A year ago Celtic were in-between humiliating 4-1 defeats from Sparta Prague with Tony Ralston looking on from the outside at the collapse of a season, the end of a dream.
Neil Lennon pushed all criticism aside, pointed to his track record, telling everyone that he would turn it around in the face of all evidence.
The fans weren’t fooled, they knew that things weren’t right, they had watched the evidence since Ferencvaros were celebrating in the away dressing room at the end of August.
Throughout the club there was a lack of professionalism, things weren’t right. A core of players wished that they were elsewhere while the former Bolton and Hibs boss was in full self-defence mode knowing that beyond Celtic he’d be stuck on the B-list of media pundits.
Ralston was called in once, at home to Livingston in January while 14 players completed their post-Dubai self-isolation.
Yesterday at Dens Park he contributed more in 90 minutes than the disastrous Jonjoe Kenny managed in 16 games.
Ralston provided three assists but afterwards he pointed attention towards the professionalism of the men finishing the chances off. Similar comments weren’t heard last season about Odsonne Edouard or Leigh Griffiths.
The reborn defender told The Sun:
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. 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.
With many team-mates away on international duty Ralston can enjoy a few relaxing days off before going head first into the dozen fixtures between November 20 and January 2 that will go a long long way to shaping Celtic’s season.