Pat Bonner has admitted he felt sorry for Anthony Ralston whilst Ange Postecoglou left the defender out of his Celtic side. The full-back returned to the XI at St Johnstone on Saturday.
Ralston registered just his second start of the Premiership campaign at McDiarmid Park as the Hoops rallied to a 2-1 win. An own goal from Andrew Considine put the Bhoys in front moments before the break. Giorgos Giakoumakis hit the winning effort in the 95th minute.
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Alex Mitchell appeared to save a point for the Saints in the 92nd minute when the centre-back calmly slotted home from Ali Crawford’s free-kick. But St Johnstone could not hold on as Giakoumakis tapped home at close range from Alexandro Bernabei’s ball across the box.
Postecoglou had only started Ralston in one Premiership match this season before Celtic’s trip to St Johnstone. He opened the action at St Mirren prior to the international break for his first game in five league fixtures. The 23-year-old had not played since the opening day.
A cameo off the bench at home to Aberdeen to raise the curtain only lasted eight minutes, as well. While Postecoglou has left Ralston on the bench for all three of Celtic’s Champions League group stage ties. He also played 90 minutes in the League Cup at Ross County.
Ralston was a regular part of Postecoglou’s line-up during the Australian’s first campaign in charge at Celtic last season. He featured 47 times across all competitions for five goals and nine assists – four and seven in the league. The six-cap Scotland star also started 42 times.
Anthony Ralston ‘unlucky’ with his limited game time at Celtic this season
Ralston has two assists from his limited game time at Celtic this season after creating goals for Giakoumakis and James Forrest to beat Ross County 4-1. His League Cup display again showed what Postecoglou could coax from the full-back after his creative 2021/22 season.
So for Ralston to now only boast a seat on the bench for most of Celtic’s matches this term has perplexed Bonner. The former Hoops goalkeeper feels the defender ought to have had more opportunities to show his ability before returning to the Bhoys team at St Johnstone.
“Anthony Ralston is one I feel sorry for in many ways,” Bonner stated on BBC Sportsound. “When you consider the way he was playing, the ability to get forward, the energy he had.
“He’s been out of things and got really tired in the second half against St Mirren. He’s been so unlucky to be out of the team.”
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