97 Heard of Celtic fan chant ‘67.. in the heat of Lisbon’? This was... IN THE HEAT OFDINGWALL
Last-gasp goal hero Ralston says lay off partying Hoops fans.. they deserved celebrations after long midweek trip north to County for crunch clash
LAST-GASP hero Anthony Ralston whipped up Celtic fans into fever pitch in Dingwall but insists the critics should cut the invaders some slack.
The gutsy full-back headed home a stunning 97th-minute winner over Ross County to keep the Hoops in touch of league leaders Rangers.
It sparked wild scenes of celebration in the visiting end as supporters spilled on to the pitch.
Some commentators have hammered the scenes, branding them a disgrace.
But Ralston – who would have likely been in the stand supporting his boyhood club if he wasn’t actually playing for them – has nothing but admiration for the punters who travelled north.
He said: “Of course, I’ve never been involved in a last-minute winner. I’m delighted for the supporters who travelled despite their work commitments.
“It’s midweek and they went all the way up to Dingwall. It (the pitch celebration) was a heat of the moment thing and it’s nothing less than what they deserved travelling up here.
“We all got a bit excited but it’s part and parcel of the game and it was a great moment.
“All the boys were delighted, the coaching staff, the fans. It was a great moment for everyone.”
We all got a bit excited but it’s part and parcel of the game and it was a great moment ANTHONY RALSTON ON SCENES SPARKED BY HIS STUNNING INTERVENTION
Ralston admitted his stoppage-time effort was right up with the best moments of his Hoops career.
The Parkhead side can now turn their attention away from the league this weekend and their trip to Hampden, where they are looking to see off Hibs to lift the first trophy of the season.
It is also Ralston’s first chance of picking up a winners’ medal as a bona-fide member of Celtic’s first-team.
He said: “We all know the magnitude of the game. It’s right
up there with anything else.
“But it’s important we go into every match with the same mentality.
“It’s important now that we rest and recover. We now put our focus on the cup final.
“Everyone involved will want to win and we’ve got the belief that we can win. So we’ll be going there confident.
“It will be a special occasion, the first chance this season to get a trophy. So we’ll be going there focused on what we need to do.”
Those Celtic fans who raced on to the Global Energy pitch knew the importance of his winner in terms of the title race, with Rangers beating St Johnstone 2-0 at Ibrox on the same night. And speaking about his header in Dingwall, the full-back said: “It’s right up there with anything else.”
It was the defender’s fifth goal of the campaign and definitely his most important.
Ralston said: “Right place, right time and it’s a great cross from Tom Rogic.
“I found myself in the right area and I was able to convert it. So I’m delighted on a personal note but more importantly it’s from a team point of view and I’ve helped us get three points.
“It keeps us on a good run and we continue to go in the right direction.”
It has been some run for Ralston as he has gone from the fringes to a first-team regular, bagging a new contract and a Scotland call-up on the way.
A winners’ medal would be the next stage in his rocket rise of a season – although he also knows Hibs will harbour similar ambitions of Hampden glory.
Celtic ended last term without any silverware as they lagged miles behind Rangers in the title race and saw St Johnstone lift both domestic cups.
But new boss Ange Postecoglou now stands so close to his first trophy at Parkhead, just a few months after facing a huge rebuilding job in the summer.
The Aussie has the Hoops flying again and praised his side for delivering in the face of adversity in the Highlands.
Celts travelled north without a recognised striker with Albian Ajeti, Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, Mikey Johnston, James Forrest and Giorgos Giakoumakis all missing.
Things didn’t look good when Jack Baldwin cancelled out Liel
Abada’s opener then Carl Starfelt got sent off. But they found a way to win and Ralston was proud of how deep they dug.
He said: “We had challenges put in our way and it’s not easy to come up here while we also went down to 10 men.
“We were forced to change the team around. But we won’t make excuses. We were still in the game, still kept on top and dominated.
“We got the opportunity and took it, which I was delighted to do. It’s just belief. It’s instilled in us all and it’s something that the gaffer is also big on.
“That we believe in ourselves no matter what’s put in front of us, that no matter what team plays we’re all important members of the squad.
“The main thing is it’s for the team that we scored the goal.
“But, of course, I’m personally delighted that I was able to get in the right position and convert the chance.”
Ralston can now start dreaming of Hampden although it was a few weeks ago he feared settling for a watching brief in the Premier Sports Cup Final due an ankle injury picked up against Real Betis.
He recalled: “I had a tear in my ankle. But now I’m feeling good and feeling fit.
“We’ve got a great physio staff and I’ve done the right things. Now I’m ready to play.
“When you get an injury at that moment in time you’re not sure what it is.
“But I was glad when I came away that it wasn’t as severe as first thought. I was able to do the right rehab then got myself fit and ready to play again.”