‘Do you want to be nice or do you want to be ruthless?’ Neil Lennon’s quote in his post-match interview on Celtic TV summed up Celtic’s first half and laid the groundwork for Celtic to turn in a second half performance that exorcised the ghosts of Livingston and sent out a warning that the buzz word ‘ruthless’ (copyright Neil Lennon) could well become this season’s ‘relentless’ (copyright Brendan Rodgers).
Lennon’s simple but effective words were issued at half time to a dressing room that must have wondered what they had to do after a first half that yielded only a one goal advantage.
One goal scored in comparison to stats that read 21 shots, with 7 on target and just a solitary Mo Elyounoussi goal to show for their efforts must have stung his side into action.
Occasionally a bit of simple man management isn’t as outdated as some of the number crunching statisticians would have us all believe. Sometimes memories of Martin O’Neill are even warmer than those of Brendan Rodgers.
O’Neill’s Padawan showed he’s blended both management styles to suit the required ends. At the end of the day when you put the ball in the net the wins trot along behind. Now and then a well-placed word is as good as a three yard tactical adjustment. Old School or new school, on occasion it’s just a school day.
Celtic were simply magnificent from the moment Mo Elyounoussi scored after three minutes to the moment the 6th goal by the same player book ended the scoring in the 72nd minute.
In between times goals by Edouard (46′ minutes), McGregor (49′ minutes), Edouard again (no doubt the ball was on target, 50′ minutes) and Forrest (55′ minutes) saw off the Highlanders brave but ultimately futile resistance.
In particular Celtic scored four goals in nine second-half minutes as they put Ross County to bed and returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership. Over to you ‘Rangers’, what you got?
Added to Elyounoussi’s fine opening goal Christopher Jullien had a header cleared off the line by Foster and Callum McGregor hit a post at the end a move that could have been a contender for goal of the season and County were on the ropes. But incredibly they were still in the game by the half time whistle.
At the start of the second half County’s Keith Watson made a hash of his clearance, ducking to clear with his head when he had two feet to choose from, and Edouard only had to overcome his shuddering laughter to steady himself to slot home.
And with that came County’s demise. Within nine minutes they were five goals down as Edouard fed Calmac to make amends for hitting the post first half to score. French Eddy then headed in off the body of Liam Fontaine but it was definitely the Frenchman’s goal and then Forrest finished off Frimpong’s cut back following the skinning of Foster to put the ball into the net.
Frimpong was simply wonderful today. It’s difficult yet to judge his defensive capabilities but as a marauding, attacking full back he fits the bill, plus the smile on the face approach to his game will undoubtedly endear himself to the faithful. He simply looks like he’s enjoying the gig. You can’t say that about all the young uns these days.
Celtic certainly dropped down the gears and may have let their distraught opponents off the hook, but the respite was temporary. Elyounoussi poked his second goal into the net following Boli Bolingoli’s attempt at adding himself to the goal scoring had gone somewhat wayward to say the least.
For now at least Celtic are top of the league. From a nice first half performance grew a ruthlessness in the second. Neil Lennon received answers to his half time request. It’s a simple game really isn’t it?
Niall J
