Ross County vs Celtic 1 half
Having suffered a mauling midweek in Dortmund, Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action as they travel to Ross County. The hosts have only picked up one win this season so far.
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00:00button alongside Ian Crocker. Thank you Aileen. Well Celtic have certainly had quite a week
00:05thrashing St Johnston 6-0 in Perth but then thrashed themselves 7-1 in Dortmund. What next?
00:13Well there's every chance the football pendulum will swing back in their favour today in the Highlands.
00:30Let's have a look at today's teams. Don Cowie makes just one change from the Hearts game.
00:41Ross Laidlaw made six big saves in that match. New arrival Akil Wright has scored in two of
00:47the last three games. Josh Nisbet arrived from Australia. Aidan Denholm on loan from Hearts
00:53comes into midfield. Eli Campbell is on loan from Everton. Noah Childers also moved north
00:59from Colchester and Roland Hale has scored six goals in 10 games since joining from Cliftonville.
01:06Jordan White drops to the bench. Eamon Brophy is also a sub
01:09and he has scored five goals against Celtic in his career.
01:15Brendan Rogers makes three changes from Dortmund. Casper Schmeichel actually made six saves in
01:21Germany. There's a first premiership start for Alex Bailly with Greg Taylor injured.
01:26Cameron Carter-Vickers is still out. Callum McGregor has four goals already this season.
01:32Rayo Hatate returns to the starting lineup and Adam Ida is the chosen one up front.
01:39Hugo and Paulo Bernardo drop to the bench from where Lewis Palmer and James Forrest both came on
01:45to score here last season. Ross County lost last season's top scorer Simon Murray to Dundee but
01:54Roland Hale is doing his very best to fill those big boots but then he was a prolific scorer for
02:01Cliftonville over the past couple of seasons. Adam Ida has come on to good effect lately but
02:08he's in from the off today after four goals in four games a different option than Kiyoko.
02:14Brendan Rogers signed Don Cowie for Watford
02:2015 years ago. His first proper signing. Bargain by.
02:34Celtic have started the league season with six clean sheets for the first time since 1906.
02:40They've never kicked off a season with seven clean sheets in a row.
02:47Kevin Clancy is the referee with Nick Walsh on VAR duty.
02:59Don Cowie was in the Hearts team that ended Brendan Rogers 68 match on beaten domestic run
03:07when he first came to Celtic. 4-0 at Tyne Castle and the Ross County captain Conor Randall also
03:13played in that game. From the yellow wall to Dingwall such is life for Celtic after being on
03:21the wrong end of a demolition in Dortmund this should be the perfect place for a pick-me-up Chris.
03:27Yep well certainly from Celtic's perspective it's about responding
03:33responding strongly against Ross County but it's a Ross County team this season
03:39big changes in the playing personnel but they're getting the Don Cowie stamp on the team now.
03:47Ross County are unbeaten their last three matches which might not sound a lot but it is to them
03:53drawn their last two and we're so close of course to winning at Tyne Castle last week.
04:08Celtic scored after 56 seconds the last time these these teams met in January in Glasgow
04:14but that was it as far as the scoring was concerned it finished one mil.
04:18Yeah you just see with Ross County set up look
04:22back five I think they're really crowding that central area to hope for Celtic the key
04:28against Ross County quick switches of play two big ones in those wide areas.
