Ange Postecoglou says even if Celtic beat Rangers to go top of the Premiership - they’ll have achieved NOTHING yet.
Liel Abada’s 90th minute goal against Dundee United at Parkhead closed the gap to two points after Gers slipped up at Ross County.
It means the Hoops - who were seven behind in December - can go above the champions on Wednesday night with an Old Firm victory.
And Postecoglou has urged his players to keep their foot on the gas going into the derby.
The Celtic boss - who will be without suspended vice-captain Nir Bitton who was sent off yesterday - insists they’ll go all out to beat their Glasgow rivals.
But he’s adamant that going to the Premiership summit in February won’t win them any prizes.
The Aussie gaffer said: “It won’t mean anything significant because that’s not the end game.
“You don’t get a trophy for being first in February. Our goal and mission is to be there at the end.
“I’m not saying it’s an insignificant moment - but we have to keep going.
“It’s not like when you are in first place you get an advantage over teams and it will be easy for us.
“It’s going to be a battle every day. If we think getting to first place is an achievement or we get comfortable - no, we have to be relentless.
“We have to keep playing our style of football and get better.
“The new players are beginning to understand that the expectations are there all the time here.
“They don't ease at Celtic. Playing a couple of good games doesn't give you any latitude against any opposition not to perform again.
"The players have embraced that. So on Wednesday night our intent is to play better than we did today, win the game - then dust ourselves off and go again.
“We’ve always just tried to focus on ourselves because we had an awful start to the league season.
“We lost three of our first six and after that you know you need to be almost perfect.
“If you start looking at other results or what other clubs do you fall into the trap of putting added pressure on yourself.”
Postecoglou’s side weren’t at their best against United but stuck at it and got their rewards with Abada’s last gasp strike.
There was a terrific atmosphere inside Parkhead after Rangers’ 3-3 draw in Dingwall earlier in the day.
And the Celtic manager praised his players’ resilience. He said: “It was a continuation of the spirit and willingness of the players to find a way.
“It wasn’t a great day for us and we didn’t have the intensity or tempo to put Dundee United under pressure.
“But the consistent theme over the last few months is that they find a way and they did that again.
"The fans are entitled to be emotional. They knew if we won today, we closed the gap at the top of the league.
“It would have been easy for them to get frustrated but I felt the energy from them was really good.”
Postecoglou was delighted for his match winner Abada and refused to criticise his other Israeli, Bitton, who was red carded in the second half.
He said: “Liel has had a baptism of fire because we have thrown him in. But he is learning to understand the expectations at this football club.
“Credit to him, he could easily have swung at that chance and took it first time but he composed himself and got a really important goal for us.
“He has got a few for us this year.
“It’s too easy to criticise Nir for his actions from where we’re sitting in comfortable chairs.
“Out there on the pitch it’s a bit different. Niro has been outstanding for us and he has given everything.
“He is a very committed guy and I don’t see any anything out there that suggests he lacked discipline.
“It’s part of football and he will take his punishment.”
