CELTIC stormed back to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a six goal blitz against a battered and bruised Ross County side who headed back to the Highlands punch drunk and weary after a complete doing from the Champions.
And they’ll know that they got off lightly as the score could easily have been double. Both Edouard and Jullien had first half efforts cleared off the line after beating Ross Laidlaw in the County goal.
And after a sensational move taking slick Celtic from one penalty area to the other Edouard put it on a plate for Callum McGregor for what would have been the team goal of the season but his effort agonisingly hit the inside of the post and rebounded to Edouard who was off target with the goals gaping.
Elyounoussi also had a great chance to get his second but shot wide and later in the game Bayo was sent clear for a one on one with Laidlaw and ended up tangling with the net in frustration after failing to convert.
Elyounoussi’s clever early shot into the corner gave Celtic a great start and an early lead but despite dominating play there was no second goal before the interval.
That change in dramatic fashion in the first few minutes of the second half as the floodgates opened and Ross County paid a heavy price for Livingston’s win over the Champions. A double from Edouard and a strike from McGregor had Celtic four up with the impressive Frimpong causing all sorts of problems for the visitors with his skilful and direct play, which also brought out the best in James Forrest.
Forrest got the fifth and Elyounoussi rounded off the scoring as Neil Lennon took off Edouard, McGregor and Forrest with Lazio in mind, bringing on Bayo, Bitton and Shved as Celtic dropped down a few gears.
Bitton seemed to get into an argument with Brian Graham after the final whistle went and Scott Brown had to drag him away.
Celtic were spectacular at the start of that second half with Frimpong and Forrest the main tormentors.
The sponsors Man of the Match went to Odsonne Edouard but for us it has to go to Jeremie Frimpong who looks a very special young player. Bring on Lazio!
