Celtic urged to show ruthless side to halt unbeaten league season hopes

John Kennedy has called on Celtic to be ruthless against Rangers and end the champions’ hopes of an unbeaten Premiership campaign.

Steven Gerrard’s side, who wrested the title back from Parkhead to prevent a record-breaking 10 in a row, have won two and drawn one of the three league games against the Hoops this season and also knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup.

Interim boss Kennedy believes a series of missed chances, including French striker Odsonne Edouard failing from the spot in the 2-0 cup defeat at Ibrox earlier in the month, have cost Celtic dearly against their city rivals.

Kennedy, who revealed wingers James Forrest and

Mikey Johnston are available for tomorrow’s clash at Ibrox after recovering from injury, aims to prevent Rangers finishing the league season undefeated but knows his side have to be sharper in front of goal.

The former Celtic defender said: “We can use it as motivation but we ultimately have to judge ourselves in terms of what we do.

“What we haven’t done, in the last two games especially, is be ruthless in the vital moments of the game and take our chances and change the dynamic of the game.

“Especially in the last game, we gave two goals away which put us on the back foot and then, when we had chances to get ourselves back in the game, we didn’t take them. So we have to be more clinical.

“When you are more clinical it breeds a higher level of confidence and you see more flow in your football.

“The performances are still stable but we have to be better in both boxes, not giving anything away at our end and being ruthless at the top end.”

Captain Scott Brown will play in his last Old Firm game before joining Aberdeen as player/ assistant next season.

Kennedy said: “Scott’s had a fantastic career here, a very successful one.

“Going into the game, it would be good for the team to collectively pull together to send Scott on his way on a high.”