Ross County boss Don Cowie bemoaned Celtic’s ‘top-quality’ in the Staggies 5-0 defeat at Paradise yesterday afternoon…
Despite Brendan Rodgers making six changes from Wednesday evening’s 1-1 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League, the energy and intensity courtesy of those that came into the starting XI was admirable.
Four of Celtic’s five first-half strikes were Rodgers’ excellent stand-in performers. Liam Scales opened the scoring inside 10 minutes with a bullet header via Luke McCowan’s first of four goal contributions.
It was roles reversed for the Scottish champions second as McCowan’s deflected strike past helpless Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw put Celtic on easy street.
Paulo Bernardo and Callum McGregor’s quickfire double made it three and four within a minute of each other. Amazingly, the Celtic skipper is now top goalscorer in the Scottish Premiership with all six of his league goals coming from outside the box. His powerful blast for Celtic’s fourth may be the pick of an outstanding bunch.
Netting his fifth goal of the campaign, Adam Idah compiled the misery for Don Cowie’s side’s miserable first-half. Notably, Luke McCowan picked up his hat-trick of assists in a half an hour period.
Ross County’s substitute goalkeeper Jack Hamilton undoubtedly kept the scoreline down for the visitors after the interval. Hamilton was on hand to prevent further humiliation with some outstanding saves. Coupled with the impressive performance of Staggies no.2 shotstopper, Celtic hit the woodwork three times in the second-half.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers’ men have gone five points clear ahead of Aberdeen at the top of the table. The Dons can narrow the gap with a victory at Tynecastle this afternoon prior to the top two meeting on Wednesday at Pittodrie.
For Ross County, they remain eighth in the table but ominously are only three points in front of 11th placed Hibs who surprisingly thumped Motherwell 3-0 at Fir Park on Saturday afternoon for their second win of the season.
Reacting to Celtic’s comprehensive 5-0 win over Ross County, Staggies manager Don Cowie insists his side felt the full force of an in form Champions League team.
Speaking to the Press and Journal post-match, Cowie said, “we were playing against a Champions League team and it’s having that realism that if they play really well, that it’s a really tough afternoon.”
“They had a 15-minute spell where they didn’t let us breathe and they were relentless and that’s what they do, that’s why they’re playing at the level that they do. Yes, we can stand up to it better and do better in those moments, but at the same time, we’re playing against a top-quality team.”
“You get to a stage where you’re playing for pride. It’s 5-0, and Celtic showed how relentless they are and it’s about making sure when you come out at half-time that that doesn’t go beyond that.”
He added, “It could easily happen in terms of [Ross County substitute goalkeeper] Jack Hamilton came on in a really difficult situation right on half-time, made three or four excellent saves.”
Conor Spence
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