A deflected strike by Kris Commons proved decisive as Celtic defeated a brave Ross County side 1-0 at Victoria Park.
The Hoops were far from their best, but Commons’ 52nd minute strike, which deflected off Staggies defender Paul Quinn, was the difference.
The result moves Celtic three points ahead of Aberdeen at the top of the league, but County can take heart from a massively improved performance from last week’s 2-1 defeat against St Mirren.
County manager Jim McIntyre was in bullish mood following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat against St Mirren, making no fewer than five changes. Scott Boyd, Marcus Fraser, Steven Ross, Tony Dingwall and Filip Kiss came back into the side, in place of Jackson Irvine, Joe Cardle, Richard Brittain, Lewis Toshney and Steven Saunders.
Celtic manager Ronny Deila made two changes from the side that defeated Motherwell 4-0 in midweek, with Anthony Stokes and Stefan Johansen dropping out for John Guidetti and Liam Henderson.
The hosts caught a glimpse of goal early on when Craig Curran’s speculative 25 yard effort drifted just wide.
However County held firm during the first-half, restricting Celtic to few opportunities. Commons provided most of the visitors’ threat, curling a shot wide and heading over from close-range.
Celtic nearly scored two minutes into the second-half, when Leigh Griffiths’ shot was well blocked by Antonio Reguero, with defender Jamie Reckord turning behind the follow up effort by John Guidetti.
However County’s resistance was broken on 52 minutes, albeit under unfortunate circumstances, as Commons took aim from long-range, with a deflection off Quinn carrying the ball past Reguero.
A late Quinn header was well gathered by Gordon, but County couldn’t find a breakthrough and remain four points adrift of St Mirren at the foot of the Premiership.