Ross County v Celtic Live SPFL | Ross County Celtic Live

Is this a good time to get them? No, it's still Celtic that's coming to play as a top quality team. They'll be disappointed with the result mid-week. But I think we've all seen how good they've been this year, especially domestically, they've been outstanding. So we all recognise the challenge that we've got to do. This is your first managerial tussle with Celtic. I was having a look over your playing career. You did have a few successes over them as a player. A player that stopped the invincible Brendan Rodgers' side. What lessons can be learnt from them to take into today's game? Well, the lesson remains the same no matter who you're playing. You've always got that opportunity. We need a lot to go our way today in terms of getting the positive result. But we've got real belief. Our form at home gives us that belief. We've proven that we can beat a lot of teams here. And it's just another game. We need to be ready for that. Ready for the quality that's coming. But showing a belief and a hunger at the same time. You mentioned belief there. Belief you had a few months ago when you troubled the other half of the Old Firm. It's going to be key today, isn't it? Yeah, and it's about a real collective effort. You can't be out of sync as a group when you play Celtic. Because if you do that, they pick you off. They've got players that can really hurt you. So we need to be really organised. The concentration and levels need to be top. And then it's about us as always trying to be a threat against the opposition. And I believe with the team that we've got playing, we always carry that threat. On a personal note, Brendan Rodgers is someone who you worked under at Watford. How much as a young manager are you relishing going up against one of the best coaches in the country? Yeah, I've seen firsthand in the early stages of his managerial career what he's capable of. I learned an awful lot. It was probably one of the most enjoyable times in my career in terms of playing under him. So it's no surprise to me in terms of what he's gone on to do. And you want to come up against the best, and he's certainly the best in our country. John, all the best to you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, well clearly his record is outstanding. And it's certainly been outstanding domestically so far this season. Celtic with six wins out of six. County with seven points from the seven matches. But they've only lost a couple, and they haven't been too leaky at the back. So County against Celtic coming up live at midday. Let's hear what Brendan Rodgers also had to say to Ian. Brendan, in the aftermath of Tuesday, is it an easy job or difficult job to pick the players up and refocus on the next game? Yeah, no. Listen, I've got a really honest group. So clearly, and it always hurts after a game like that. But really the last couple of days, just psychologically, just making sure with the players that you understand. It's basically the first period really in seven months where we've had a setback. So then it's how you respond to that. But it's also important that they understand that setbacks in life, whether it's professional or personal, is an opportunity for you to become better and not bitter. And we reflect on the game. We know where we can be better. We also have to admire the quality that they had as well. But draw a line under it. And now we move on to today. And I'm really looking forward to our seventh game in the league. We've been absolutely brilliant in the league in our tempo and intensity and quality. So let's bring that into the show today. Very much a case of not feeling sorry for yourself and just getting back to business. Yeah, you can't afford to. You can't afford to. And as I said, it's a humbling experience, but it can transform you as well, which is key. And I just think that you can bounce back higher than what we started like last week against St. John's. And after the game, everyone is talking about us, the place we're in and everything else. So, OK, we take a loss against the Champions League finalists. Heavy loss. We have to accept that. But that can actually allow us to bounce back even higher than what we were at the end of the St. John's game. So that's the mentality and that's how I've always worked with players. Ross County this afternoon, you're up against someone who you had as a player, Don Cowie. You signed him, I remember his name is Cali Thistle, to Watford. What have you made of Don Cowie since he took over the reins here at Ross County in February? Yeah, I've been very pleased for Don. Don was, when I was the manager of him, Don, I'm nearly sure, was my first ever player I signed for money. Signed him for £50,000 and he'd done fantastic for me at Watford. Went on and played really, really well for Watford. So, yeah, I'm delighted for him. I know he was here assisting Malky when Malky was here. And I was so happy whenever, obviously, Malky moved on that he got the opportunity to manage the team. And I can start to see now he's putting it in his identity. Because he was a very clever player, Don, full of energy. And I can see that within the team. So, yeah, he started very well. They've drawn some games, they've won some games. And we know we have to be really good today to get the result. Looking at your own side, you've made three changes to your side from Tuesday. Can you talk us through the team selection? Yeah, just the left-backs. Natural, Greg Taylor's injured, so Alex comes in and plays. And he's showed up well in the last couple of games when he's come in. With the midfield, it's just always looking to have a freshness in there. Paolo Bernardo's been outstanding start to the season. But bringing Rio in just gives him that breather. And the other guys, obviously. But it keeps the balance. And then, obviously, up front, tight pitch, tight ground. So having a centre-forward that can run in behind, but can also allow the game to stick. Important for us. And, yeah, so without making too many changes, it doesn't disrupt the rhythm of the team. And hopefully we can continue to play how we have been. Brendan, good luck today. Brendan