2018-03-31: Celtic 3-0 Ross County, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2017 – 2018 | 2017-18 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic on top of the league by 12pts after Sevco draw with Motherwell (aided by a dodgy penalty).
• Celtic match marred by red card by Ross County player who stamped on Scott Brown.
• Boyata has not commited his long-term future to Celtic. The Belgian defender’s agent has held contract talks but no agreement has been reached.
• A video is being widely-viewed on Twitter showing kilted rugby supporters playing ‘The Sash’ and shouting “F*** the Pope.” It’s believed to have been filmed during Scotland’s Six Nation’s final clash in Italy. The footage posted on Twitter shows a man with bagpipes playing the tune for the Loyalist anthem while two others dance beside him. And they say it’s only a Scottish thing with both sides bad as each other!
• Rumours: Sinclair to return down south; Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been linked with a move to Celtic in the summer, in a switch that would see him reunited with former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
• Hibs battling for a second-place finish, attendances at Easter Road are averaging more than 18,000; the highest since the 1950s, with crowds pushing towards the 20,400 capacity on a number of occasions
• Scott Brown Testimomial to be v Rep of Ireland XI. Scott Brown will donate a portion of the money received from his testimonial to the family of recently passed away ex-Celt Liam Miller.
• Internationals: Ex-Celt Charlie Mulgrew named as Scotland captain for the game v Costa Rica; Scotland lost 1-0. Many Celtic fans avoiding game due to new manager Alex McLeish who was involved in EBT scandal.
• UEFA’s club competitions next season will be able to make a fourth substitute in extra time and use new signings who have already played in the tournament for their former sides.
• Celtic fans have hit back at Paddy Power after the bookmakers criticised the choice of opponents for Scott Brown’s testimonial. The match, to be played in late May, will see Martin O’Neill bring a Republic of Ireland side. Paddy Power questioned the “politics” of the match.

Review

(Misc67 of KDS)
The best we've played for quite a while, the pitch being in great nick had something to do with that I think – Brendan mentioned it post match. Thought the link up down the left between McGregor, Sinclair and Armstrong was excellent. Armstrong in particular was great, his willingness to run beyond split the County defence repeatedly. Sinclair looked much better than he has of late. Cannot even call the stamp on Brown a "tackle" or a "challenge" it was an assault, County player should be looking at 4 game ban minimum.

(Jamiebhoy76 of KDS)
Absolutely atrocious refereeing.

All the incidents of the first half including the County keeper being sat down for over 3 minutes then subbed and there 90 seconds of extra time? 5 subs and all the other incidents of the second half and there's only a minute added.

Keep trying you spineless, cheating hun refs. We're doing back to back trebles and winning the 10 and you're getting a ringside seat for the lot of it.

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Old faces create new spark for Celtic

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/old-faces-create-new-spark-for-celtic-1-4716665

The decision of Andrew Davies to sprint towards Scott Brown and skewer the Celtic captain in the groin by bringing his foot down on top of him in what appeared premeditated fashion pretty much overshadowed all else that happened at Parkhead on Saturday. It left the captain of a Ross County side anchored to the bottom of the Premiership on the outside looking in as Celtic knocked off another win on their inexorable march towards a seventh straight title for the club. Their coronation is now potentially within touching distance.

Yet, notable was the players within Brendan Rodgers’ set-up that spent the entire afternoon on the outside looking in as his team exhibited an effervescence that they haven’t regularly conjured up.

There was much fanfare when Belgian wunderkind Charly Musonda was recruited on loan from Chelsea in January. Meanwhile, the £1m capture of experienced German centre-back Marvin Compper from RB Leipzig was supposed to be a game-changer for Celtic’s brittle defence.