04:36It's a familiar challenge that awaits Celtic to find a way through such a defensive setup
04:45here's Engels
04:50Kuhn takes over
04:58Alex Daye for Patate Eder goes against him Eder going to pop that ball and quicker today's in Maida
05:07Maida wasted opportunity for Celtic maneuver the ball well enough until it went into Adam Eder
05:15who gets his opportunity today ahead of Kiyoko. Celtic have been so slick and clinical in the
05:26premiership so far
05:36Fete pitched to that by Liam Scales and he's there back ball for the long ball Fete playing
05:45high up on that right hand side here's something Celtic will have to deal with this afternoon
05:51long throw
05:55okay right it's the man for that
06:00it was Jack Baldwin before the former captain who left in the summer helped on
06:08by Ryan Leake but the flag has now gone up
06:12uh
06:19survival is always the prime target for Ross County and this is their
06:24successive season in the top flight a bit of a scrape in the playoffs in the last two years
06:32winning that epic encounter with Tariq Thistle and then it was rather more comfortable
06:37against Wraith Brothers
06:41Kuhn Johnston
06:46McGregor who's in really good goal scoring form by
06:54Maida and a corner direct from Daisy Maida
07:01got back and made the challenge
07:07who came in effectively to replace Matt O'Reilly is
07:12doing what Matt O'Reilly did as well taking the corners
07:20Ross County not the best at coping with set pieces as you can see
07:28on angles then two floating in and it's evaded everyone that's a chance that
07:34Daisy Maida I don't know whether there was the slightest of touches which put him off
07:42not so sure that he gets away from his marker Daisy Maida that's half an opportunity for Celtic
07:52got to concentrate on the connection there
07:54it's game the first of three across this Sunday in the Scottish Premiership
08:03at the Dean Harts this afternoon and Rangers St Johnston this evening
08:12hey
08:19there's Austin Trusty continuing in the absence of Cameron Kartavikas
08:42oh
08:46and that midfield three the Ross County working ever so hard
08:54the game goes on they will get stretched though
08:59scales McGregor Maida
09:05linking up with Bailly
09:16Johnston good
09:21skips away from Eli Campbell and it suddenly came to Daisy Maida
09:27a little bit surprised first of all Nicholas Coon didn't take the opportunity to shoot and then
09:41Daisy Maida can't shift the ball and get a shot off Bailly did but as well blocked a lot of bodies
09:48back there from Ross County a difficult one that but Adam Eder
09:58it's Brendan Rodgers 750th match as a manager
10:07so
10:25no early way through this time
10:29patience may have to be a virtue for the champions
10:32oh
10:48getting up the pitch
10:52be brave on the ball
10:55Ronan Hale he'll try and stretch the Celtic back line
11:00Noah Childers stepping in there having lost the ball initially
11:14Trusty
11:17Coon lovely touch for Johnston Engles was closer to him but he's gone for the long one to
11:25Dyson Maida lovely switch here for Hatate
11:30Nicholas Coon took a wee knock there it's clever the touch from Nicholas Coon
11:37he's still feeling the after effects of it
11:40just wonder whether Johnston could have popped the ball to Engles who had made
11:44a really good under lap
11:47just pulled by Campbell
11:58corner from the other side now for Engles
12:05and then Clancy not happy with
12:14so it's Engles to float the corner in just off the head of Adam Eder
12:36to try and get above that and power the header down on target
12:44so
13:00Liam Scales in control
13:14so
13:29Engles assisted by Johnston now McGregor
13:32by Hatate has Maida close by
13:40it looks like Bailly can handle the ball well in that central area
13:48Celtic continue to probe Hatate
13:57McGregor
13:58Maida
14:23it's good from Adam Eder
14:25a bit of combination play ball outside of the left boot from McGregor that touch there
14:32they only nearly caught it
14:39there's a decent save from Laidlaw that he will have to make a fair few more this afternoon
14:46so
14:52again the target from Laidlaw
14:58Connor Randall
15:04so
15:25four goals for the Celtic captain this season all from outside the box
15:29Eder crowded out but it's one back by Kuhn
15:36Bailly might have moved inside Bailly taking on the shot but it whistles wide
15:42why not his face opened up
15:44Roscandi again struggling to play the way out Celtic winning the ball high up
15:50little shift there onto his left boot
15:52trying to find that far corner
15:58from Carey who started and ended his playing career at Roscoe County
16:06and was always destined to manage them one day
16:28oh there we go Celtics dominance 100 passes
16:39Daisy Maida oh it didn't really connect
16:42it's a crucial challenge from Campbell though to stop Kuhn from tapping it in
16:50yeah really important challenge from Campbell
