Anthony Ralston insists Celtic squad need to ‘demand more’ from each other

Anthony Ralston admits Celtic players have to “demand more” from each other after going into the international break with a dreary goalless draw against Rangers at Ibrox.

The Hoops were looking to bounce back from their humiliating Champions League play-off defeat to Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, while Russell Martin’s side went into the game on the back of an equally embarrassing 9-1 aggregate defeat by Club Brugge in the same competition.

However, what resulted was one of the poorest Old Firm encounters in recent memory with neither goalkeeper having much to do, although Gers defender John Souttar did beat Kasper Schmeichel with a header in the first half but it was ruled out for offside.

Celtic’s performance did not please boss Brendan Rodgers who highlighted a lack of firepower, albeit his side remain six points ahead of their Old Firm rivals having played only four William Hill Premiership fixtures.

Right-back Ralston said: “We demand a lot of each other and we need to demand more in terms of creating those chances.

“When we get in the final third is about having that cutting edge, that final pass and the build up being more courageous to make more things happen.

“We have an abundance of talent in the team, honest boys, and I’m sure we’ll see that.

“It’s about being positive and being brave. That’s the message. There were positives to take away from Sunday, like the grit and fight, it’s just that final pass in the final third and that’s something we’ll be looking to put together when we come back from the international break.

“It’s just the demand at a club like Celtic. There’s a demand to win every game in every competition you are in and win trophies.

“That’s what we are based on so to maintain that we have to have these demands we put on each other as players, to take the ball, create chances, fight and defend your box, all those things need to come together.

“When we get back we’ll get the head down and focus on that.”