Bhoys won’t hold back, warns Stokes

Anthony Stokes insists there will be no let-up at Celtic even though it is just a matter of when and not if they win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The Irish striker, 24, scored twice in the 6-2 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park on Saturday which took the champions 18 points clear of Motherwell.

Midfielder Kris Commons also scored a double, one from the spot, and there were goals for defender Efe Ambrose and midfielder Joe Ledley.

At 2-1 in the first half, goalkeeper Fraser Forster saved a Jon Daly penalty although the visitors opened the scoring through Stuart Armstrong and finished it through Johnny Russell.

While Celtic’s European campaign is all but over following the 3-0 defeat by Juventus in the first leg of their last-16 clash at Parkhead on Tuesday night, the Hoops’ title victory is similarly inevitable following their sixth successive SPL win.

However, Stokes, back in the frame after an ankle injury decimated the first part of the campaign, knows Celtic will not be allowed to canter in the final stages.

“We demand it from ourselves to perform in each game and fans want to see us winning every game,” he said.

“It’s always nice to wrap it up as early as possible but even if we do we are going to be expected to win every game anyway so, whether we sew it up early or not, I don’t think it is going to change the mentality of how we go into the games.”