LOSING IT; Ronny: Title's a goner if we don't get it together CELTIC........0 DUNDEE........0 WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

Byline: EUAN MCLEAN sport@dailyrecord.co.uk

RAGING Ronny Deila last night admitted Celtic will LOSE the title if they don't improve.

The Parkhead boss was furious at the shoddy show that saw his team stutter to a draw with Dundee. Celtic's lead was cut to four points by Aberdeen and they were booed off the field by a disgusted support.

Deila acknowledged the performance was simply not good enough and reckons confidence is lacking among his troops. The Turn to Page 67 From Back Page Norwegian knows his men still have control of the title race but accepts they can't afford to keep playing as they are and expect to win five in a row.

When asked if Celtic would lose the league if they keep performing as they did last night Deila said: "Yes, yes, that's for sure.

"You don't need to think about it. We have to be at a totally different level.

"But we also know how good we can be when we are at our best so it is about details and getting the good feeling back again. I am very, very disappointed.

"The whole team is very disappointed and the whole performance wasn't good enough.

"If you don't take three points at home that is a worry.

"You can be unlucky but we were not unlucky here. That's what worries us.

"There have been a few games in a row when we have not shown our best and it felt here like we were always one metre behind.

"It wasn't like it was one player worse than others. We need to get confidence and energy into the team and that's why I am a coach. That's my task.

"I know what are going to do and we are going to get it right again.

"It's small details but we have to take it very seriously.

"I'm angry, of course I am angry. But at the same time we are in this together and need to turn this around as a team.

"We have to really have a talk now to get things going in the right way.

"Of course there are angry people in the dressing room. And disappointed people."

Deila though is sure his team will get it right for the run-in despite the Dons breathing down their necks.

The boss also accepted the crowd's criticism and added: "I understand the fans are irritated, like we are. The players understand it as well.

"But I know the Celtic fans will stay behind their team.

"We have to show ourselves as a better team. That is my responsibility. It is something we have to solve together when the team is not performing but, of course, it is straight on me.

"It was a bad performance so we have to evaluate it and change it.

"We want as big a gap as possible but first of all we need to get our performances better.

"I'll say it again, this is about us. We are in front and we need to perform to get our points.

"If we do that we will win the league. It's as simple and difficult as that.

"There are a lot of games left and for me it is about getting back on track.

"Of course we are making it harder for ourselves."

Dundee boss Paul Hartley, however, insisted it would be wrong for critics to focus on Celtic's failings.

The Dens Park outfit made light of a raft of changes that were made looking ahead to Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup clash against Rangers.

Dundee could have won it in a strong second-half display and Hartley said: "We changed our personnel and our formation but it was a great performance and the game plan worked.

"We could have nicked it.

Kostadin Gadzhalov had a great chance . "Gary Harkins had a good chance as well and in the last 20 minutes we looked the more threatening team.

"People will look at it and say it was a poor Celtic performance but we have to take all the credit."

Hartley's focus is now trained on Rangers and he added: "We've not got a lot of rest and recovery but with this group anything is possible. They just keep going."

CAPTION(S):

GIVING UP POINTS Griffiths rues a miss as Deila, below, realises his side are in danger of throwing away title

THRILLED Paul Hartley