TONY T H E AWARD
Ralston on the rise to save Bhoys
ANTHONY RALSTON was Celtic’s saviour as Ross County felt the pain of his 97th-minute winner.
The defender came up trumps with a late header as he got on the end of Tom Rogic’s cross to give the 10-man Hoops a vital Premiership victory.
Celtic had gone ahead through Liel Abada and County thought they had grabbed a point with a spirited second-half display and Jack Baldwin’s leveller.
It looked like it was going the Highlanders’ way as Carl Starfelt was sent off but Ange Postecoglou’s side came up trumps at the death.
That meant they remain four points behind Rangers and it was also the perfect set-up ahead of the Premier Sports Cup Final on Sunday.
Celtic can now put the league to one side as they look to try to see off Hibs at Hampden.
County’s spirited secondhalf display was thanks to shrewd tactical changes by Malky Mackay but they slumped to their knees as Ralston’s header hit the net – and rightly so because it was a hammer blow.
Celtic’s jubilant fans invaded the pitch because they knew what a big goal it was as their team made it six league wins in a row.
It was Postecoglou’s first visit to Dingwall and the Highlands as Celtic manager.
He will also know that when it comes to Ross County, not all has been picture perfect for Celtic recently, with two defeats against them last season.
That is probably why he had gone public to insist this fixture was as big as Sunday’s final.
It wasn’t in terms of silverware but in terms of keeping themselves in a strong position in the title race, it was. Mackay was hoping to carry on the Staggies’ impressive record against a club where he made his name as a player.
Postecoglou came out on top in their first meeting in September with a 3-0 home win but remained without the attacking talents of Albian Ajeti, Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, James Forrest, Mikey Johnston and Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Greg Taylor and Rogic were also dropped to the bench, more as precautions than anything else.
Liam Scales, Ralston and Adam Montgomery all came into the starting XI.
County also made changes from the team who had beaten Dundee and dragged them off the bottom of the table as they opted to go for a measured approach in this match.
Jake Vokins, Blair Spittal and Jordan Tillson came in for Dominic Samuel, Connor Randall plus David Cancola.
Mackay took a similar approach to Postecoglou – albeit he did it on a voluntary basis – as the Staggies set up without a recognised striker of their own.
Postecoglou certainly raised a few eyebrows with his selection, although it was forced on him.
Josip Juranovic was basically employed as a right winger while Abada played through the centre.
It certainly would have given watching Hibs coach Eddie
May something to ponder and to second-guess ahead of the weekend in Mount Florida.
The first chance of the evening came from a set-piece. David Turnbull’s in-swinging corner was met by Nir Bitton who rose highest but Ashley Maynard-Brewer’s dive to his left kept his header out.
Celtic dominated the ball and took a deserved lead in the 21st minute.
It was a well-worked move up their left.
Starfelt kicked it off and Callum McGregor fed Scales who swept in a low cross for the onrushing Abada to clip home smartly.
It was greeted with an explosion of green smoke above the away end. County had been pretty lethargic and off it in the early exchanges.
Juranovic teed up McGregor but his shot was easily held by Maynard-Brewer.
The County keeper wasn’t as convincing on the half hour.
Juranovic played a pass through and the keeper raced out to get to the ball, only for Abada to ease past him and cross. Captain Keith Watson got back to boot clear, though.
It was beginning to look like one of those nights for County as Harry Paton went off injured and was replaced by frontman Samuel.
Celtic had a couple of early second-half chances before County came to life after they sent on Jordan White for Ross Callachan. Harry Clarke’s long throw was flicked on by the striker to Samuel and he spun his man and cracked in a shot that was bravely blocked by Ralston.
County then got their surprise equaliser.
Spittal’s corner from the left found Baldwin at the back post and he showed determination to get there in front of Scales and force the ball home.
Owen Moffat was sent on for his Celtic debut for Montgomery, as Postecoglou knew his side had to try to win the game again.
Celtic were rattled and bloodied Starfelt insisted he had been caught by White.
He was booked for his protests before he hit the turf to get treatment. Rogic came on with the visitors knowing they needed the points but it went from bad to worse for Celts as Starfelt collected a second yellow for fouling Regan Charles-Cook.
Juranovic cracked in a free kick but Maynard-Brewer was equal to it while Jack Burroughs had a shot saved by Joe Hart at the other end.
Turnbull’s corner was headed goalwards by Cameron Carter-Vickers but MaynardBrewer tipped it over.
There were six minutes of stoppage time and Hoops had claims for a penalty refused before they snatched a winner.
Rogic crossed and Ralston headed home to send the Celtic fans crazy.