Anthony Ralston, a Celtic defender, was on Scotland duty again Wednesday night, as Steve Clarke’s team frustrated Portugal at Hampden.

The 0-0 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s team ended Scotland’s four-game losing streak and earned them their first Nations League point.

The Celtic defender was hoping to improve on his performance in Scotland’s defeat to Croatia the week before, and Ralston did not disappoint.

Ralston worked tirelessly to keep Portugal to only three shots on goal before being replaced in the 87th minute.

After the final whistle, a disgruntled Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the Hampden ground, while Ralston received praise from the media for his role in Scotland’s hard-fought draw.

Celtic’s Anthony Ralston ‘took a kicking’ for Scotland

The Daily Record reported, “Anthony Ralston 7.” An early scoring opportunity, followed by a key headed clearance. Stood up to Diogo Jota’s challenge, yet the final ball was poor moving forward.”

Graham Falk of The Scotsman gave Ralston a seven in his analysis of the Hoops defender’s performance, writing, “Much improved from Ralston, who many have called to be replaced in recent games.” He made good forward progress and connected up with Ryan Christie whenever possible.

“Held his own against Nuno Mendes for the bulk of the game and made an excellent intercepting tackle in the area during the first 45.”

The Edinburgh Evening News was also complimentary of Ralston, praising the Celtic fullback’s bravery: “Took a right kicking by throwing himself into challenges.”

“Up against the top, he performed admirably and sought to advance whenever feasible. “A good night for the Celtic man!”

Finally, Callum McClurkin of the Daily Mail noted that Ralston’s confidence is growing, writing, “Anthony Ralston: Defended the back post well and broke forward sometimes. Looks to be gaining confidence. 6.5.”

Celtic defender Anthony Ralston’s best results in a Scotland jersey

Ralston presently has twelve caps for Scotland, and in times of need, the Hoops fullback is always there for Steve Clarke.

The Celtic star earned his Scotland debut in 2021, appearing briefly in a 2-0 victory over Denmark. Ralston scored in his second appearance, a 2-0 triumph over Armenia at Hampden the following year.

The 25-year-old has also played in a 4-1 away triumph over Armenia, a 2-1 success over the Republic of Ireland, a 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Euro 2024, and last night’s decent stalemate against Portugal.

Despite not playing much for Celtic, Ralston is proving that he can still be a reliable option for Clarke and Scotland.

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