The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
COUNTY FREEKICK IN TEETH
Staggies get little reward for lot of effort
Ross County were so close to succeeding in their brave efforts to keep Celtic out but a suitably impressive moment of quality from the champions was the Staggies’ undoing.
County took the game to their record-breaking opponents and put a structured and organised barrier in the face of the Hoops’ attacking efforts for much of this game.
A point would have been just rewards for their efforts but Brendan Rodgers’ players are invincible for a reason. The winning goal was a sensational free kick from Leigh Griffiths, reminiscent of his memorable double for Scotland against England in June, albeit perhaps aided by the sunshine staring Staggies goalkeeper Aaron McCarey squarely in the face.
The starting 11 selected by Owen Coyle was aiming to succeed where 63 prevous teams had tried and failed in inflicting a domestic defeat upon the Hoops. The Staggies manager named an unchanged team from that which beat Motherwell last time out, with County buoyed by back-to-back home victories.
County showed no fear in the early stages and looked comfortable in possession, with a deftly-weighted pass by Davis Keillor-Dunn just missing the run of Michael Gardyne in behind the Hoops’ defence.
The Staggies continued to display no shortage of belief on the ball and Keillor-Dunn was given a glimpse of his own on 14 minutes when he was teed up by Craig Curran, but flashed his 20-yard effort over the bar.
Allied with their menace in attack, County were also carrying out their job of containing Celtic well, although the Hoops had a glimpse on 24 minutes when Callum McGregor ghosted past Andrew Davies and into a shooting position, only to be thwarted by the stretching leg of Christopher Routis.
County goalkeeper Aaron McCarey was not tested by any shots on goal during the first half but he was commanding in cutting out any danger that came his way, and showed courage to meet Moussa Dembele at the edge of his area, while an excellent run by Kieran Tierney to drive past Michael Gardyne led to a cutback which was eventually hacked clear by Routis.
Celtic had a decent flurry at the start of the second half and were inches from an opener on 48 minutes when McGregor’s corner picked out Mikael Lustig, but the Swedish defender sent his near-post effort into the sidenetting. McCarey’s first save came on 55 minutes when Dembele took aim with a low bending effort from 20 yards, which the Irishman was equal to.
County had a
promising spell of pressure just after the hour mark, with Routis seeing his free kick well held by Craig Gordon, before Gardyne picked out substitute Alex Schalk with an excellent diagonal pass, with the Dutchman taking aim with a first-time volley that swerved into the sidenetting.
Just as it looked as if the game was heading for a stalemate, up stepped Griffiths 12 minutes from time. Jim O’Brien had been penalised for tripping Stuart Armstrong on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Griffiths to take aim into McCarey’s top left-hand corner from 25 yards.
Celtic pushed for a second, with substitute Olivier Ntcham seeing his volleyed effort from the edge of the box come back off the post on 82 minutes, while Sinclair struck wide from close range after a corner.
County appealed for a penalty in the dying stages when substitute Ryan Dow was unable to divert Gardyne’s delivery goalwards, with the ball coming off the hand of Dedryck Boyata, but in too short a time frame for referee Nick Walsh to consider it deliberate.
A disappointing outcome for the Staggies but they can be satisfied with their work in an afternoon which will give them plenty encouragement when they return to the bread and butter of their Premiership campaign, although first up is another tricky encounter against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.