Match Report Celtic v RCFC

Ross County were unable to replicate their previous performance at Celtic Park as they were defeated by the champions, Celtic.

Goals from David Turnbull and Leigh Griffiths won all three points for Neil Lennon’s side in a difficult first night in charge of the Staggies for John Hughes.

Celtic started the brighter of the 2 sides and had a flurry of early chances. Ryan Christie, Odsonne Edouard and Christopher Jullien failed to convert openings inside the box amidst an immediate Celtic onslaught.

Despite conceding 6 corners inside the first 7 minutes, County saw the first clear sight of goal. A well-worked move in midfield resulted in Keith Watson finding some space on the right-hand side of the box. Watson wrapped an enticing cross to the front post, finding Ross Stewart who guided his headed attempt just wide of the far-post.

The Staggies did well to weather the early Celtic storm before the hosts snapped back with the opening goal in the 24^th minute. A beautiful cross-field ball from Callum McGregor picked out Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing before the young full back turned Josh Reid and fizzed the ball across the County box. David Turnbull got on the end of Frimpong’s delivery and opened his foot to direct the ball into the goal from the edge of the six-yard box.

7 minutes before half time, the Staggies teased an equaliser. Some excellent interplay from the visitors’ midfield again drew Celtic defenders out of position and left Watson with an opportunity to deliver from the right. Watson’s cross found the feet of the substitute, Oli Shaw, who set the ball back to Stephen Kelly on the edge of the area. Kelly’s first touch set himself for a left-footed volley that was caught by Conor Hazard as County showed no signs of submission after going a goal down.

On strike of half time, the hosts nearly doubled their lead when Kristopher Ajer’s header from a deep David Turnbull cross tickled the outside of Ross Laidlaw’s left post.

Albeit a goal down, John Hughes’s men had not disgraced themselves in the first half. Only one goal behind, County were still in the game and showed, in glimpses, that they had the tools required in the final third to put pressure on the Celtic defence.

10 minutes after the restart, Leigh Griffiths should have extended Celtic’s advantage. McGregor picked up the ball on the half-way line after Iain Virgurs was dispossessed before releasing Griffiths with a through-ball. The striker charged towards goal, but his shot was prevented by the recovering challenge of Alex Iacovitti.

With 61 minutes on the clock, Iain Vigurs shifted a blind pass back towards his own goal and directly into the path of Griffiths who was stood alone just outside of County’s area. Griffiths carried the ball into the box and blasted a left-footed shot into the body of the oncoming Laidlaw.

Just seconds later, Celtic claimed rent on Vigurs’ error when Griffiths made no mistake of his third opportunity in 7 minutes. Ryan Christie collected the ball on the right hand side of the box before hanging the ball up to the back post for Griffiths to head the ball back across the goal and into the far right corner.

With 20 minutes to go, the hosts looked certain to add a third when both Edouard and McGregor were denied from close range. A Griffiths pass picked out Turnbull in the box who squared the ball back to Edouard before the striker turned Iacovitti and unleashed an effort at goal. Edouard’s shot, and the subsequent rebound from McGregor, was saved by Ross Laidlaw to spare the Staggies of a further blow.

Celtic continued to threaten and dominated the play but despite their endeavours, could not find a third goal.