2016-02-13: Celtic 2-0 Ross County, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2015 – 2016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic playing Ross County for first time after they humiliatingly defeated Celtic in the League Cup two weeks prior.
  
• Ex-Celt Islam Feruz has apparently gone awol again at his latest club. Lasted only a week or so at Hibs, his career is spiralling down fast when many rated his future highly once. Blaming Scottish media ganging up on him.
  
• Celtic announced half-yearly results that showed an £11.7 million pre-tax profit.
  
• Celtic are close to signing a new shirt sponsorship deal with Dafabet when their deal with Magners runs out this year, according to a report by the Daily Record.
  
• Celtic announce that it has named Davie Hay & Tom Boyd as new Ambassadors of the Club, and Boyd comes out in defence of Deila (criticism is 'hysteria' from the fans apparently).
  
• Leigh Griffiths has gone to the police after threats made against his children on twitter. Apparently it's some 15 year old idiot making the social media threats. Still serious and action being taken.
  
• Liverpool fans mounting an aggressive but well supported campaign against ticket prices at their club, £77 for certain tickets. Support from across the board. They win as their board backs down.
  
• Embarrassing, the SFA had to redo a draw for the Scottish Cup after it was compromised when one of the balls opened up in the th wheel. Ex-Celt Lubo was guest for the draw and was comically blamed by some. All a shambles.
  
• 100 years on from Einstein's prediction, gravitational waves have been proven correct.
  
• The Scottish league has warned of a “sinister” plot within European football to restrict access to the Champions League for clubs from smaller nations.he Celtic chief executive is determined to battle the plans by Bayern Munich president. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that would end the “champions route” into the competition. Rummenigge wants a new super league of 20 teams from the five biggest footballing nations – Spain, Italy, Germany, England and France – with little prospect of sides outwith that group gatecrashing the tournament.

Review

(mb of KDS)
We were pretty solid. A better spine to the team. Boyata and Sviatchenko looked decent together.
Ref was very poor and inconsistent.
3 points.
Cold.
That's about the size of it.

(lebong of KDS)
Can’t say I enjoyed much about today at Celtic Park other than the score of course, the football was utterly dire and the weather did little to brighten the mood. For me Celtic played most of the match with nine players, JoeHansen and Armstrong contributing very little, both should have an extended period out of the team. Sviatchenko may need game and time to familiarise with the team but the early signs are worrying, some of his decisions and passing were questionable, he needs to improve and quickly. The midfield again is too ponderous and fail to see the forward pass giving the opposition time to get bodies behind the only Striker. Where are the leaders? Where are the magicians who can entertain and turn the course of a match in an instant? The players are out there Lubo and Henke signed for a combined £1m, we just need to find them. I of course will continue to attend faithfully as I have since the 60’s, but my goodness it’s becoming a chore.
As for future prospect I think we can discount the Champions League with qualification for the Europa League questionable. Time for Ronny and Peter to move on and a new strategy for the club. If you think I’m too critical have a look around the stands, you can’t kid all the people all the time.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/9272987/

MOTM

• Voting Thread http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/9272986/
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

Celtic Ross County

Possession
Home58%
Away42%

Shots
Home14
Away6

Shots on Target
Home4
Away1

Corners
Home9
Away1

Fouls
Home17
Away11

Articles

Celtic 2-0 Ross County: Staggies lose out to league leaders

13 February 2016 by Stephen Walsh
0 comments

Ross County fell to a 2-0 defeat against Premiership leaders Celtic, who moved three points clear of Aberdeen at the summit.

The Staggies had held out for the majority of the first-half, until Leigh Griffiths’ 30th goal of the season gave the Hoops the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Dedryck Boyata’s second-half header sealed the points for the Hoops, who gained revenge following the Staggies’ 3-1 win in the League Cup semi-final last month.

County remain fourth, but only on goals scored, having netted one more than Dundee who defeated St Johnstone 2-0 on Friday night.
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County manager Jim McIntyre made two changes from the side that fell to a cruel 3-0 defeat against Hearts in midweek. Skipper Andrew Davies was absent with an ankle injury, making way for Chris Robertson, while David Goodwillie was replaced by Jonathan Franks.

