Ross County dared to dream of signing off for the winter break in perfect fashion – but they can hold their heads high following their defeat to Celtic.
Following a goalless first half the Staggies put themselves on course for their first ever league win at Parkhead courtesy of David Cancola’s penalty five minutes after the break.
Malky Mackay’s men were unable to hold on for a famous triumph however, with quickfire goals by David Turnbull and Sead Haksabanovic securing the points for the Hoops.
It was a harsh blow for the Staggies, for whom even a point would have rounded off an excellent week following back-to-back victories over St Mirren and Hibernian.
Nevertheless, County’s brave performance will be a source of huge encouragement to take into the five-week break, before they return to action at home to St Johnstone on December 17.
Celtic went into the game with the incentive to move nine points clear at the top of the table, following Rangers’ draw with St Mirren.
The Staggies also went into the game high in confidence though, with Mackay handing Josh Sims a rare start in place of Owura Edwards.
The Staggies started strongly, succeeding in their early efforts to frustrate Celtic while also showing some neat play in their own possession.
It was the Hoops who threatened first on 13 minutes though, with Kyogo’s looping header landing on the roof of the net following a delivery from Sead Haksabanovic.
Ross Laidlaw was called into action for the first time on 18 minutes when he parried a Cameron Carter-Vickers effort from distance, with Alex Iacovitti following up well to deny Kyogo the opportunity of a rebound.
County had a glimpse of goal on 21 minutes when Jordan White was presented with a headed opportunity after the ball broke to him following a free-kick, however his effort lacked enough power to trouble Joe Hart.
Celtic were not at their fluent best but they carved out a fine chance moments later when Matt O’Riley played Kyogo in on goal, but he dragged his effort wide of Laidlaw’s right hand post.
It proved to be the best opportunity of the first half, with David Turnbull hitting the wall with a free-kick and Kyogo sending another strike over in the minutes leading up to the break.
It had been a solid display by the Dingwall outfit however, and in doing so they became the first side to thwart the champions in the first half of a domestic fixture at Parkhead this season.
The Staggies made an even better start to the second period, and made the breakthrough just five minutes after the restart. In the midst of Iacovitti and Callum Johnson attempting to recycle play back into Celtic’s box after a free-kick was cleared, the ball was adjudged to have struck the arm of O’Riley following a VAR check.
Cancola was a picture of composure in his approach to the spot-kick, as he calmly sent Hart the wrong way to send the Staggies support into raptures.
The goal put County into a great position but there was still a long way to go, with Laidlaw immediately forced to make an excellent save to palm away Turnbull’s long range strike.
Turnbull was not to be denied on 62 minutes however, when he was on hand to knock the ball home from close-range after Reo Hatate had skipped to the byline in a fine mazy run which took him past the entire County backline.
Undeterred by losing the lead, Mackay signalled his attacking intent when he withdrew Sims and Cancola for forwards Jordy Hiwula and Dominic Samuel.
Celtic turned the game on its head on 69 minutes though, with Haksabanovic involved in a neat one-two with Hatate before cushioning a low effort into the bottom-left hand corner from the edge of the box.
County went all out for the leveller, with Edwards, Kazeem Olaigbe and William Akio brought on in the dying stages.
There was to be no final chance for the Dingwall men however, however it was a performance which showed the strides they have taken in recent weeks.
CELTIC (4-3-3) – Hart 6; Ralston 6, Carter-Vickers 6, Jenz 6 (Starfelt 38), Bernabei 6 (Taylor 85); O’Riley 6, Hatate 8, Turnbull 7; Haksabanovic 7 (Jota 70), Maeda 6 (Giakoumakis 70), Kyogo 6 (Abada 70). Subs not used – Siegrist, Mooy, Abildgaard, Forrest.
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1) – Laidlaw 7; Johnson 6, Watson 7, Iacovitti 7, Harmon 6; Cancola 7 (Hiwula 65), Loturi 7; Dhanda 6 (Olaigbe 84), Tillson 7 (Edwards 75), Sims 6 (D Samuel 65); White 7 (Akio 85). Subs not used – Eastwood, Munro, Smith.
Referee – David Munro
Attendance – 58,391
Man of the match: Reo Hatate
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