Rodgers, as his side looks to maintain their 100 per cent record. Those three changes. Alex Valle, certainly he had a few issues against Falkirk, when we saw him in the League Cup tie, clearly. But he did actually have a very positive impact last week against St Johnstone with that incredible little flick which set up the Eda goal, which finished off the 6-0 win over the piece. Happy enough with that Celtic team? Yeah, I think the surprise is Alex St Johnstone's playing, because he hobbled off midweek, and I thought he would have been out for this game. But he's made a quick recovery, and it looks like Greg Taylor, hitter side, is injured. And that's why Vea is in. But, listen, he fits into the way the Celtic want to play, an attack and full back. He will get forward again. But there is vulnerabilities there, because he's so small. And at the back post, and here at Ross County, if Don Cowie can get into the head of the players and get some possession high up the pitch, which they will probably do in this game, then that could be an area they could exploit at the back post for early crosses. And that's the only problem I would see with Alex Vea. He will learn how Brendan wants his team to play, and he's learning quickly. He comes from a very good background, of course, as an attacking-type player. And he fits in quite well. The other big, I suppose, talking point is Leo Attati coming in for Bernardo. And that was a discussion, I think, yesterday also. I think somebody had mentioned that Leo Attati, it was no brainer to put him instead of Bernardo, because he would be a little bit more of a defensive player. Leo Attati is not a defensive player. You know, when I look at a defensive player, I look at somebody sitting alongside Callum McGregor to give a real serenity to a midfield, especially when you don't have the ball, and especially when you're up against a really good team. Leo Attati is a brilliant player, and he'll move around the pitch, and he'll get on the ball. He's a creative player. He'll take passes. He'll do all that. So from that perspective, that's why he, you know, does that debate go on with himself. But Paolo Bernardo is not a defensive player, a midfield player either. He's like, well, what he's done well this year isn't a counter-pressing. But that's a different type of defensive mentality, counter-pressing. That's around the ball quickly when you lose it. But when you have to get into an organized defensive shape, which was missing midweek, let's face it, from Celtic, then... And I don't know if they have a player that could actually... Even Callum McGregor, you know, Callum McGregor was never that typey. He's learned how to do it. But he's more about a player who gets on the ball and passes and be the link player. But to sit down there in front of your back four and do a real defensive job when you don't have the ball, I don't think Celtic have got that in their team. And that's the debate that's going on at the moment about how could they change. Yes, I think we all talked about it's a completely different story. You could close your eyes and write down information about how they're going to play. You might pick players. I think he put Adam Eide in up front that might go a little bit more direct and get that balance right and maybe feel that they need an out ball and he can hold it up and get players to get up there to support him. And he will run the challenge, as we know. And that is probably why Adam Eide is in the team. I think he mentioned it already in his interview at the very start. So from that perspective, a lot of information will be exactly the same today. It's just one or two players. Obviously, the record has been outstanding in terms of domestic football. Billy County also on a nice little run right now. They've been against Dundee, draw against St. John's. They should have won that one. Hearts, very close to winning that one as well. So they at least will have the confidence going into this one against the champions. Aye, they've had a nice little bounce back, haven't they, since Spartan's result. Rangers, Moline and the Aberdeen Signer right at the back. They've had a nice little bounce at the end. So, I mean, getting a win against Dundee could have beaten St. John's, as you say, Rich. Should have probably have beaten Hearts. So they get into this game with sort of a pressure-free game. They're trying to make it nice and tight at the back, as you see. Nice and strong in midfield with four midfielders in there. And Hale up front. So, yeah, it's a kind of free hit as always Roy MacGregor says to myself when he's up there. That this is a game against Old Firm where if you get anything from it, it's a bonus. And they get into this pressure-free in a good, runny form. We've got three live commentaries for you today. Rangers St. John's this evening. Eight o'clock start at Ibrox. Aberdeen Hearts live from three o'clock here on this SportsZone. We will be back, remember, for that Rangers St. John's game. And the highlights later tonight on the telly, 10.30 on the BBC Scotland channel. So we'll finish the second programme just in time for you to sit down and watch the game in Dingwall. It's Ross County against Celtic. Billy Dodds will be giving his thoughts throughout alongside our commentary team of Pat Bonner and Ian Old. Thank you, Richard. Good afternoon and welcome to Dingwall. The champions in town looking to bounce back after being battered and bruised in Dortmund in Champions League action on Tuesday night. The Hoops have been dominant on the domestic front and they take on a side in Ross County who have troubled the other half of their year. Both teams are out, ready for action this afternoon. It's the 43rd competitive meeting between the two clubs. Celtic with the far superior record of course of that 42. Celtic have won 38 of the previous encounters. Ross County with the five wins over the Glasgow side. Their last league triumph coming back in 2021. Jordan White was the goal scorer that day, the match winner. They change to Don Cowie's side. He drops to the bench and in comes Aidan Denham. Ross County going with the 5-4-1 formation. Celtic make three changes to their side. Lost 