Rangers manager Alex McLeish insists he will not press the panic button after his side's unbeaten league record was destroyed by relegation candidates Motherwell on Thursday.

The Ibrox boss admits over the last couple of games his players have not been showing the same kind of form which took them to the top of the table.

They managed to scrape a win against Partick Thistle, but found themselves outplayed for parts of their St Stephen's Day clash with then bottom-side Motherwell.

Rangers must now face the prospect of travelling to Kilmarnock tomorrow in the knowledge that Jim Jefferies's men have also taken a point off them - and Celtic - this season.

But McLeish insists his side's ability to return to winning ways at Rugby Park will demonstrate just how good his side is.

"The momentum has been disrupted," he said. "We'll analyse things carefully, but we won't jump to conclusions or panic about the last couple of games.

"You have to remember as well that we won the Partick game and people say that winning games like that can win you the championship."

John Hartson claimed yesterday his hat-trick against Hearts at Parkhead can be put down to his recent regular appearances in the first team.

The Celtic striker fired the champions back in front with a sweet second-half volley to claim his third of the afternoon and set up a vital 4-2 triumph.

"I have an extended run now and I think that people are getting the chance to see the best of me," said Hartson.

"Getting the hat-trick was superb. To be honest I have always thought in my own mind I feel at my sharpest and at my best when I get a good run in the team.

"I was absolutely delighted with the goals, but more importantly I was delighted with the win because it cuts the gap to just a point which leaves everything wide open.

"We showed great character to keep going when it went to 2-2 and the ball through to me from Alan Thompson was excellent.

"I had already scored two and, at the minute, my confidence is high.

"I hit it well and it was superb to see it go in because it was such an important goal.

"Sometimes when you score at Parkhead it might be the third or fourth goal of the afternoon when the game isn't quite so evenly balanced so it was a great feeling to score such an important one."

With just one point separating the Old Firm rivals, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is anticipating a tight battle.

"It's very tight and it will remain so," he said. "We've got two really hard games now before the winter break.

"We face Dunfermline on Sunday and Aberdeen and there are no easy matches in this league and so we have got to concentrate on ourselves. That's all we can do."