Three goals and three points for Celtic in impressive Ross County win | OneFootball

SPFL

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall

Ross County... 0

Celtic... 3

(Turnbull 45+6, Palma 78, Forrest 83)

A dominant display in Dingwall gave Celtic a deserved three points away to Ross County courtesy of goals from David Turnbull, Luis Palma and James Forrest.

Brendan Rodgers made six changes to the side that started in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over St Mirren with goal-scoring hero Oh joining Yang, Carter-Vickers, Ralston, Bernardo and Maeda in the starting line-up, partly due to the upcoming trip to Madrid to face Atletico in the Champions League.

Celtic started the match brightly and had the ball in the back of the net after just four minutes, Liam Scales firing home from close range after a Yang-headed assist, but referee David Munro instead awarded a free kick against Celtic for a foul by Oh in the build-up.

After just 10 minutes Ross County were reduced to 10 men after a VAR intervention led to the referee upgrading an initial James Brown yellow card to red for serious foul play on Yang at the edge of the box.

Callum McGregor fired in a low shot that was heading towards the corner of the net in the 21st minute but Ross Laidlaw dived well to make the save. From the resultant corner Oh just headed over the bar as Celtic pushed for the opener.

Celtic looked to have finally found the breakthrough in the 31st minute, Oh latching onto a low cross from Daizen Maeda to prod the ball home for his second goal in as many games. However, after a VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside. Goalless it remained.

Six minutes later it was Paulo Bernardo who came close to the opening goal. David Turnbull’s inch-perfect cross picked out the Portuguese midfielder whose volley from close range was denied by Laidlaw.

Six minutes were added at the end of the half and it was in the final of those minutes Celtic took a well-deserved lead. David Turnbull with a majestic 25-yard low drive from just outside the box that beat Laidlaw down to his right. A suitable end to a dominant first-half display by the Bhoys.

Into the second-half and Oh came close to doubling Celtic’s lead after just four minutes of play. A lovely through ball from Ralston but the Korean striker’s shot was saved by the feet of Laidlaw.

Paulo Bernardo then came close with a 30-yard free kick sailing just over the bar before Turnbull almost got his second goal but failed to direct his cushioned volley past the goalkeeper as Celtic’s dominance continued.

Brendan Rodgers made a triple substitution on 60 minutes with Kyogo, Palma and Holm replacing Maeda, Bernardo and Turnbull.

A fantastic double save from Laidlaw, first from Kyogo and then Yang prevented Celtic from doubling their lead on 64 minutes, the goalkeeper’s heroics resulting in an injury that required on-field treatment.

Four minutes later it was Palma’s turn to come close, firing his twenty-yard shot narrowly wide. Try as they might, Celtic couldn’t put the game to bed.

The impressive Odin Holm came inches away from his first Celtic goal on76 minutes but Laidlaw once again with a terrific save from long range tipping the shot over the bar.

However, the relentless Hoops pressure finally broke Ross County’s resolve and on 78 minutes Luis Palma made it 2-0, firing in from long range for his fourth goal in Celtic colours, this one his best yet.

Forrest and Tomoki were then introduced for Taylor and McGregor and it was Forrest who scored Celtic’s third, nodding the ball into the net after a lovely cross from Palma just five minutes after Palma's second.

Three goals, three points. A great afternoon’s work for Brendan Rodger’s side who move onto 32 points from twelve Premiership matches.

Now, Atletico Madrid await in the Champions League.