Ronny Deila issues rallying call after Celtic draw with Ross County

Departing Celtic boss Ronny Deila watched his players struggle for a point in a 1-1 home draw with Ross County and urged them to have fun in the remaining four games of the season.

The Norwegian announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving at the end of the campaign but instead of quelling increasing dissatisfaction among the Hoops fans, several banners in a half-full stadium expressed disgruntlement with the board and the players.

In an almost silent Celtic Park, striker Leigh Griffiths fired in his 38th goal of the season midway through the first half to give the home side the lead but Staggies midfielder Stewart Murdoch levelled in the 64th minute for a deserved point.

Celtic are nine points ahead of Aberdeen with four games remaining and could win their fifth successive title next weekend.

Deila acknowledged the lack of atmosphere at the game but called for unity as he looks for the Hoops to finish the season in style, starting with the trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts next Saturday.

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He said: "Everything that had gone on this week had affected the occasion. You can see that in some of the confidence of the boys but this is the circumstances now. I can also understand the fans, but it doesn't help them.

"It is not easy to play under but it is something we have to deal with. We wanted a better performance than today and I am sure we will get that.

"I don't think anything else more will come out this week and we can focus on Saturday.

"Now we have to stick together, work really hard, have fun in the last four games, get the best out of each other and now we know we have a lot of quality to get over the line and also in a good way."

The banners displayed before kick-off were aimed at chief executive Peter Lawwell and major shareholder Dermot Desmond and said: "Lawell (sic) and Desmond's legacy; empty jerseys; empty hearts; empty dreams; empty stands."

Other banners read: "From boardroom to dressing room; You've embarrassed yourselves; The Celtic jersey has shrunk to fit inferior players"

When asked why Lawwell had visited the dressing room after the game, Deila said: "He spoke to me, not the players. We speak together all the time so it is nothing new.

"It is not like I am going to quit tomorrow. I am going to stay here for the rest of the season and do everything to get over the line and perform better than we did today.

"It is a special place and there are enormous demands here. The club has been in European finals but it is different now and there are always going to be disagreements. But it is important now that when we play games we have to stay together."

County boss Jim McIntyre claimed his side could have taken more than a point.

He said: "There is no doubt we created the opportunities and that is the one little criticism on the day, that we never punished them, because they were golden opportunities."