16:54looked like Kuhn was just going to pop that one in wasn't the best
16:57connection on the cross from Daisy Maida found his way through Campbell last-ditch defending
17:05Johnston Engles
17:11Callum McGregor always on hand
17:25Atante
17:30Maida blocked by Ifeto
17:37I think the joy Celtic on that left-hand side with Daisy Maida
17:43just needs a bit more finesse he's in those crossing positions
17:49Atante advancing Johnston takes over now Kuhn
17:59confronted again by Campbell
18:02and on sport did his job and that'll be a free kick for Chilvers
18:06and it's good from Campbell Nicholas Kuhn we know he likes to come on the inside
18:11blocks on there yeah there's Maida scuffs his cross and Nicholas Kuhn his eyes
18:20would have been lighting up there played a Campbell getting himself back it's a brilliant
18:26challenge crucial challenge he's on loan from Everton he was on loan at Fleetwood last season
18:34under Charlie Adam
18:44Scales
18:53Atante
18:54that was good from trusty with good pressure from Ross County pressing Celtic high up winning
19:09the ball back and trusty on hand to snuff out that situation
19:16right preparing another long one
19:32away by McGregor I'm sure he can throw it further than that I mean
19:37not the longest long throw ever
19:47I'm not sure I'll be getting myself forward too many times
19:50if I'm one of the Ross County centre-halves if that's the best he can do
19:55so
20:10held up by Ryan Leake but Engles is on to this now Kuhn
20:18it's a brilliant link up between Engles and Kuhn but it won't amount to anything
20:25Ryan Leake just caught there
20:35it's great feet wasn't it from Engles give and go Nicholas Kuhn but super quick feet
20:43Don Carey will be delighted with the start though from his team they haven't had much of the ball
20:52he's still in there still in the game
21:13start to his Ross County career shouldn't be beating Schmeichel from there but there's a decent strike
21:29just be those moments for Ross County important they pick up second balls as they did there the
21:34angle against Hale a decent enough strike and then Chilvers just cuts across
21:40the ball pops out to him
21:47Ronan Hale took the same route that Liam Boyce took from Cliftonville to Ross County and that
21:52worked out rather well and it's pretty good so far too for Hale
21:59yeah he was sort of a one in two striker at Cliftonville
22:04what was your record
22:12one and one in ten
22:23trusty
22:26Kuhn he skips away from Campbell this time
22:29really sharp from Nicholas Kuhn Johnston there too it's away by Denholm really clever
22:39Nicholas Kuhn every other time he's received the ball so far this afternoon he's driven the
22:46inside on that occasion drove the outside he's giving Campbell plenty to think about
23:00Mr trusty Ronan Hale just left a little bit on him a moment ago
23:07so
23:23Ronan Hale's shot that was saved by Smuggle is the only effort on target in this
23:28game so far despite Celtic's dominance they're trying to change that now
23:33moving the ball around nicely here's Dyson Maida drilled low and diverted for a corner
23:40good defending
23:43once again this ball as well works
23:47McGregor feeding Maida you know you can go both ways Maida last ditch defending really important
23:55so
24:13angles with the corner flicked on by Liam Scales
24:15yes he attacks the ball welders Liam Scales looking for that little glance
24:26the patter gets there first just can't direct the header on target
24:32I've seen a few fly in in that kind of position from Liam Scales
24:46so
24:58most counties first meeting with the old firm this season didn't end well they lost
25:03six nil against rangers that was their heaviest
25:07defeat in the premiership since the six nil defeat at Celtic five years ago
25:15so
25:24trusty Johnston
25:32scales for Hatate
25:40Bailly makes the run
25:41but it's back to McGregor
25:48by his cross steered away by right
25:56by again they're happy Roscoe to give up those wide areas so we will defend the crosses but
26:04they want to be played through centrally they've got those
26:09passing lanes of Celtic so far Celtic always looking to probe through that central area
26:17very disciplined performance from Ross County
26:24they're gonna have to keep that going for quite a while yet
26:35Conor Randall moved in on
26:41Randall
26:45Conor Randall was in Liverpool's academy when Brendan Rogers was manager there but he made his
26:49senior debut just after Brendan had been replaced by Jürgen Klopp
27:04Randall's transition from right back or wing back to central midfield has been a successful one
27:15has been very tenacious and he can play
27:27McGregor looking for that pivotal pass Maida had made a run
27:36Hatate for McGregor it's laid by Lopata
27:42Noah Chilvers doing all right here until that bit
27:47until that bit
27:54Ingles
28:06trusty
28:16uh
28:33McGregor Maida makes the run again it's a perfect pass from McGregor
