Scott Brown has warned Celtic's critics not to write Brendan Rodgers' side off too early.
The former Hoops skipper - who worked under the Irishman during his first spell at the champions - watched on as a pundit yesterday at Kilmarnock defeated his old side 2-1 at Rugby Park.
A Nat Phillips own goal and a dinked effort by Matty Kennedy sealed all three points for the hosts in Ayrshire, who for the second time this season, put Celtic to the sword.
The defeat was Celtic's first in the Premiership though, although they have also dropped points against Motherwell and St Johnstone in previous matches.
Their lead over Rangers at the summit of the table stands at just five points. Philippe Clement's side has a game in hand too.
The second installment of the derby between Celtic and Rangers is coming up on Saturday, December 30.
And despite some patchy form of late for the Hoops, Brown insists it would be foolish to go in too hard on the champions at this stage.
He said: "It's only one game and everybody wants to turn it on Celtic now. There's a lot of strong characters in that dressing room and the manager is a strong character as well.
"They know what they need to do and it is not worrying about five games down the line when they are going to play Rangers, or what it will be like then.
"As it stands they are five points clear at the top of the league and are in a healthy position. They have lost one game. They didn't play too well against St Johnstone but still won.
"That is the good thing about good teams. Sometimes you don't play well but you still win those games. Maybe Sunday wasn't one of those games but they still had enough chances in the first half to score two or three goals."
Brown has been linked with several jobs since leaving Fleetwood Town earlier this season.
Queen's Park is the latest club to be linked with the ex-Scotland captain.
Addressing those links, he added: "I'm starting to get itchy feet now. I've not got a huge ego that would prevent me from speaking to Arbroath or anybody else like that.
"There's no level that I wouldn't speak to. That's not me. I'm open to anything at this moment in time. If the right thing comes up and it's a good project or a good opportunity and someone wants to speak to me, then by all means I'll speak to them.
"Being deadly honest, I've not spoken to Queen's Park at all. I've enjoyed my time off, seeing the kids and chilling but now I'm starting to look forward to seeing what's out there, seeing what's about. I'm not in any real rush at this moment in time, with the festive period coming up. I'll start looking probably after the new year."
