Match Preview: RCFC v Celtic

Ross County host Scottish Premiership champions, Celtic, at the Global Energy Stadium this weekend.

County boss, John Hughes, will face his former club for the second time since he moved to Dingwall in December as his side look to move themselves off the foot of the Scottish Premiership table.

Opposition Focus

Neil Lennon’s Celtic have looked reinvigorated this month; the Glasgow giants have won all 5 of their matches in February, scoring 13 goals and conceding just twice.

They currently sit in 2^nd position in the Scottish Premiership table, with a 15-point margin either side of them to Hibs and Rangers in 3^rd and 1^st respectively.

The Hoops recorded a steady 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Celtic Park on Wednesday. David Turnbull’s 14^th minute strike provided the only goal of the game and reduced the gap between the two Old Firm clubs at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 15 points.

Talisman, Odsonne Edouard, has netted 6 goals in 5 games this month, and prior to their midweek victory over Aberdeen, the Frenchman had scored in 6 consecutive Scottish Premiership matches.

In a season punctuated by disappointment, Celtic finally seem to have found their groove and will be looking to add to their run of perfect results on Sunday.

Ross County Focus

The Staggies currently occupy bottom spot in the Scottish Premiership, 1 point behind Hamilton and Kilmarnock in 11^th and 10^th position.

County were set to face to Hibernian at the Global Energy Stadium last weekend, but a combination of snow and extreme sub-zero temperatures forced the fixture into postponement, meaning John Hughes’s side had to wait another week before returning to action.

County slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United in their last match, failing to back up their impressive 2-1 victory over relegation rivals, Hamilton Academical, from the previous midweek. The struggling Terrors snatched 3 points thanks to goals from Lawrence Shankland and Ryan Edwards after an hour of County dominance.

Since County last played, relegation rivals, Hamilton, have picked up 5 points, including a draw with runaway leaders Rangers, a win over Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell and a draw with St Mirren in midweek.

Last Match

Celtic took all three points the last time they met Ross County when they defeated Sunday’s hosts at Celtic Park 2-0 in December.

Goals from David Turnbull and Leigh Griffiths spoiled John Hughes’s first match in charge of County, whose side couldn’t replicate the performance that saw them knock the champions out of the Betfred Cup in November.