I don't know how many people really expected Celtic to get the victory against Rangers at Ibrox at the weekend.

After the last Old Firm game, I reckon most folk had this one down as a Light Blues win or a draw at best for the Hoops.

But Celtic have come a long way since that loss in August.

At the time I never thought the 4-2 defeat was as comprehensive as some people made out and I stand by that. And the fact that Celtic are now looking at a seven-point SPL cushion at this stage in the season tells a story in itself. So now Aiden knows score...

I said at the time that I didn't think there was any way back for Aiden McGeady at Celtic and I stand by that.

Gordon Strachan's decision to suspend him for two weeks was a real gamble, but after getting the wins at Falkirk and then at Ibrox, he has been totally vindicated.

The lad overstepped the mark so far as the manager is concerned and even if he does apologise at this late stage, I don't know that it would be enough to keep him at the club.

In saying that, I don't think Celtic will let him walk out the door for next to nothing in January and he will only be sold if the club get an offer for him that is agreeable to their estimation of him.

But I do think that the Celtic manager has sent out a big message to the rest of the dressing room.

McGeady is probably the favoured son of the Hoops support after winning the Player of the Year awards last term.

But you cannot afford to have anyone behaving like that in a dressing room simply because it undermines the authority of the manager.

Strachan's action was swift and decisive and you would have to say that it was the right decision.

McGeady's absence hasn't been felt as keenly as it might have been, but had points been dropped in the two matches he missed, the fans would have been on Strachan's back right away.

Koki Mizuno has some way to go before he can fill the boots of McGeady, but there was little option for Strachan but to play him given the lack of personnel available to him right now.

Historically, whoever wins the Christmas Old Firm game tends to go on and win the title and there will be few people willing to bet against that happening now.

But for all that Gordon Strachan's side have got themselves into a cracking position, there's no way anyone will be daft enough to shout their mouth off about anything being done and dusted.

It's not just the events of last season that will be fresh in the minds of supporters, but also even of 2005 when Martin O'Neill's side left Ibrox with three points, a five-point cushion and just four games to go. And we all know how that ended.

So although seven points sounds a lot, it's not really. It's a lead that can dwindle very quickly, as Celtic almost realised to their cost this month after defeat to Hibs and a draw with Hearts.

That was five points dropped in two weeks and that kind of thing can happen. If you suffer that run when you're the chasing team it can do untold damage to confidence and self-belief so for now it will be business as usual for Celtic.

After that August Old Firm game they went on a winning run of 12 games and that is the kind of thing they'll need to do again. Just getting the heads down and getting on with it will be the most important thing.

What will have pleased Strachan the most about the result was the big displays he got from a couple of players.

The game itself was pretty poor, but Scott McDonald's goal was an absolute cracker. He has struggled to find the same level of consistency as last term, but what he has done is produce goals in some big matches.

He scored a great strike against Manchester United in the Champions League and now he has joined elite company with his goal at Ibrox in an Old Firm game.

Hopefully this will give him a big lift and he can go on and start adding a few more this season.

McDonald was the difference last Saturday. Kris Boyd's goal-scoring exploits aren't in any doubt but he should have beaten Artur Boruc just two minutes after the break when he was through.

The Pole did well to get out quickly and make himself as big as possible but you would still expect a striker to put that one away. Celtic had few chances in the game but McDonald made sure he took the one he got and in these types of encounters that's what you need.

Scott Brown also had a decent game and we're finally seeing the best of him this season. He has cut out the petulance and his discipline has been excellent.

His energy and his work-rate against Rangers were superb and I am sure that he is settling into his role at the club now after what was a difficult start.

Playing with a big price-tag around your neck can be tough but he is starting to shake it off and fulfil some of that potential.

It's just a matter of finding that kind of form week-in, week-out for him.

And it's the same for Celtic. Keep winning, keep going. No time to hit an own goal

There is little point in winning at Ibrox and then dropping points the following weekend.

Celtic play Dundee United this Saturday, a team they have dropped points already to this season, and I expect it will be a difficult game.

I reckon the Celtic fans will get right behind the team because it's the first game at Celtic Park in 2009 and it is also the first time the home support will get to applaud the efforts of Saturday's Old Firm winning team.

You get the same three points against United as you get for beating Rangers, albeit that the psychological advantage is so much more.

Coming off an Old Firm win can sometimes leave you a bit flat, but it is up to the players to make sure they are as up for the game against United as they were for the trip to Ibrox.