So here it is, Scary Christmas!

You couldn't have asked for a more enticing, absorbing or electrifying set of fixtures as the Premiership has thrown up from now until the Winter shutdown unless you'd written a letter to Santa and put it up the chimney.

But this is also the time of year when we celebrate our diversity.

There are the biased, the really biased and those who are totally off the scale, and they are all mobilising for the climax to the year as the title race reaches peak pandemonium.

For example, I think Steven Gerrard had a perfectly valid point about the acquisition of three points at the end of Rangers' win over St. Johnstone yesterday.

Rangers, with their resources, should be able to beat the Perth side home or away without needing to be saved from the destructive effects of a draw with a belated goal.

Saying as much in public is not belittling St. Johnstone, it is merely expressing a statement of fact.

The problem we have in this part of the world is that analysis and objective criticism with regard to one team are looked upon as attacks on the opposing side.

It is nothing of the kind, but the ones who will need to forego Christmas dinner for liquidised food due to nervous anxiety leading to an inability to keep down solids don't see it that way.

But the reason why the league race is so tight is because serial negligence has created a block of clubs separated by a meagre points differential.

There are, for instance, three reasons why Celtic will go to Pittodrie and Ibrox in quick succession while under pressure to deliver good results or else.

Those reasons are a goalless draw at Livingston, a goalless draw at St. Mirren and a one-all draw at Motherwell earlier in the season.

Livi had changed their manager after four games but kept Celtic at bay with relative ease.

St. Mirren had sacked their manager, Allan Stubbs, after four games and were being led into the game against Celtic by a little known Irishman, Oran Kearney, on his first competitive day at work.

Brendan Rodgers' side were profligate in the extreme.

Likewise the night in North Lanarkshire when Celtic were a goal ahead before they missed the penalty kick that would have doubled their lead and then suffered the loss of a late equaliser.

That's how titles races become tight affairs.

Gerrard has lived life at a more exalted level than Ibrox and that's why he knows sloppy draws at Dundee and Hibs, and home defeats to a then indifferent Aberdeen, contribute towards the unsatisfactory nature of Rangers' season.

If Kilmarnock had beaten Hamilton Accies at the weekend, as they should have done after going a goal in front against inferior opposition, they would have had a better chance of going into the Winter break at the top of the league.

That's why Gerrard was being logical, and not dis-respectful, when he spoke about the perils of not doing what you should be doing on the park.

We have arrived at the moment where push gets to shove, when those at the top of the league are between that rock and a hard place.

One false move now and you could be a goner.

The loss of Tom Rogic to play for Australia in the Asian Cup won't determine whether Celtic win or lose against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers has never lost to Rangers since becoming Celtic manager two and a half years ago.

On that basis, there are more players than Rogic that Rangers find it difficult to cope with on these occasions. Is that not fair comment?

Rogic will also be available to Celtic when they first have to negotiate a resurgent Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Boxing Day. If he's that good then doubtless he'll make the difference between winning and losing. Is that not fair comment also?

Rangers should beat Hibs at Ibrox on Wednesday, but that's what you though at Easter Road last Wednesday.

And look what thought did then.

The moral to the story is the football Gods help those who help themselves. If you don't do what you should be capable of doing then that's your look-out.

That's what Gerrard was implying when he said what he said at Perth and he was bang on the money.

Enjoy your Christmas dinner if you can and then prepare to accept the truth surrounding what happens next, whether it is digestible or not

• Hugh Keevins