THE UNTOUCHABLES
The huddle may be socially distant but these Bhoys still look a formidable unit
EVEN the huddle was socially distanced on Celtic’s longawaited return to Parkhead.
The sight of Neil Lennon’s players standing a metre or so apart in a circle, rather than with arms locked and heads bowed together, was the perfect visual summary of the new normal after more than four months without action on home soil.
So much has had to change, but one thing remains the same — Celtic won the match. Victorious in 16 of the 17 domestic games played here last season, Lennon will demand that relentless home form is again the bedrock of their ten-in-a-row bid.
That begins in earnest on Sunday with the visit of Hamilton. The strangeness of empty stands and pumped-in crowd noise will feel more acute when precious Premiership points are at stake, but this was a solid primer for a strong Celtic line-up.
Getting used to operating without the best part of 60,000 fans in support is an obvious challenge. In a season of maximum stakes, there can be no blunting of competitive edge.
While the margin of victory over a dogged Ross County side could have been greater, there was enough spark about the champions’ play to suggest they are ready to get going again for real.
Others in their squad will be given a run-out when Hibernian visit today — including Leigh Griffiths — but those who started here will be in line to do so again against Accies.
Lennon is optimistic that a firsthalf injury suffered by Greg Taylor will not rule the left-back out.
That was the only concern about this preparatory exercise. Even with Odsonne Edouard having a frustrating 90 minutes, there was still plentiful threat for County.
An own goal from Coll Donaldson and a sliding finish from Mohamed Elyounoussi effectively secured victory inside the first 15 minutes.
‘You just get lost in the game as you are concentrating on the players, the shape and the fitness of the team,’ said Lennon (right).
‘It is different but we all have to adapt to it. A lot of that comes from self motivation.
‘The players have to get used to this new environment and make sure they don’t let their levels drop.
‘I was pleased with the intensity. We played with good speed and should have scored a few more. But the work rate and general fitness levels were pretty good.
‘We came on strong towards the end again when we mixed it up and put Ryan (Christie) right, James (Forrest) left and Moi (Elyounoussi) behind the striker. ‘That gives us food for thought going forward. ‘Against Hibs, it will be a different team.’ Both goals were netted past young
Celtic keeper Ross Doohan, listed as a trialist for the visitors ahead of a proposed loan switch to Dingwall.
Doohan played a part in ensuring no further damage was done as County gained sharpness ahead of their opener against Motherwell a week today.
This was County’s second friendly in successive days. They drew with Livingston on Saturday and fielded two totally different starting XIs.
For Celtic, this felt a bit like winding back the clock. They were set up in the same 4-2-3-1 shape used for much of the first half of the previous campaign.
Reprising the 3-5-2 variant used earlier this year would be easier if Griffiths continues to heed the stark warning about his fitness or a new striker is added to increase the options available.
Speaking after the match, Lennon was hugely positive about Griffiths and expressed hope that the transfer situation at the club would progress this week.
As it is, those currently occupying the jerseys began as they mean to go on. The clock had only ticked to two minutes when Taylor overlapped to fire a low cross into the County area.
Centre-back Donaldson took a swing at it to clear but succeeded only in performing an almighty slice that looped behind him and dropped over Doohan’s despairing attempts to prevent the own goal.
The Highlanders could not have wished for a worse start. Celtic’s first home goal since March 7 had arrived through an unlikely route. The home side needed no further assistance to double their lead. Taking up residence around the County area, quick interchanges always looked likely to yield more of a reward.
It arrived after 14 minutes. Jeremie Frimpong displayed the brand of electrifying intent that made him a breakthrough star of the last campaign by surging forward.
His low cross was cut back for Elyounoussi, who got himself in front of Connor Randall to angle home a low finish.
Another slick move left Forrest free inside the area, but the 22-year-old goalkeeper — who spent the previous two seasons on loan at Ayr United — sprawled impressively to deflect a
powerful shot on to the bar. A minute later, Frimpong was thwarted from a less promising position.
Celtic dipped a little after that whirlwind start, with County gaining more solidity in their shape and enjoying the odd decent spell of possession.
Threatening Scott Bain was a trickier challenge. One long-range strike from Randall — grasped by the home goalkeeper — was as close as they came in the opening period.
A different form of thump by Randall caused Lennon greater anxiety.
The right-back’s full-blooded challenge on Taylor left the Scotland man struggling.
Taylor limped on for a bit before sitting back on the turf. His replacement was confirmed a minute before the break when youngster Kerr McInroy was summoned from the bench.
Doohan saved well from Christie after the restart before the midfielder sent another angled attempt narrowly wide of the far post.
Bain denied drives from distance by Lee Erwin and substitute Ross Stewart, but Celtic shifted back on to the front foot to pose a string of late threats to Doohan.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Bain; Frimpong, Ajer, Jullien, Taylor (McInroy 44); Brown, McGregor; Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi; Edouard.
Subs not used: Hazard, Kilmala, Connell, Welsh, Karamoko.
ROSS COUNTY (4-4-1-1): Doohan; Randall, Donaldson, Iacovitti, Reid; Charles-Cook, Vigurs (MacKinnon 88), Draper (Stewart 75), Erwin; Paton; Shaw (Wright 88). Subs not used: Williamson, Kelly.