McDonald: Backed by Robson
Celtic midfielder Barry Robson has hit out at the critics of team-mate Scott McDonald.
Last season's top scorer has struggled to recapture the form which saw him inspire Celtic to the SPL title.
McDonald has scored only three goals in eight games so far this term with some sceptics questioning his match fitness.
The Australian international was on the mark against Hamilton at the weekend along with Georgios Samaras who has overshadowed his team-mate in the goalscoring stakes so far this term.
Robson has backed McDonald to silence his critics and start finding his best form soon.
"He's a strong wee guy and he'll bang loads of goals in again.
"Big Samaras also scored again and he can be anything he wants to be when he gets going. It bears positively for the club because our strikers are firing on all cylinders."
The Hoops have now scored 14 goals in their last four league games and Scotland star Robson believes the champions are now firing on all cylinders, despite a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign.
"We have scored a lot of goals recently and done well," added Robson.
"I don't think people realised how good a team Villarreal were, but we played really well over there in midweek in the first half.
"Even against Aalborg in the Champions League, we put them under huge pressure but never managed to get a goal.
"All in all, it has been pretty good stuff recently and we need to continue that.
"We have good momentum behind us and we'll come back from the international break determined to keep it going."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:30 | Hearts vs St Johnstone |
| 15:00 | Falkirk vs Hamilton |
| 15:00 | Motherwell vs Aberdeen |
| 15:00 | Rangers vs Kilmarnock |
| 15:00 | St Mirren vs Hibernian |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:30 | Dundee Utd vs Celtic |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aberdeen vs Rangers |
| 15:00 | Celtic vs St Mirren |
| 15:00 | Hibernian vs Falkirk |
| 15:00 | Kilmarnock vs Hearts |
| 15:00 | Motherwell vs Dundee Utd |
| 15:00 | St Johnstone vs Hamilton |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:30 | Falkirk vs Rangers |
| 15:00 | Celtic vs Aberdeen |
| 15:00 | Dundee Utd vs St Mirren |
| 15:00 | Hibernian vs Motherwell |
| 15:00 | St Johnstone vs Kilmarnock |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Hamilton vs Hearts |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Motherwell vs Celtic |
| 15:00 | Aberdeen vs Hamilton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Falkirk 3 - 3 Celtic | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Hearts 0 - 0 Hibernian | |
| Hamilton 2 - 2 Motherwell | |
| Kilmarnock 0 - 2 Dundee Utd | |
| Aberdeen 2 - 1 St Johnstone | |
| Rangers 2 - 1 St Mirren | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Motherwell 1 - 0 Hearts | |
| Hibernian 2 - 0 Aberdeen | |
| St Johnstone 3 - 1 Falkirk | |
| Celtic 3 - 0 Kilmarnock | |
| St Mirren 0 - 2 Hamilton | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Hamilton 1 - 2 Celtic | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Aberdeen 0 - 2 Dundee Utd | |
| Kilmarnock 2 - 1 St Johnstone | |
| St Mirren 3 - 3 Motherwell | |
| Hearts 0 - 0 Falkirk | |
| Rangers 1 - 1 Hibernian | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| St Johnstone 1 - 2 Rangers | |
| Falkirk 1 - 3 St Mirren | |
| Dundee Utd 1 - 1 Hamilton | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtic | 10 | 23 |
| 2 | Rangers | 10 | 22 |
| 3 | Hibernian | 11 | 21 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 10 | 19 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 11 | 18 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 11 | 14 |
| 7 | St Mirren | 11 | 12 |
| 8 | Hearts | 11 | 10 |
| 9 | St Johnstone | 11 | 9 |
| 10 | Kilmarnock | 11 | 9 |
| 11 | Hamilton Academical | 11 | 9 |
| 12 | Falkirk | 10 | 4 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Barca were stunned by a late leveller, Gers' match was abandoned while Inter march on in Serie A.
Mark Stewart was the toast of the Falkirk faithful as his late equaliser stunned Celtic in what was a pulsating six-goal thriller.
The Edinburgh derby ended in stalemate as Rangers cut the gap on leaders Celtic with a win over St Mirren.
Aberdeen recorded a welcome win over an unlucky St Johnstone in an entertaining tussle at Pittodrie which ended 2-1.
Kris Boyd further underlined his value to Rangers on Saturday with a double in a 2-1 win over St Mirren.
Lukas Jutkiewicz scored a late equaliser as Motherwell were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Hamilton.