Brendan Rodgers watched from the sidelines in a freezing cold afternoon in Dingwall as his side dispatched Ross County, moving 18 points clear at the top of the table…
The Irishman didn’t have his sorrows to seek before the match as his two starting wingers were ruled out for this one, joining an injured James Forrest and Luis Palma – who is on compassionate leave – as absentees.
That meant that today Rodgers and his staff had to get creative and find solutions to the issues that these trying circumstances had given us. Despite all this, the Hoops boss made a couple of adjustments, which meant a front three of Kyogo, Adam Idah and Yang to shoot down the Staggies in the most baltic of conditions in the Highlands.
Kyogo scored twice
Kyogo nabbed a brace and Luke McCowan scored after Arne Engels converted from the penalty spot late on, after the County ‘keeper had moved off of his line to early to save the first attempt. County had converted their own penalty in the second half when Alistair Johnston had pushed the County attacker at the back post from a cross, which they got level through Jordan White.
A good day at the office
It was a good day at the office, all things considered, and manager Rodgers was delighted at he mentality and commitment from this current crop of players he has at his disposal. Speaking to Sky Sports Scotland post-match, he said: “I’m very, very pleased. I think the effort the players put in, we should have been more goals in front at half-time, but scored a very, very good goal. And then second half, obviously, we get pegged back.
🍀 Kyogo scored twice as Celtic were made to work for an eventual 4-1 win at Ross County to move 18 points clear in the Scottish Premiership ⤵ pic.twitter.com/sGspWmAMRC
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 11, 2025
“The goal comes from us giving the ball away from a throw-in a few minutes earlier. So then we have to find that resilience that I spoke about before the game. And you can see the players, how they kept going. In games like today, you’ve got to find a way to win. Really, really cold day, pitch very bobbly, very bumpy, and you just have to have that mentality to get through the game. And the players showed a fantastic mentality and ended up really good winners in the end.”
‘We still end up with four goals’
He added: “You can’t wait for the perfect situation. And the weather and the pitch and everything else ensures it’s not perfect. But the effort and the mentality of the team to just keep going, keep trying to find a way. Lots of players are out that have been really creative players for us, but we still end up with four goals and play them well on a really, really difficult day.”
🗣️ “The players showed a fantastic mentality and ended up really good winners”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reacts to his side’s 4-1 win against Ross County ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/EHdfE6xVz7
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 11, 2025
Paul Gillespie
Celtic in the Thirties
