers deposed as league leaders after at one stage holding a 15-point lead over their Glasgow rivals.
It was their second defeat in a row following a shock loss to St Mirren the week before and leaves Ally McCoist’s side trailing Celtic by two points.
However, Goian, who was suspended for the Celtic match, is adamant that Rangers can turn around their form and recapture top spot.
“People should remember that the championship is long and there are still many games to play,” the Romanian international said.
“I still think it is in our hands to win the championship. We have to rediscover our confidence and I think we can do that against Motherwell and win the game. If we do that it will give us a chance to put things back to normal.
“I feel the team we have is capable of winning the title. We have made a couple of mistakes and we have paid for them but I am very confident we can still win the league.”
Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch is a doubt for the match after picking up an injury against Celtic and defender Steven Whittaker should miss out with a groin injury.
Meanwhile, Celtic head to East End Park looking for their 10th successive league win against bottom club Dunfermline.
Dunfermline have taken just one point from their past six matches and could have up to seven players missing through injury but Celtic assistant Johan Mjallby says it will be a difficult match.
“We need to be careful. It’s a tricky game,” Mjallby warned.
“Dunfermline, there’s no pressure on them. They’re going to go out there and feel a lot of freedom. It’s important for us to be focused. The confidence is there, we’re playing really well at the moment.”
Celtic’s new signing Mikael Lustig will not be involved as he has been given time to rest after a full season in Norway.
Elsewhere, Hibernian host Hearts at Easter Road in the second Edinburgh derby of the season.
Hibs have taken just one point since Pat Fenlon replaced Colin Calderwood as manager and sit just one point above bottom spot.
However, Hearts boss Paulo Sergio, whose side triumphed 2-0 in the first derby in August, says his players will need to fight to claim all three points.
“It’s another game, a different game and we have to focus on ourselves to be competent to have a good performance,” he said.
“I believe after a good performance the result comes naturally.”
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Celtic | 21 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 15 | 50 |
| Rangers | 21 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 12 | 48 |
| Motherwell | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 21 | 34 |
| St Johnstone | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 32 |
| Hearts | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 22 | 14 | 29 |
| Dundee Utd | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 33 | 26 |
| St Mirren | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 27 | 26 |
| Kilmarnock | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 30 | 23 |
| Aberdeen | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 28 | 21 |
| Inverness CT | 21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 19 |
| Hibernian | 20 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 33 | 15 |
| Dunfermline | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 43 | 14 |
Today’s fixtures
(16.00 kick-offs unless stated)
Premier League: Hibernian vs Hearts (13.15), Inverness CT vs St Johnstone (15.00), Dundee United vs Aberdeen, Dunfermline vs Celtic, Kilmarnock vs St Mirren, Rangers vs Motherwell.
Division One: Livingston vs Falkirk; Morton vs Ayr; Queen of the South vs Hamilton; Raith vs Dundee; Ross County vs Partick.
Division Two: Airdrie vs Albion; Brechin vs Forfar; Cowdenbeath vs East Fife; Dumbarton vs Arbroath; Stirling vs Stenhousemuir.
Division Three: Berwick vs Montrose; Clyde vs Queen’s Park; East Stirlingshire vs Alloa; Peterhead vs Elgin City.