Anthony Ralston has a hand in three of the four goals rampant Celtic scored at Dundee. The home-side managed a couple of goals themselves – and that’s a frustrating factor for the Celtic defender – but in truth the 4-2 scoreline hugely flatters Dundee who could have easily lost to Celtic by a six goal margin for the second time this season.
Raison must surely be regarded by everyone – other that Steve Clarke – as the best right back in Scottish football, for a start he’s actually getting a game! However The Celtic Star has been overlooked by the Scotland manager so will remain at Lennoxtown over the international break working with Ange Postecoglou, who has used the previous international breaks to work on developing his ideas with the players remaining at Lennoxtown and it certainly has paid dividends.
If Ralston was the assist king at Dens Park then the headlines will belong to two of the Three Amigos – Kyogo and Jota, with Abada having a quieter afternoon on the right wing. Ralston praised both goalscorers, each grabbing a Dundee double to make it an enjoyable afternoon for the travelling Celtic Support.
“Kyogo certainly got me good! He has got his translator, but his English is coming on well and he gets on great with the boys,” Ralston said after the match, as reported by Scottish Sun. “He’s around us every day in training. We all make an effort, too, because of the language barrier. But his football does most of the talking anyway.
“He’s been great and I’m delighted for him again today. The movement of the boys up top is brilliant. For Kyogo for his first one, you always know he’s going to be in those dangerous areas, and it’s just a case of me putting it in the right place for him,” Ralston added.
“Then Jota in at the back post for the next one. So, yes, the boys are brilliant with their movement, and they are all coming together well up there. They are getting a bit of consistency together and that’s important — their confidence is very high.
“The away game against Ferencvaros and then today, their performances have been great. Kyogo and Jota are right up with the best.
“You have seen for yourself what Kyogo’s been like since he came, he’s been top. It’s the same with Jota too. It’s the professionalism they show, and it’s the same for Liel Abada too. They are cracking boys.
“Those who came on later in the game, too, all carry their own threat. As a defensive unit, it makes our job easier knowing we’ve got that quality up top. So I’m happy for them all.”
Ralston admits that he’s been working on that final ball delivery and it is clearly paying dividends for him on match days like yesterday. “I’m delighted to contribute to the team in a positive way. My job’s to defend, but if I can help the boys in any way in an attacking sense then I’m happy to do so. It’s something I’ve been working on at the training ground, my final ball, and when I’m in that area to take my time and pick someone out.
“So I’m happy I’ve been able to do that today. It’s been great and I’m loving every minute of it. To sign the deal and then be able to focus on my football is great. It’s off my mind now, I’m happy and I just want to get back to my work.
“We’re delighted with another win and to send the travelling fans home happy.”
The only real negative on yesterday’s Celtic performance was losing two goals to a team who hardly threatened all afternoon. Both were poorly defended. “We’ve conceded two goals which we don’t want to be doing. As a team and as a defensive unit we’ll analyse what happened and we’ll get that right.But it’s also important to focus on the positives, which there are a lot of just now. And we’re all happy.
“It’s a great group of boys and we’ve come together well. All the new boys have settled well, and we’re in a really good place right now.
“We want to do well in Europe and dominate in the league. We’re in a strong position and on our way to doing that. Things are coming together well. We just need to keep going, get together after the international break, and keep this run going when we come back.”
I know this is a worn out line but I still cannot fathom the improvement in Anthony Ralston this season!
He has been immense and his work ethic has been fantastic! pic.twitter.com/t6rV0cUCsJ
— CELTIC NATION🍀⚽️⭐ (@CelticNation67) November 7, 2021
What an ignorant thing to read!!