ANTHONY STOKES was so fired up for his Old Firm debut he almost got himself sent off within a MINUTE of kick-off.

But the Celtic striker insists he won't make the same mistake again if he's unleashed at Ibrox on January 2.

The Irishman admits the derby hype got the better of him when the Hoops lost 3-1 to Walter Smith's men at Parkhead in October.

His crude lunge on Sasa Papac warranted an early red card but Stokes got away with a yellow before having one of his poorest games so far in a Celtic shirt.

The 22-year-old amazingly believes it was a HARSH booking and claims Ibrox stars have "snapped" Celtic players in the past only to walk away unpunished.

However, if he gets the nod from Neil Lennon to start in Govan next month, Stokes won't let himself get carried away by the pre-match tension this time.

The striker already has his sights on Ibrox and is determined to put things right after a dark debut in the fixture.

Stokes said: "I learned a lot from my first Old Firm game. I was playing out wide that day which was a little bit different.

"If I get the chance to play in the next one at Ibrox I will try to relax more.

"I was probably too hyped up for it but it's a learning curve.

"It's a completely different atmosphere against Rangers when you're a Hibs player compared to being at Celtic.

"Maybe that had an effect on me with the early tackle I made on Papac.

"But what annoyed me was that we watched DVDs of four or five Old Firm games from the past. In every one Rangers players were going in and snapping the Celtic lads but there was never a yellow card.

"The tackle I made was down to me being wound up a bit too much. I still don't really think it was a bad tackle - he followed through a bit and got injured by the way he landed.

"I will certainly try to relax a bit more before the next Old Firm game. I remember thinking after the first one I had been too hyped up and it affected my performance.

"So when I next face Rangers I will just concentrate on playing football.

"The game at Ibrox in January will be massive. The way things are, with Rangers a few points ahead, we need to get a run going before that match.

"That could prove to be a really important game come the end of the season."

Stokes scored a stunning goal for Hibs at Ibrox last season to help the Easter Road side claim a 1-1 draw.

But he admits an Old Firm winner there would mean so much more.

He said: "When I went to Ibrox with Hibs we generally played quite well there.

"That was our problem - we would do well against the bigger teams then lose to the smaller ones when we were fancied to win.

"I've had good experiences at Ibrox in the past and scored a couple of goals so I'm looking forward to going there with Celtic for the first time."

Stokes failed to start Celtic's last two SPL games due to illness and was sick when Lennon's men contrived to drop four points at home to Dundee United and Inverness.

At a time when the club have been embroiled in off-field battles with the SFA, they've lost their impetus on it.

Gers now hold a two-point advantage with a game in hand and the Hoops fans are far from happy with their side.

Stokes sympathises with the supporters after two dismal displays but is certain Lennon's troops can bounce back and make up ground on their rivals before that Old Firm joust.

Celtic's clash with Aberdeen yesterday was postponed due to the bad weather and the Irishman insists the players are desperate to get back out on the pitch.

He said: "The last two weeks haven't been good enough and hopefully this little break will allow us to get our focus back.

"We need to bounce back with some wins because drawing two games in a row is unacceptable at Celtic.

"The results have been disappointing because you don't expect to give away leads but it's about how we react now.

"I can understand the fans' reaction after the Caley Thistle game.

"We were 2-0 up at home. Even if I was still at Hibs - or at any club - I'd expect to hold on in circumstances like that.

"But at Celtic it just shouldn't happen. We should be stronger than that and going on to look for three or four goals.

"I don't think external factors have had an effect on us. We were two ahead at home to Inverness so nothing should have stopped us getting the points. Most of the players don't pay attention to what happens outside the club.

"We know there's a lot we can improve on and that's our aim now."

Aside from his abject performance against Gers, Stokes has proved to be an astute signing by Lennon.

He has already bagged eight goals for his boyhood heroes and grabbed a hat-trick in the 9-0 thrashing of Aberdeen.

Wearing a Hoops shirt brings added pressure but the former Hibs star is enjoying the extra responsibility at Parkhead.

Stokes said: "It's very intense being a Celtic player. At Hibs we would go to certain grounds and take a 1-1 draw any day of the week.

"But here it's just not like that. A draw is like a loss at Celtic - winning games is all that matters and I like that.

"Every player wants to be at a club going for trophies. It has been brilliant so far."

Striker orders Hoops softies to toughen up CELTIC striker Anthony Stokes has warned his Parkhead team-mates they must toughen up if they want to become SPL champions.

The Irish hitman watched in disbelief as the Hoops squandered four points at home against Dundee United and Inverness in their last two games.

Conceding late goals has cost Neil Lennon's side dearly and Stokes - who is fully fit again after illness - insists they have to stop being easy pushovers.

The 22-year-old fears if they don't start killing teams off, they have no chance of wrestling the By SCOTT McDERMOTT SPL title back from Old Firm rivals Rangers.

He said: "It has been an up and down season so far. At times we've played great football and devoured teams. But the next week we've dropped points.

"We need more consistency because we're going for this title. The basis is there and we're getting better as a team.

"But we have to be harder to beat than we have been in the last few weeks.

"Conceding goals has been the problem. We need to dig in a bit more. If you look at the Dundee United and Inverness games - it's like we're soft at times.

"But that comes from the front - we all have to defend better and work for the team. That's what we've been working on and hopefully when we get back playing we can show that.

"We've spoken about the need to kill off teams. The gaffer has told us, we've watched DVDs, we're doing everything we can.

"But it all comes down to the players on the pitch. We have to be harder to beat from now on."