28:40yeah I think Ryan just switches off there it's brilliant from Maida the run in behind
28:52it's a trademark run and McGregor spots him always need that threat in behind
29:02uh
29:06Celtic average positions high up the pitch most of this first half
29:14has been played in the Ross County half
29:20Ingles
29:32uh
29:50Hatate
29:55it's come to Ida
29:57uh Celtic have won their last 11 games against Ross County
30:08just got to keep moving the ball quickly Celtic don't take too many touches
30:15try and move that midfield block of Ross County
30:27so
30:39Hatate for McGregor
30:43Johnston sites a goal limited so far the Celtic and Denholm has this
30:49yes
30:59didn't really have any options Ingles careless there then on pinches the ball off him has
31:05a little look up nothing on drives with the ball draws the foul he was involved in the two wins for
31:13Hearts against Celtic last season couldn't play last week for Ross County because he's on loan from Hearts
31:30former Randall over towards Ryan Leake
31:37uh
31:45yeah difficult for Lopata to really get any power a very floaty cross
31:53has been their opportunity Ross County
31:56from set plays happy to load the box and the sender backs forward
32:11by a miter on the move
32:18Hatate
32:21Ingles getting out of the ground well we know he can strike them initially the movement from
32:32days of neither is brilliant to get away from a fair tape lines of tatte walk the ball
32:39two angles but not got the shooting boots on just yet Celtic
32:48so
32:51this county have negotiated almost half an hour
32:53hour
33:11made law going direct towards hail
33:16sort of ball that Jordan White would have fancied but he's being left on the bench today
33:23so
33:35well Ross County have had two attempts on target now and Celtic nothing yep so far
33:46hasn't been overworked
33:53so
34:17well he's got to hit the target that combination play
34:21they link up so well during the early cross from Alistair Johnston the fete slips
34:27did the right thing in terms of going back across
34:31played look in the Ross County goal but got to be working the goalkeeper there
34:38they have mostly been going in for guys in minor this season
34:42there's a free header he's able to steady himself it's a big chance
34:51uh
35:04Gregor Gildas moving in
35:09trusty requiring assistance from Smykle but Celtic calmly move forward
35:16by a
35:17uh
35:30Ross can be brave with the press Celtic patient walk the way out on that left-hand side
35:37that burst hasn't he get away from defenders
35:40so again last ditch defending Ross County has been good
35:54another corner another chance for Celtic
35:57angles towards that near post and Connor Randall met it and was cleaned out in the process free kick
36:10so
36:16you can see trustee bringing Randall down Randall committed gets there first
36:30oh
36:35scales wins it on that occasion
36:39fete has been winning a few and Laidlaw's centered in his direction
36:44Ida angles it's a routine save for Laidlaw that's one of the good plays the Maid have got across
36:55from the near post there
36:59Johnston with the cross Nicholas Kuhn actually just steps out but
37:04made it made the run as well earlier but a tap in
37:12so
37:32trusty there's no need to get so tight he does do there's a free kick
37:36here we go send the backs going forward Celtic holding a high line
37:49well this offers Ross County some hope
37:52running line from Celtic Noah Chilvers making the signals
37:58prosperous Michael will grab a hold of that and the flag went up anyway for offside
38:07Celtic just allowed to get on with it
38:19Johnston angles
38:23he's been careless angles so far in this game
38:26again Denholm Chilvers
38:44Campbell Nisbet
38:47now Celtic have a bit of space to play with here angles
38:57Maida leading to where he wanted it and it wasn't there just off with the pass
39:03just sense that Ross County are beginning to fancy this a bit more
39:07and of course that will leave spaces for Celtic and Dejan Maida to exploit a miracle pass there
39:15from angles
39:25well it's definitely going to flan from a Ross County point of view so far
39:45oh
39:55McGregor into Ida
40:02Campbell suddenly realized that Kuhn was showing interest he did the right thing
40:07I don't think I think Alistair Johnston not on the same wavelength as Callum McGregor
40:13Tate Ida
40:23once again that last ditch defending excellent from Ross County clever little layoff from
40:29clever little layoff from Ida to Tate
40:35the blocks from Lapata and then smothered at Ida
40:59now will there be an opening here Nisbet and Effete
41:10humble cry let's come back to Effete there is a VAR check for a potential penalty ongoing
41:19oh
41:35oh the match is going to be stopped here by Nick Walsh and Kevin Clancy will come across to see
41:43if this could be a penalty to Ross County
