Bitton hoping Hearts’ performance will be benchmark for Hoops

Nir Bitton believes Celtic’s performance against Hearts on Sunday should be the benchmark for the rest of the Hoops’ season.

The Ladbrokes Premiership leaders were twice ahead against the Jambos at Tynecastle after the Israel midfielder opened the scoring just before the break, but the home side battled back with striker Osman Sow’s late strike from distance making it 2-2.

The result took Ronny Deila’s side one point clear of Aberdeen at the top of the table and with a game in hand over the Dons.

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However, Bitton was as pleased with the improvement following the dismal 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell the previous week as he was with the daylight created.

Ahead of the trip to face Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night, Bitton underlined the requirements for the remainder of a campaign which could culminate in a domestic treble

“We need to play like we played on Sunday,” he said.

“I think everybody was up for the fight and everybody fought for each other and when we want to win it starts from there.

“Everyone knows we have a lot of quality in the team, but we need to be prepared to fight before we bring the qualities to the game.

“When we fight for each other and do the simple things, we look a good team.

“When we played last week against Motherwell at home, we didn’t do it and we lost the game, so we just need to make sure we do the same thing we did on Sunday.”

Asked if Celtic should be further ahead at this stage of the season, Bitton said: “We have dropped a lot of points on the way, but these things happen and we just need to make sure we go to every game prepared the best (we can) and try to win every game.

“Sometimes, as you seen against Hearts, they scored an unbelievable goal. These kinds of things happen and you just need to look forward.”

However, Bitton is aware that after a defeat and a draw the onus is on Celtic to get back to winning ways against the Dens Park side, who have just one win in 10 games.

He said: “It is important for us to win every game.

“To win at Dundee on Wednesday, is the same as we wanted to win against Hearts. But we need to understand it is going to be a difficult game for us and we need to be prepared for it.”