Ange Postecoglou yesterday dismissed the significance of the events on Celtic’s last visit to Dingwall back in December as having relevance to the crucial game tomorrow afternoon. An Anthony Ralston header in the 97th minute gave ten man Celtic a 2-1 victory in the Highlands in a match where Carl Starfelt was disgracefully dismissed by referee Alan Muir.
The Swedish defender receiving a yellow for these complaints after he was elbowed in the face – without Muir punishing the offender and shortly afterwards he received his marching orders for a nothing foul. Ange Postecoglou couldn’t say he wasn’t warned about Scottish referees, could he?
Asked about tomorrow being a tough challenge after ‘a really stubborn game’ back in December, Ange pointed out that the sides had met since and Celtic won comfortably. Greg Taylor was asked the same kind of question in his own Media Conference and the left back pointed out that game in December was actually the last time Ross County had been beaten at home.
“You go back to a specific point in time but we have played them since then. You can always go back to a certain point in time and use that as a reference point but our reference point is how we have been playing and we have been very consistent for a long period of time,” was Ange’s response at yesterday’s Media Conference.
“We know it is a challenge as every game is a challenging home and away and Ross County have been fantastic, especially the second half of the year. Malky Mackay has done an enormous job with them to get them into the top six and we knew that the last time we played them at home.
“We will be ready for it as they will be a tough opponent but we just want to continue our form which has been pretty consistent,” the Celtic manager said. And with Josip Juranovic confirmed to be missing for a few weeks Anthony Ralston will be back in the side as with the striker who grabbed a hat-trick in Celtic’s most recent meeting with Ross County. Giorgos Giakoumakis missed last weekend’s trip to Hampden but is back for the match in Dingwall.
There was another quite similar question that was put to both Ange Postecoglou and Greg Taylor and that was about the all the pressure being on Celtic as Ross County had made the top six and already achieved what they had set out to do this season.
🎶 Watching Glasgow Celtic 🎶 pic.twitter.com/vLLIqGs6iS
— The Cynic (@90MinuteCynic) December 15, 2021
Again Greg Taylor possibly gave a better answer than his manager, pointing out that Ross County are battling with Motherwell – who take on theRangers today at Fir Park – and Dundee United for the one remaining European spot. The Tannadice club currently have 41 points and they are at home to Hearts tomorrow. Ross County and Motherwell sit on 40 points this morning ahead of the action getting underway and all three clubs will be targeting that European spot – so they all have significant targets to play for.
Taylor incidentally will have been delighted to see his old club Kilmarnock come from behind to beat Arbroath last night with two late games at a packed Rugby Park to win the Championship and with it a place back in the Scottish Premiership.
Here’s Ange’s answer to that question about Ross County having already achieved their targets for the season by making the Top Six. “It could also mean that they play a little bit freer which makes them a dangerous opponent.
“I don’t know Malky well but the way he has worked for that team through the season he will be pushing them to finish up as high as possible in the league. It is pretty tight from 4th to 6th and they will be a difficult opponent and every game will have its own little challenges.
“When we play our football and we show the right intensity and tempo in the game then we are hard to stop whether it’s home or away,” Ange stated.
It’s worth pointing out that the mainstream media might have been better advised to forget all about Celtic’s last trip to the Highlands because it was clearly an embarrassing night for at least one newspaper and also the publicly funded broadcaster…lest we forget.
I hear you struggle with premature publication… @Luke_Augustus29 pic.twitter.com/BD014QYJqL
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) December 15, 2021
Yeah that was the night BBC also got a bit over excited about dropping points in Dingwall when we didn’t…don’t laugh too much though because you are paying for this biased dross…
The Scottish press, once again trying to put Celtic down! Having played so many games without defeat, all of a sudden, because we beaten (only by a DOB) of a referee, they have us ” under pressure”. Hahaha, fear nought, we WILL beat Ross Co., and beat the scum next week, and the league is won! Even now, the league IS won!! And who is to say that M’well won’t take points off the manky mob today.??? COYBIG!
C’mon Motherwell,a wee one each draw today would be lovely.As for paying for the licence to the bbc,you don’t have to.Simply check out the legal way to watch tv without paying for a licence.