On Saturday, Compper could not even make the bench as Rodgers’ men breezed to victory in, indeed, breezy fashion through second-half scoring contributions from Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic, pictured. In the first period, Scott Sinclair’s trickery earned Celtic a penalty converted by Moussa Dembele that sent them on their way before Davies’ 40th minute idiocy sent him on his way.
Across the winter, these three Celtic players made little impact. In the case of Armstrong and Rogic, injury dictated that. The Scotland midfielder earned his first club start of the year at the weekend following bright displays in the recent Scotland friendlies that allowed him step up his fitness following his January hernia operation. The Australian is now firmly back in the groove after he missed two months of the campaign.
Sinclair’s loss was more of a psychological one, with the winger bereft of confidence that seemed back in evidence against County, his driving runs in the face of robust treatment making for his best game of the year. With Leigh Griffiths producing a bright cameo in his first appearance after two months out with an ankle problem and Patrick Roberts given a short run-out as he regains his fitness after a hamstring tear, there was a sense of Rodgers getting back together the band that orchestrated an unprecedented unbeaten treble last season. The Irishman said afterwards his team looked more like they did in that historic season as Musonda and Compper watched on.
The array of attackers on show meant that Callum McGregor was forced into the left-back berth in the injury absence of Kieran Tierney after his midfield exploits in the Scotland victory over Hungary in midweek earned lavish praise. He had no grumbles when considering the Celtic squad members that weren’t even stripped.

“You’ve got really top players not playing, either on the bench or in the stand. So it keeps you fresh and keeps you hungry to be in the team,” he said. “So if you’ve got to go and play left-back then you do that. I’m just delighted to be in the team.
“The strength in depth of the squad is excellent. That was probably a great strength for us last season. We had everybody fit pretty much every week. There was competition for places, boys were coming into the team and doing really well. It was great to have Stu [Stuart Armstrong] back again. He looked powerful and he got his goal. It was good to get Griff [Leigh Griffiths] back, Paddy [Roberts] as well.”
Now all Celtic need is a few more wins and the title will be wrapped up. With the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers in a fortnight, they could be no more than five games away from becoming the first team in Scottish football history to claim back-to-back trebles. It would surprise now if they fall short.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers fumes at 'disgraceful' red-card challenge on Scott Brown

BBC
Ouch! Celtic players left furious after 'disgraceful' challenge on Brown

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was appalled by Andrew Davies' red-card challenge on Scott Brown, saying it was "dangerous" and "disgraceful".

The Ross County skipper was dismissed for going in late on his Celtic counterpart during Saturday's 3-0 victory for the Premiership leaders.

"There was no intent to play the ball," said Rodgers.

"I think there is one or two who want to make a name for themselves by trying to put in those sort of tackles."

Celtic led 1-0 thanks to a Moussa Dembele penalty when Davies was dismissed by referee Steven McLean six minutes before half-time. The County defender appeared to stamp on Brown as he tumbled to the ground after a Billy McKay tackle.

Midfielders Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic added second-half goals as the champions moved 12 points clear of Rangers and Aberdeen.

"There is no doubt the challenge on him was disgraceful," said Rodgers.

"We have seen a lot of challenges and there are question marks over them but that is one of the worst I've seen since I've been up here.

"That was a really dangerous challenge and only someone of that toughness and robustness could get up and play on.

"He (Brown) is aggressive but fair and honest and that's why everyone talks about the way he plays.

"He is unique, absolutely brilliant for us and he just gets up and on with the game and controlled the game."

Rodgers was pleased with the victory which leaves his side needing three more wins to wrap up a seventh successive title.
Tom Rogic shoots home Celtic's third goal against 10-man County
Tom Rogic shoots home Celtic's third goal against 10-man County

"When you come back after the international break you are always looking to get some fluency as quick as you can," he said.

"The pitch really helped, it was in good condition so well done to the ground staff.

"We scored one in the first half but could have had a few more and they go down to 10 men with a really bad challenge.

"I feel for the Ross County staff who are trying to keep this team in the league, I feel for the supporters who travelled all the way down.

"You get your captain, who has probably got his most important game on Tuesday night (against Partick Thistle), makes a really poor challenge.

"Jozo Simunovic gets two games (ban) for a slight elbow (against Rangers ) I don't know what that will be."
'He hasn't said too much other than sorry'

County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell revealed that Davies apologised to the rest of the squad for his red card.

"Andrew is an honest guy and an influential player in our team," said Kettlewell.

"Obviously there was a reaction from the Celtic players and Andrew is disappointed.

