Soccer

Stokes fired up by the challenge

Soccer: Celtic striker Anthony Stokes has warned Rangers that the Bhoys are determined to extend their winning run

Mon Nov 28 2011 - 00:00

Soccer:Celtic striker Anthony Stokes has warned Rangers that the Bhoys are determined to extend their winning run. Neil Lennon's side are now only four points behind Rangers after Saturday's win over St Mirren, coupled with their Old Firm rivals' loss at Kilmarnock yesterday.

Stokes said: “I think we’ve improved a little bit, we’ve tightened up at the back — we’re not conceding as many goals lately it doesn’t seem — and it’s paying dividends. We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re trying to bring that consistency into our game.

“In the last four or five games we’ve done that, so we just want to try and kick on. We want to keep on this run, keep winning games and keep the momentum going.”

Celtic had been 12 points adrift, but have won four straight SPL matches, while Rangers have one point from their last two games. But Stokes believes it is too soon to suggest the momentum has turned in Celtic’s favour.

READ MORE

The striker, who watched the second half of Rangers’ loss at Rugby Park on TV, added: “Early on in the season we had a bad spell. I think we’ve come out of that now and we’ve shown what we can really do. We know it’s four points now, but there’s so long to go in the season... we’ll see what happens.

“We’re not too worried about what’s happening at other clubs, we’re just focusing on ourselves.”

Celtic’s attention turns to the Europa League on Wednesday, with Atletico Madrid visiting Parkhead. “It’s going to be a very tough game against a top-class side, but it’s a game we’re looking forward to,” the 23-year-old added. It’s the best team we’ll have played in a long, long time — it will be interesting to see what happens.”

Victory would enhance Celtic’s hopes of advancing from Group I ahead of next month’s trip to Udinese and Stokes hopes the league form can be continued in European competition.

He added: “We want to win every game. The more competitions you’re in, the more games you’re winning, the more confidence and belief there is in the team. It gives you that momentum. We want to win every game possible.”