Highland happy hunting ground for Hoops boss

ANGE Postecoglou recalled the night when the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall felt like Celtic Park as he prepares for the trip to play Ross County today.

The Hoops manager’s first away game against the Staggies last December ended in drama when Anthony Ralston headed in the winner for the 10-man Hoops in the seventh minute of added time to keep Celtic within touching distance of then champions Rangers. Postecoglou celebrated the last-gasp goal, which gave the visitors the 2-1 win, as enthusiastically as the ecstatic travelling support and Celtic eventually overtook their Old Firm rivals to bring the title back to Parkhead.

Postecoglou expects another tough test in Dingwall, despite the venue being in stark contrast to the sold-out Celtic Park which watched the Hoops get their title defence off to an encouraging start last week with a 2-0 flag-day win over Aberdeen.

He said: “Every game and situation has its own challenge.

“I’d hate to dismiss this as a difficult fixture just because of the venue, I think it is a difficult fixture because of the opposition you face as well.

“Obviously Ross County are a good side, they make it hard for the opposition whoever goes there.

“I can tell you that when Anthony Ralston stuck one in in the last minute it felt like Celtic Park in those moments.

“The atmosphere is still pretty decent so, for us, we have just got to focus on playing our football, whatever challenge there is.

“What we showed last year, and so far this year, is that irrespective of what has been put before us, if we can play our football, stick to the task, we are hard to stop.”