"I think he felt there was a contact. He hasn't said too much other than sorry because he was sent off.

"He apologised to everybody, his team mates as well, that's what pros do. But today was never going to define our season."

BBC

By Kenny Crawford

BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

From the section Scottish Premiership 193

Celtic 3-0 Ross County

Celtic moved to within 10 points of guaranteeing a seventh successive Premiership title with a comfortable victory over bottom side Ross County.

County striker Billy Mckay had a good early chance saved before Moussa Dembele converted a penalty after Jason Naismith brought down Scott Sinclair.

The visitors' hopes evaporated when captain Andrew Davies was sent off.

The impressive Armstrong drilled in the second before a lovely finish from Tom Rogic sealed a straightforward victory.

Three more wins from their remaining seven games – given their vastly superior goal difference – would effectively seal part five of a potential 'double treble' for Brendan Rodgers' side.

They now have a 12-point lead over Rangers – who have played a game more – and Aberdeen.

County, who have won just one of their past 18 Premiership matches, remain three points adrift of Partick Thistle, who lost 2-0 at Hibernian.

Celtic immediately looked menacing, but in between Armstrong shooting over and Dembele dragging his effort wide, the visitors gave their hosts a real scare.
Moussa Dembele scores from the penalty spot
Moussa Dembele stroked home his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot

Mckay, a previously potent presence who has struggled for goals this season, was played in neatly and it needed an alert stop by Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain to prevent a goal.

Armstrong found pockets of space all over the pitch and was at the heart of Celtic's attacking play again when his rehearsed, low corner kick set up Sinclair for a low shot that was deflected fractionally wide.

There was no argument from Naismith when Sinclair's 'Cruyff turn' near the byeline drew a foul from the defender and referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot after 25 minutes.

Dembele stepped up to slot the slot the ball into the bottom right-hand corner for his 14th goal of the season.

Any slim chance the Dingwall side had of getting anything from the game ended six minutes before the interval when captain Davies was dismissed for an apparent lunging stamp on Celtic skipper Scott Brown.
Andrew Davies looks back after fouling Scott Brown, who writhes in agony
County captain Andrew Davies was sent off after a crude lunge at Celtic counterpart Scott Brown

Stuart Kettlewell's men were dealt another blow soon afterward as goalkeeper Aaron McCarey had to be replaced because of injury – Scott Fox entering the fray in the closing minutes of the first half.

Armstrong's energy and direct approach deserved a goal, and he got his fifth of the season for Celtic early in the second half.

The Scotland midfielder had time to aim a perfectly drilled shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after James Forrest teed him up.

Forrest earned his second assist of the day on the hour playing in Rogic to score Celtic's third in a classy manner. The Australian gathered the ball beautifully on his left foot and showed equally good skill to plant a right-footed finish low past Fox.

Striker Leigh Griffiths made his return to competitive action for the first time since January and was given 20 minutes to get up to match speed.

But it was County who almost finished with a flourish – Ryan Dow nearly netting at the near post following good work by Michael Gardyne.
Post-match reaction:
Ouch! Celtic players left furious after 'disgraceful' challenge on Brown

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I thought it was a job well done. We started well and didn't get the goals we deserved but our drive and intensity was good and once we got in front, and their captain was sent off for a really poor challenge, we found that bit of ruthlessness we needed.

"It is another three points to where we want to go.

"Stuart Armstrong had really good intensity in his game. He has been out for a long time and is still finding his fitness, but we gave him 90 minutes and he was really good.

"He ran out of steam a bit towards the end but I am very pleased for him. He had a real goal threat and you saw his energy."

County interim co-manager Stuart Kettlewell: "A few things went against us – Andrew Davies being sent off, a penalty against us and we lost our goalkeeper to injury.

"We knew it would be a mammoth task in the second half. We took a lot from it as a lot of teams can capitulate and fold at that point.

"We felt the players showed a real degree of heart today, which is massive. This was never going to define our season.

"I've not seen the sending-off incident. Andrew is an honest guy, he is our leader on the pitch and is disappointed he has been sent off today. We will look at the incident and take it from there."