BHOYS BACK ON TRACK
Celtic continue to make steady progress with victory against the team who caused them so much pain
WHEN these sides last crossed swords at the end of November, a famous victory for the Highlanders in the Betfred Cup resulted in a baying mob descending on Celtic Park.
That they didn’t return last night to offer either their apologies or congratulations is an indication that Neil Lennon’s men are at least inching forward again.
Whether or not this progress means there is going to be a proper fight in the title race remains a matter of some debate.
But, for now at least, Celtic are hanging in there.
Although this was a competent rather than spectacular victory, it was precisely the kind of fixture in which Lennon’s men toiled during a wretched two-month spell.
Following the high of winning the Scottish Cup against Hearts on Sunday, it was also a game that came with a significant degree of danger.
However, f or the f i rst time since early October, Celtic have t i cked off b a c k- t o - b a c k league victories. As a trip to Ibrox looms large, there is at least now a hint of their vintage form returning.
Seeking to relight the fire t hat saw t hem cruise towards the title at the turn of 2020, Lennon again paired Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths — albeit t hi s t i me in a more traditional 4-4-2 shape.
If it will evidently take more time for that duo to combine to the desired effect, there were di s t i nct f l a s hes of promise here.
On his first domestic start of the season, Griffiths scored. Edouard didn’t find the net but his all-round play was a marked improvement on the early weeks of the campaign.
Playing under John Hughes for the first time, County were dogged a nd e nergetic a nd will curse the ease with which David Turnbull was allowed to negate so much of their good work with an opener midway through the first half.
Playing ahead of Ismaila Soro in a midfield missing the injured Scott Br o wn, the f o r mer Motherwell man’s quality on the ball and f rom set- pieces was instrumental in the victory.
If Celtic are yet to claw back the gap to Rangers at the top, he will have much to do with it.
Every bit as pleasing as the victory for Lennon will be a second clean sheet in three matches.
Against a gallant if l i mited County side, Kristoffer Ajer and Christopher Jullien pretty much did all that was asked of them. It made for a less eventful afternoon for Conor Hazard than the one he experienced at Hampden.
Celtic’s desire to get the job done early was i l l ustrated by f i ve corners being forced inside the opening seven minutes.
It amounted to little more than catching practice f or County keeper Ross Laidlaw, however. In keeping with sides who f i nd t hemselves under new management, County had more about them than in recent weeks.
Sitting deep and defending resolutely, they fashioned more in open play than the home side initially with a pair of Ross Stewart headers drifting harmlessly wide.
For the first quarter of the match, a Celtic side containing f our changes from the Scottish Cup f i nal victory l aboured on an imperfect surface, with a tame Callum McGregor strike their only attempt of note.
Lennon badly required a spark. Not for the first time, Jeremie Frimpong provided it.
The Dutchman’s pace and invention down the right proved too much for Josh Reid. Having i solated then eliminated his opponent, Frimpong had the presence of mind to i dentify Turnbull as the biggest threat in the box.
His whipped low cross was calmly steered home by the midfielder. A first league goal to go with his strike against Lille has made for a productive period. The opener settled Celtic.
Their passing i mmediately became sharper and their play more inventive.
County’s cause was hardly helped by the early withdrawal of the injured Stewart, with Oli Shaw stepping off the bench.
Talk about things going against you when you are down.
They did at least warm Hazard’s gloves before the break when Stephen Kelly’s dipping volley found the target, but there was always that feeling another goal for Lennon’s side would demoralise them.
Edouard came closest to doing that with a shot on the spin that Laidlaw grasped to his left, then tried a floater from the edge of the box that drifted just wide.
Hughes’ men made it up the tunnel still in the game.
The introduction of Jermaine Hylton for Michael Gardyne at the break gave County a welcome injection of energy.
Griffiths should have put the game beyond them, though, when running on to McGregor’s pass. A moment’s hesitation allowed Alex Iacovitti to throw a leg in the way and a corner was the sum total of the forward’s reward.
Ajer’s cavalry charges were again a useful weapon for Lennon’s men. One mazy burst by the Norwegian eliminated half the County team. Ryan Christie’s consequent shot was wayward.
Griffiths’ clinching goal arrived just after the hour mark. What a clanger County captain Iain Vigurs made of his casual pass back to Laidlaw, which was intercepted by the Celtic man.
With an age to pick his spot, Griffiths rattled the ball into the keeper’s chest.
Give the 30-year-old this much. Like all good strikers, such adverse moments don’t seem to knock him out of his stride.
He immediately planted himself between the posts and calmly caressed a header from Christie’s cross out of Laidlaw’s reach.
For Celtic, the job was just about done.
Edouard and McGregor were then thwarted in quick succession by determined County defending.
Lennon introduced Tom Rogic, Olivier Ntcham and Mikey Johnston for the remaining 19 minutes. A half-hit volley by Ntcham was the closest Celtic came to increasing their lead.
Despite their winless run in the league stretching to 11 games, Hughes’ first game in charge of the Highlanders was not devoid of positives.
For all a lack of punch in the final third was again conspicuous, there was a commendable spirit to them throughout — as exemplified by Billy Mckay’s late strike, which Hazard gathered.
If there could be such a thing as a good way to lose a match, this was it.
CELTIC (4-4-2): Hazard 7; Frimpong 8, Jullien 7, Ajer 7, Laxalt 7; Soro 8, McGregor 7, Christie 6 (Rogic 71) Turnbull 7 (Ntcham 71); Edouard 6 (Johnston 71), Griffiths 7 (Ajeti 81). Subs not used: Barkas, Taylor, Bitton, Klimala, Elyounoussi. Booked: None. ROSS COUNTY (4-5-1): Laidlaw 6; Watson 5, Morris 5, Iacovitti 6, Reid 5; Paton 5, Draper 5 (Tillson 76), Vigurs 5 (McKay 76), Kelly 6, Gardyne 5 (Hylton 45); Stewart 4 (Shaw 34). Subs not used: Tremarco, Donaldson, Wright, Williamson, Munro. Booked: None. Man of the match: Jeremie Frimpong. Referee: Euan Anderson.