Celtic youngster Paul Caddis insists all the pressure is on Rangers as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race heads into the final straight.

The right-back celebrated his 20th birthday on Saturday by helping the Scottish champions to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen, only three days after a memorable 2-1 Old Firm derby triumph.

With Rangers in Scottish Cup action against St Johnstone, the win over the Dons allowed Celtic to move two points clear at the summit of the SPL, albeit having played three matches more than their rivals.

Even though the destination of the trophy remains in Rangers' hands, Caddis believes Celtic have every chance of successfully defending their crown.

"We're definitely not dead and buried," he insisted. "We'll take every game as it comes.

"We've got four games left and Rangers have got seven so there's still a long way to go. I think we're in a better position with the points on the board - the pressure's on them now.

"We've done what we had to do, picked up three points and moved back to the top of the league. They've got to go out and play a lot of games so it's not over yet."

The Glasgow giants clash again at Celtic Park on April 27 in a match neither side can afford to lose.

"We know now that if we slip up it could be over," admitted Caddis. "Next week's game is massive. The boys are fine, they've been fine right through the season.

"We've had a couple of slip-ups but it wasn't with performances, we just couldn't find the net.

"After we started finding the net we've had great performances at Motherwell, Rangers and this win. We've just got to keep going."

Caddis replaced Andreas Hinkel after the full-back suffered a hamstring injury, and is hoping he has done enough to remain in manager Gordon Strachan's plans, adding: "I hope I play next Sunday.

"I don't know how bad Andreas is. I don't think it's torn, I just think he felt it. I just went in and did what I could."

On the basis of Saturday's performance, he has done his chances no harm at all.

A timely block prevented Lee Miller from almost certainly earning a point for Aberdeen, with Caddis delivering an assured performance for the 45 minutes he was on the park.

"I didn't know much about the clearance," he said. "I just saw the ball come across in a dangerous area and I just cleared it from the guy coming in behind me.

"It was good getting a game. I thought I did all right.

"I played the ball up the line for Sammy (Georgios Samaras) for the free-kick which led to the goal and I cleared one off the line."

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