Celtic were unconvincing 2-0 winners against Lowland League side East Kilbride the previous weekend, and having suffered back-to-back losses against County and Aberdeen prior to that, the Hoops were eager to record a convincing win. Manager Ronny Deila made five changes for the visit of the Staggies, with Logan Bailly, Efe Ambrose, Charlie Mulgrew, James Forrest and Colin Kazim-Richards dropping out, being replaced by Craig Gordon, Nir Bitton, Mickael Lustig, Stefan Johansen and Stuart Armstrong.

Celtic enjoyed most of the early pressure, with Griffiths’ strike cut out by Staggies goalkeeper Scott Fox’s near post save, before the former Hoops custodian did well to tip Gary Mackay-Steven’s low strike wide with a diving save.

County’s first attempt came on 10 minutes, when Richard Foster’s driven cross from the left found its way to Jackson Irvine on the edge of the box, but he dragged his shot wide.

The visitors survived a let-off on 36 minutes, when Celtic forward Griffiths latched on to Johansen’s threaded pass, but he could only strike his shot off the post with an empty goal to aim at.

County were not so fortunate on the stroke of half-time however, when Robertson’s clearance from Kieran Tierney’s cross landed straight at the feet of Leigh Griffiths, and he tucked home from 10 yards.

The goal was a blow for McIntyre’s side, who had looked set to hold on until the break. Their task became even harder on 57 minutes, when Stuart Armstrong’s delivery from the left picked out the head of Boyata, who bulleted home from close-range.

County’s opportunities to get back into the game were few and far between, with Michael Gardyne’s cut-back forcing Nir Bitton to divert narrowly wide of his own post, while Franks let fly with a late strike from long-range which forced Gordon to make a decent fingertip save, but there was to be no way through.

BBC

By Kenny Crawford

BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

From the section Football

Leigh Griffiths scores for Celtic against Ross County
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Highlights – Celtic 2-0 Ross County

Leigh Griffiths scored his 30th goal of the season as Celtic moved three points clear at the top of the Premiership by beating Ross County.

Avenging their recent League Cup semi-final defeat, Celtic moved ahead when Griffiths volleyed home in first-half stoppage time.

Griffiths had earlier hit the post as a host of good openings were spurned.

The hosts doubled their lead when defender Dedryck Boyata stretched to head in a Stuart Armstrong cross.
Jim McIntyre and Ronny Deila
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Interviews – Deila and Mcintyre

Griffiths is the fastest player to score 30 goals for the club in a season since former Sweden striker Henrik Larsson.

Facing the same opponents who beat them at Hampden at the end of January, and with their title credentials under scrutiny, the win was a necessity for manager Ronny Deila and his, at times, nervy side.

Celtic failed to convert and ease the tension in the opening exchanges, with some of the loudest shouts prior to Griffiths' typically clinical strike being for over-hit passes by Stefan Johansen and Armstrong.

Johansen was useful more than he was wasteful, though. The Norwegian threaded several through-balls, but the finishing did not do them justice.

Gary Mackay-Steven watched his shot pushed round the post by Scott Fox , while Griffiths did the hard work by rounding the Ross County keeper before seeing his low effort bounce back off the near post and into his arms.

As Celtic fans cried "Challenge him", Ross County gradually tried to pile on the pressure, and Jackson Irvine presented a threat with an 18-yard shot.
Dedryck Boyata headed Celtic into a 2-0 lead
Boyata connects with a Stuart Armstrong cross to head in Celtic's second goal

But just as Deila might have been wondering how to galvanise his players at the break, the left foot of Griffiths got the Parkhead side out of a hole.

Kieran Tierney's deep cross gave Chris Robertson problems and, under pressure from Johansen, the centre-back could only head into the path of the Scotland striker to score.

Home supporters thought Celtic had sealed the win midway through the second half when Boyata outmuscled Paul Quinn to head Armstrong's deep delivery high into the net. But there was a fright to come.

Erik Sviatchenko surrendered possession all too easily at the back, which let Michael Gardyne cross and almost set up Alex Schalk a tap in were it not for a desperate Nir Bitton clearance.

