RONNY DEILA yesterday sought to dampen an outbreak of title race fever, insisting Celtic were the best team in the league and pointing out his side had still 20 games to play in the competition.

The 2-0 victory over St Johnstone took Aberdeen one point clear in the SPFL Premiership after Celtic's match against Partick Thistle was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

With Dundee United thrashing Dundee 6-2, the Ne'erday talk has been of a title challenge in Scotland that has not been witnessed since the demise of Rangers.

However, the Celtic manager seems unperturbed by such forecasts.

''So far, we have been the best team in this league,'' he said. ''We were on a good run until [defeat at] Dundee United. If we win our game in hand, we will be two points ahead. We know what we have been doing is the best in the league.''

Celtic head out to Gran Canaria on a 12-day winter break after their match against Kilmarnock on Monday night but Deila was relaxed about the possibility of being third in the league when they return.

"It is still in our hands, if we win all our games then we'll be league winners,'' he said.

He added: ''"It is very early, though, to start talking about it. There are 19 games left, 20 for us, so we'll see how things are when there's one month left. Then you can start talking about it. For now it's much too early."

But he did concede: "It's going to be exciting run towards the end of the season.''

Asked if he welcomed the challenge for the title, he replied: ''No. I want to, of course, win the league as quick as possible.''

But he added: "If other teams are doing well then it's going to be a fight, so that's how it is. Nothing is easy in football. You have to fight for it.''

Delia, who confirmed that he had ignored an approach from Malmo to take on the Celtic job in the summer, said he had faith in his players to react positively if put under pressure.

"I think they are used to fight for a championship. They have been in this situation before,'' he said. ''The last two seasons haven't maybe been so tight. But overall I think the club and the players are used to fighting for trophies, more than the other teams."

He believed his team had an ''extra gear'', adding: "The mood is very positive and there's a very good atmosphere in the group. We are training well and now we just have to get back on track to win games."

Of Aberdeen and United, he said: "They are not used to being at the top. It's always better to have the experience of being up there. But Aberdeen have proved they can win a lot of games and we'll see if they can keep on winning.''

He said Celtic were making progress of signing players but said he had heard nothing from Bolton Wanderers about a possible bid for Kris Commons.

Neil Lennon, the former Celtic manager who is now in charge at Bolton, has said he will have to sell before he can recruit.

He said: "The situation right now is that we haven't got any money to spend, only what we generate from selling players.

"At the minute there hasn't been any real interest but I'm sure that will change. I think it will be a busy few days.''

Deila said that talks on convincing John Guidetti, the Swedish striker, to make permanent his on-loan move from Manchester City were ''going on in the right direction."