GORDON STRACHAN has got it figured out. He predicts this season's SPL title will be won with a very low points total.

The stats back up his theory. Both Celtic and Rangers are locked on 57 points, having already failed to win in more than a third of the 26 games they have each played in this campaign.

The points left behind by the champions at Motherwell on Sunday were the latest to slip through their fingers on a run which has seen them collect just seven of the 18 up for grabs since they left Ibrox with a victory on December 27.

The seven-point lead they held over Rangers has been whittled away. Now both clubs are neck and neck as they approach the dirty dozen last games which will decide the destiny of the championship.

When told the Old Firm's travails have seen them drop points in nine league games apiece, Strachan replied: "I can believe that, and I think the points total will be really low this season. There are lots of ways you can look at that."

That could include the fact every team in the SPL currently has something to fight for, whether it be a European place, a top six spot or to avoid relegation. Better organisation and coaching from the 10 clubs outwith the big two could be another factor.

But by far the most popular theory is that the success of clubs playing against Celtic and Rangers this season is a result of a drop in the quality - and hence advantage - historically enjoyed by the Old Firm.

No-one is suggesting that, come the end of the season, the top two places will be occupied by anyone other than the Glasgow giants.

But the gap between them and the rest is predicted to be smaller than it has been for some time.

Celtic's unhappy experience at Motherwell merely underlined how tough it is proving to shake off the chasing pack.

Strachan's job this week will be to lift a group of players still disappointed that a victory their performance deserved was not forthcoming.

"Sometimes life is like that," is the philosophical view he will present when his players regroup. "I can remember Sir Alex Ferguson talking about giving titles away after a long, hard season.

"If that can happen to Manchester United, then it can happen to us. I'm not going to say we're going to lose the title, but you have to be aware.

"And it can happen in a game situation as well when you have put a lot into it.We've all been there when it's not a fair result, and Sunday was a case in point.

"Having said that, we have the resources to make these chances, and we should be having more chances than most clubs and we should be making sure clubs have fewer chances against us.

"If they have one, and we let them score from it, then it is one too many. But if we have a lot of chances, and don't take them, then this result can happen.

"I've gone to Motherwell before, not made nearly as many chances but scored four goals."

More often than not, that was on a better surface than the one which complicated the game plan this time around.

Before taking his players there, Strachan did his best not to make an issue of the barren wasteland which is Fir Park, recognising the danger of introducing negative thoughts.

"I didn't bring up the subject, but when people ask you about it, then you have to answer," he reasoned.

"And I still think we served quite an exciting game, considering the pitch. There were lots of things which went right, and making chances was the main one.

"Six or seven played to a good standard, which is not bad on a pitch like that one at Motherwell. When I analyse the game, I can't get too angry at them.

"I can get angry about giving away a free-kick at the end when there was no need to give it away.

"I can get angry at them switching off when that free- kick is taken and put into the box for Motherwell to score with their only shot of the game.

"You could see how disappointed my players were when the final whistle went because they know this was a game in which they did well in terms of performance, the chances we created and the number of opportunities we restricted them to.

"But I've got to stay above disappointment, and I can be pleased with all the things they did well."

The surprise decision to pitch all of his strikers on from the start, and play Gary Caldwell in midfield, meant another bench spot for Aiden McGeady. This attracted the usual flak which comes the manager's way in the wake of a damaging result.

The Player of the Year did get the chance to come on within minutes of Scott McDonald putting them ahead. But, as Strachan explained, the plan was always to introduce him once the game stretched.

He said: "I was going to put Aiden on even if we had not scored at that point because I thought Motherwell were getting a bit tired.

"Earlier, the pitch was that bad, people could get close to you and it would not have been easy for Aiden to do his thing.

"But the longer it went on, you hoped the game could spread out more."

The wide open spaces and lush surface at Parkhead are much more suitable to McGeady's game.

But this weekend's game against St Mirren is the last one to be staged there until April.

Strachan simply shrugged as he considered the month of road trips and said: "We've no control over that, so we won't let it worry us."