41:46and we know what normally happens next well it's all to do with the position of the arm
41:55and the fact that the game has been stopped I suspect we'll see this being awarded
42:04yeah his arm is out away from his body that's that's a penalty
42:08no complaints really from Celtic and Liam Scales I don't know why he has to put his arm in that
42:13position it's not a natural position
42:29yeah I do not understand why Liam Scales
42:32needs to put his arm in that position
42:40what an opportunity this is for Ross County
42:48I think Clancy explains the situation to Liam Scales
42:52and Callum McGregor and what a massive moment this is
42:56Ross County have restricted Brendan Rodgers team they
43:03haven't really troubled them to the extent that they would have wished
43:06and now there could go a goal down and it looks like the captain will take this
43:13so
43:22we're in league with Callum McGregor exchanging words
43:26it's actually going to be Ronan Hale
43:28Landon takes the ball oops the old penalties
43:34Scott from Schmeichel I've got to say that's that's not on from Kasper Schmeichel
43:41the gamesmanship there
43:48Ronan Hale with a big kick in his career he started so well at Ross County
44:00Kasper Schmeichel
44:02facing him up
44:10it's Ronan Hale that's Schmeichel saves guess right and Hale blows a big chance to give Ross
44:21County the lead but hang on the game's going to be stopped there's going to be a retake Schmeichel
44:26was off his line
44:31well let's have a look yeah he's a yard off he goes so early
44:41it's the correct decision he's unhappy Kasper Schmeichel
44:48oh wow
44:56we go the same way we're about to find out Schmeichel delaying the situation
45:05retained the first penalty wasn't it from Ronan Hale wonder whether this is one way
45:10he'll put his foot through this
45:16so
45:35Ronan Hale tries again and this time it works out well and Ross County's
45:44master plan is also working out well against the run of play they have the lead against Celtic
45:51yeah and he did the right thing went for power the accuracy is there as well but
45:57well just put my foot through this the first penalty was tamed the second one wasn't
46:02and Ross County in front Celtic have work to do
46:14well he has proved to be a very suitable replacement for Simon Murray top scorer
46:21last season and this is an unwanted setback for Brandon Rodgers
46:28well the question more is going into this game would Celtic suffer from a hangover on Tuesday
46:37that may liven Celtic up a little bit now
46:41and play with greater urgency because that hasn't been there in the first half
46:48yeah lots of possession but uh nothing too clinical at the end of it
46:58unusually for them so far this season in the premiership
47:02uh by
47:06Johnston
47:11by a popping up on the right wing but it's easily taken by a late law and angles with it
47:20he's just caught near to the box he popped the ball out
47:26yeah
47:33it's right down the back of his achilles there
47:38i think i think it was Campbell not the best cross from by
47:41there will be three extra minutes in this first half
47:56Chilvers
48:09McGregor
48:12Mida Celtic rather eager for a response before the break
48:18McGregor
48:28three more minutes is confirmed
48:34so
48:56trusty
48:57so
49:03so well working so hard Ross County that's a free kick from McGregor though
49:11and even when it did open up Nisbet recovered got back
49:27hey it's by to send it in towards Ida who went for the spectacular
49:38yeah too far out to shoot
49:42the reader just straight offside anyway
49:49international break ahead after that we're back with Kilmarnock against
49:54Rangers in a fortnight from 11 o'clock on Sky Sports Football
50:14here's Nisbet
50:17Ian Scales moved in on him
50:19Nisbet not giving this one up though and he's got it back terrific work from the Australian
50:24Schmeichel had to push that behind
50:28down to his left Nisbet everywhere in this first half recovering the ball
50:34trying to beat Schmeichel at his near post not clean handling there from Schmeichel
50:44final minute of the first half and
50:46Noah Chilvers ready to take this corner they couldn't could they Ross County
50:56Mcgill Wright is in there is has scored in two of the last three games
51:03Chilvers hoisting it high Ryan Leake trying to keep it alive but steered away by
51:09Maida Connor Randall's gonna send this swirling back
51:16that's terrific from Connor Randall that reverse ball trying to find Hale
51:24sells it with defending to do
51:30and that is that as far as the first half is concerned
51:34Ronan Hale scoring his seventh goal in 11 games for Ross County a twice taken penalty
51:42after Fidesz Schmeichel had carried off his line for the first one Ronan Hale very very cool and
51:50calm second time around and Celtic have work to do in the Highlands despite their domination
51:57at halftime it's Ross County 1 Celtic 0