The last time Celtic visited Dingwall, Ross County manager and former Celt Malky Mackay spent more time criticising the amount of injury time played, after Anthony Ralston headed home Celtic’s winning goal in the 97th minute, than he did discussing his own team or indeed Celtic’s efforts on the night.

This time around however Mackay has been fulsome in his praise of Celtic’s performance describing Ange Postecoglou’s side as the “the best team in the country” after Celtic’s 2-0 win in Dingwall yesterday.

Mackay, speaking to the Press and Journal, was of course keen to point to the merits of his own team, who for a twenty minute spell or so did manage a period of effective pressure on Celtic, but he was also keen to point to the impressive performance of his former club also.

“We were playing against a really good team, they are league leaders. They scored early on and they won 7-0 (against St Johnstone). We made sure we stayed calm before half-time, because one can turn into two and three against Celtic.

“We stayed in the game until half-time and in the second half I asked us to be a bit more brave, in terms of playing higher, going man for man at the back and pressing them. That maybe led to some tiredness in their passing, which allowed us to get a break on them in our half.

“We had a couple of half-chances, but anything you get you have to take it. The little bit of quality was just missing as far as that’s concerned. We ran them to the last couple of minutes, so in one sense I’m very proud we got to this point against the best team in the country. They are a good team – and on 70 minutes they brought the cavalry on as well.”

Football wise, Malky Mackay deserves a lot of credit for the job he’s done on the lowest budget in the league. Whilst City clubs like Aberdeen and Hibs with spending power that should overpower the likes of Ross County are finishing off the season in the bottom six after the league split, it is County who are finishing the season competing with the best and with eyes on a European place to boot.

For Celtic this was the Hoops fourth win from four against the Dingwall side, not a bad record considering County hadn’t lost at home since Ralston’s late, late show in December – which possibly shows just why Mackay rates Celtic as the best team in the country.

Celtic have had a week of scarcely deserved over-the-top mainstream media criticism in the light of a Scottish Cup exit to theRangers last weekend. Now however, yesterday’s win sets up a Glasgow Derby next weekend where Celtic to all intents and purposes can prove Malky Mackay right by effectively winning against theRangers and returning the league trophy to the Parkhead trophy room.

Niall J