GENERAL LEIGH
ROSS COUNTY 0 CELTIC 1 Hoops get it tight in the Highlands but Griff stunner seals 3 points
SCOTS PREMIERSHIP
The Scotland striker’s free-kick frustrations since his dream double against England finally washed away yesterday, his sensational 78th-minute winner earning Celtic victory in a game where they finally looked like being stifled.
No one on their 64-game unbeaten domestic run has managed to keep the Hoops goalless. But with Moussa Dembele struggling, Owen Coyle’s grafters were set to be the first. One moment of magic from sub Griffiths though eased frayed nerves and saw them home. The 27-year-old said: “I’ve had a lot of stick for not getting anything on target since the England game so it’s good to finally put one in the net.
“Craig Gordon said at half-time if I got on to try to have a shot because the sun will be in the keeper’s eyes. So I knew if I got the ball on target it had a good chance of going in.
“The manager said to us after the game that it’s not about the XI who start, we all have to play a part.”
Asked if it was a timely message to send out ahead of week which will see Celtic face PSG in the Champions League and Motherwell in the Betfred Cup Final, Griffiths said: “Not really. Moussa has been on fire.
“If it wasn’t for being injured last week maybe I could have got a goal or two ( for Scotland) but I’ve been working with the physios to get back.
“It won’t do me any harm – it’s a big game in Paris but we have a big week and the manager will take than into consideration. We’ve then got a Cup Final so he’ll have difficult choices.”
It’s the first time in weeks Celtic have looked in serious discomfort.
They weren’t moving the ball through the lines quickly enough and County were getting the traction they were looking for.
Eventually Celts established a foothold – thanks in the main to the energy of Callum Mcgregor – but they found keeper Aaron Mccarey in commanding form.
Rodgers turned to his bench for inspiration, Griffiths and Jonny Hayes replacing Mcgregor and James Forrest.
No great surprise he got it from the Scotland man.
Stuart Armstrong won the free kick and the way deadly Griffiths finished it was typical of him.
It was a keeper’s nightmare, sun low in the sky, right in his eyes.
The striker knew if he found the target he’d have him, and that’s exactly what he did. Over the wall, didn’t pour on the power, just the accuracy, and Mccarey was a goner.