The Parkhead membership had travelled as much as the Highlands hoping to place the harrowing 7-1 hammering they’d suffered by the hands of Borussia of their Champions League league part match in Germany in midweek behind them and document a seventh straight William Hill Premiership victory.
Ross County, who went into the encounter with the defending champions on the World Vitality Stadium on the again of a 3 recreation unbeaten run which has seen them rise to seventh spot within the prime flight desk, had different concepts.
Ronan Hale put the house group forward from the penalty spot two minutes earlier than half-time after VAR confirmed first that Liam Scales had dealt with a Michee Efete cross inside his personal space after which that Kasper Schmeichel had come off his line earlier than saving the striker’s preliminary spot kick.
Alistair Johnston restored parity within the second half when he diverted a Callum McGregor shot in and Nicolas Kuhn secured a hard-fought victory for the Scottish champions when he netted with lower than three minutes of regulation time remaining. Listed here are 5 speaking factors from the match.
Canny County
Brendan Rodgers made three modifications which had taken to the sector in midweek. Greg Taylor was unavailable as a consequence of harm so Alex Valle, who had changed his membership mate at half-time in Germany, began at left-back.
Elsewhere, Reo Hatate was most well-liked to Paulo Bernardo alongside Arne Engels and McGregor and Adam Idah was given a begin up entrance as Kyogo Furuhashi was rested.
Freshening up the beginning line-up appeared to have the specified influence. The guests, roared on by their vocal travelling help within the North Stand, took management straight from kick-off and utilized intense strain to their opponents’ defence.
It was County, nevertheless, who created the primary actual scoring probability on the counter assault. Hale, who hadd been on track six instances since becoming a member of the Highlanders from Cliftonville in his native Northern Eire in the summertime, compelled a positive save from Kasper Schmeichel.
However the Dane might solely palm his highly effective volley large and he was fortunate that Noah Cilvers’ follow-up shot from the sting of his penalty field flew simply previous his left put up.
Don Cowie’s males contained their rivals effectively, deserved to take the lead and will simply have gone in at half-time 2-0 forward. Josh Nisbet fired a long-range try large in added on time on the finish of the primary 45 minutes.
VAR spot on
Celtic followers will likely be sad that VAR official Nick Walsh urged referee kevin Clancy to take a look again on the Scales handball after which dominated that Schmeichel had strayed off his line earlier than Hale had struck his first penalty. Conspiracy theories are positive to abound.
However the match officers acquired each choices right. The Parkhead centre-half’s left arm was outstretched when the Efete supply struck it and the goalkeeper clearly moved earlier than the taker made contact with the ball.
New know-how helps to get the vast majority of calls proper and this was one other instance of that simple reality.
Celtic spirit
No matter Rodgers stated to his costs within the altering room at half-time provoked a response. Celtic posed way more of a menace within the last third early within the second half than they’d within the first. McGregor went shut after making a mazy upfield break and Daizen Maeda compelled a save from Ross Laidlaw after a well-worked transfer.
Their supervisor, nevertheless, was clearly nonetheless unimpressed with what he was witnessing. He made a triple substitution on the hour mark and changed Hatate, Engels and Idah with Bernardo, Luke McCowan and Furuhashi respectively. Then James Forrest took over from Maeda out large.
The latter immediately added a some much-needed invention to the Glasgow outfit’s attacking endeavours. The Japanese ahead teed up Kuhn with a cheeky again heel and the winger was solely prevented from levelling by some fast considering from Kacper Lopata.
They ultimately levelled after Laidlaw had palmed clear a glancing Furuhashi header at a Bernardo nook. The ball fell to McGregor who lashed at it wildly. His shot was deflected in off an unsuspecting Johnston.
The best again initiated the assault which put Celtic in entrance and secured one other three factors. He despatched Kuhn racing down the appropriate flank with a wonderfully weighted go. The German might have provided Furuhashi. However he realised his group mate was offside and lower inside and coolly slotted into the underside left nook.
Cue utter bedlam. Away followers jumped over promoting hoardings to have fun on the pitch with their heroes simply as they’d achieved two seasons in the past when Anthony Ralston netted an injury-time winner. It was a candy second for them on a troublesome day.
We have now a title race
When Rodgers, who strengthened his squad with Bernardo, Engels, Idah, McCowan, Schmiechel, Auston Trusty and Valle in the summertime, masterminded a 3-0 win over Rangers within the opening Outdated Agency recreation of the season initially of final month there have been few in Scottish soccer who thought they’d fail to retain the Premiership trophy.
This outing, nevertheless, confirmed that Celtic, who had received their opening six league video games with out conceding a single purpose, should not totally infallible.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, who’s sidelined with a toe harm in the mean time, is a large miss for them. It might, too, be argued they had been fatigued each bodily and mentally after their exertions in Europe this week. In the end, they acquired the job achieved.
Nonetheless, this 90 minutes highlighted that they’ll and can drop factors between now and Might. The sport in opposition to Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday week will probably be a belter.
Cowie clout
This was a sore defeat to take for the County supervisor and no mistake. However his facet impressed drastically throughout the course of the 90 minutes. In the event that they proceed to carry out as effectively within the weeks and months forward they may problem for a prime six spot.