Near the jittery end, Jonathan Franks also made the Celtic back-line work hard as his rising shot had to be dealt with by a diving Craig Gordon.

Now it's over to nearest challengers Aberdeen to re-apply the pressure when they meet Inverness CT on Monday.

Posted at
Match ends, Celtic 2, Ross County 0.
Full Time
Posted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Ross County 0.
Posted at 90'+2'
Delay in match Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) because of an injury.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt missed. Martin Woods (Ross County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Booking
Posted at 87'
Tomas Rogic (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
Posted at 87'
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic).
Posted at 86'
Jackson Irvine (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at 85'
Attempt saved. Jonathan Franks (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 84'
Alex Schalk (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Posted at 84'
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Stuart Armstrong.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
Posted at 83'
Ian McShane (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Posted at 82'
Substitution, Ross County. Jamie Reckord replaces Marcus Fraser because of an injury.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at 82'
Jonathan Franks (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 81'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 81'
Delay in match Marcus Fraser (Ross County) because of an injury.
Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Stewart Murdoch (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution
Posted at 79'
Substitution, Celtic. Colin Kazim-Richards replaces Leigh Griffiths.
Posted at 78'
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Posted at 76'
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Stefan Johansen.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic).
Posted at 75'
Alex Schalk (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 73'
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 71'
Attempt blocked. Kieran Tierney (Celtic) right footed shot from long range on the right is blocked.
Posted at 70'
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Nir Bitton.
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) header from very close range is just a bit too high.
Posted at 68'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Richard Foster.
Substitution
Posted at 65'
Substitution, Ross County. Stewart Murdoch replaces Paul Quinn because of an injury.
Posted at 65'
Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Jackson Irvine (Ross County).
Posted at 63'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jonathan Franks.
Posted at 62'
Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Posted at 61'
Substitution, Ross County. Alex Schalk replaces Liam Boyce.
Posted at 59'
Attempt missed. Ian McShane (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Goal!
Posted at 57'
Goal! Celtic 2, Ross County 0. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
Posted at 57'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Chris Robertson.
Posted at 56'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 56'
Paul Quinn (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 55'
Attempt missed. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from long range on the right is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 54'
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
Posted at 54'
Marcus Fraser (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 52'
Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 52'
Foul by Michael Gardyne (Ross County).
Posted at 50'
Attempt missed. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at 48'
Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic).
Posted at 48'
Martin Woods (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half
Posted at
Second Half begins Celtic 1, Ross County 0.
Half Time
Posted at 45'+3'
First Half ends, Celtic 1, Ross County 0.
Goal!
Posted at 45'+1'
Goal! Celtic 1, Ross County 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Posted at 45'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 45'
Foul by Liam Boyce (Ross County).
Booking
Posted at 40'
Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 40'
Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic).
Posted at 40'
Martin Woods (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 40'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 40'
Foul by Martin Woods (Ross County).
Posted at 38'
Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Posted at 38'
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 37'
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
Posted at 37'
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 37'
Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 35'
Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Posted at 35'
Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
Posted at 35'
Ian McShane (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 31'
Delay in match Nir Bitton (Celtic) because of an injury.
Booking
Posted at 31'
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 30'
Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 30'
Foul by Michael Gardyne (Ross County).
Posted at 27'
Hand ball by Liam Boyce (Ross County).
Posted at 25'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 25'
Foul by Richard Foster (Ross County).
Posted at 24'
Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 24'
Foul by Michael Gardyne (Ross County).
Booking
Posted at 23'
Chris Robertson (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 23'
Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 23'
Foul by Chris Robertson (Ross County).
Posted at 20'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Martin Woods.
Posted at 19'
Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
Posted at 19'
Jackson Irvine (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 16'
Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 16'
Foul by Ian McShane (Ross County).
Posted at 15'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 15'
Richard Foster (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 15'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 15'
Paul Quinn (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 13'
Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Posted at 13'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ian McShane.
Posted at 11'
Attempt missed. Jackson Irvine (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 9'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Fox.
Posted at 9'
Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 4'
Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 4'
Foul by Ian McShane (Ross County).
Posted at 3'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jackson Irvine.
Posted at 3'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jackson Irvine.
Posted at 2'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Fox.
Posted at 2'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Kick Off
Posted at
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.