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night. Adam Ida in for Thiago. Rio Hotati starts in place of Paulo Bernardo. Greg Taylor drops to the bench. Sorry, he drops out through injury altogether and it's on loan to Borussia Dortmund. The Celtic players away to their left-hand side into the huddle they go. Ross County just poised away to their right-hand side ready for action. Celtic now emerge from that huddle and Kasper Schmeichel jogs his way into position in front of the travelling supporters away to their left-hand side. They've packed out the away end here at the Global Energy Stadium. They've also got an allocation away over on the far side on the east stand here. And it's Ross County who will get us underway this afternoon. Ronan Hale, a boyhood Celtic supporter. No doubt a big moment for the Ross County striker who joined from Cliftonville in the summer and he's been in amongst the goals so far in the colours of Ross County. It will be the home side and they are traditional colours of navy blue shirts, white shorts and red socks who'll get us underway. And it's Celtic in the green and white hoops who will go left to right in the first half towards the jail end. Ross County will go right to left and Kevin Clancy is our matchday referee. He gets us underway. And already Ross County mountain attack down their right-hand side. Aaron Denham, the on loan hearts man, puts it forward for Ronan Hale to chase. That's an awkward one back to Kasper Schmeichel but he finds Alistair Johnston on the right-hand side. Now Arne Ingles, the Belgian down the Celtic right, forces the ball forward. Connor Randall is there to knock the ball behind for a throw-in. And Alistair Johnston just watches on in the skies. The ball clatters off the roof of the main stand here. Ball boy throws it straight to him. And we're back underway once again. Trusty, out to scale. Celtic have it with the left-back Alex Villa on the far side. Into his captain, Cal McGregor. Villa once more in possession. Crosses into the Ross County half. It's McGregor. Villa abandoned to Attati. Who scales. Crosses to Trusty. Celtic looking to get back to business domestically for that Champions League defeat on Tuesday night. How do you see this one going, Yeah, well, listen, it's going to be a tough game. You know, Celtic, I think it's a mental test for them more than anything else coming off that European drubbing, having to travel and then coming all the way up here. It's kind of almost, you know, I think Brendan, in his interview with you before the game, talked about that as just trying to get them, get them started well, which they have done OK at the moment in possession. Here's Alex Villa, 18 yards out. Riho Attati into the box. It goes to found Adam Ida. And the referee awards the free kick to Ross County. Adam Ida going into the challenge with Joshua Nisbet. And it's the big man and the wee man. Three of Joshua Nisbet. He's tiny, isn't he? Absolutely tiny. I thought Villa was small, but he is absolutely tiny in the middle of the pitch. I haven't seen a player so small in senior football for a long, long time. But no doubt he's a good little player and he can get around the pitch and he can play also. And that's why he's made a name for himself in senior football. Ross County have it on the far side as Noah Chilvers tries to find Michi Efety. Yeah, Ross County set themselves up obviously with their back five and they'll get their wingbacks forward when they can. But they'll be pushed back into that back five. They've got a two sitting in front of them with Randall and Nisbet sitting in front of them and then Efety and Campbell sort of just tucked in a little bit with Ross County on the attack here with a long ball into the box from Aidan Denham with the offside flag up on the far side. Yeah, I was just going to say you're obviously Chilvers supporting Hale. I'm really looking forward to see Connor Hale. Ronan Hale. Sorry, there's been a lot of talk about him. He's Irish and he comes alive, I believe, inside the box, which is really what all good strikers should do. He's quick and he's sharp and he's always making a little run. So I'm looking forward to seeing him play today. Very energetic. Ronan Hale scored a cracker at Tyne Castle last week against Hearts to open the scoring. Ross County seconds away from a victory in the capital Celtic have it though. Nearside with Johnston into McGregor. Via. Midway through the Ross County half out to the far side with Dyson Maeda who gets to the byline. Gets the cross in. Takes a net off Efeti and goes behind for Celtic's first corner of the afternoon. Yeah, good test for Efeti early on up against Maeda. And he just knocked it past him and tried to run him and he's got a good block and give away the corner gives it an opportunity to Celtic. First set piece of the afternoon tapped in to the corner between the GL end and the East stand. And it will be a delivery with the right foot from Engles all the way into the six yard box. And Dyson Maeda was at the back post and the ball bounces beyond him and behind for the Ross County goal kick. Yeah, Ross County setting themselves up in an almost man for man whacking situation in the box. Everybody had a man and nobody really going to attack the ball. Just trying to stop their own player. And it was probably effective on that occasion. But nobody coming. The goalkeeper didn't come also. He's been blocked off a little bit around his goal line. So he never came and attacked that ball. Just went straight across and had a play on the opposite side. Ross Laidlaw and Eli Campbell play a one two before Laidlaw seals the ball out of the play down in front of our commentary position for a Celtic throw in. Alastair Johnston, the Canadian international goes to collect. And it's back to Austin Trustee. And once again in the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers in field to McGregor. Chased and harried all the way by Hale. As McGregor skips away and now Celtic will progress down the far side, the left hand side. Maeda throws the ball back the way to Scales. And now in field to Trustee. Crosses the halfway line. Out to Alastair Johnston. Celtic looking to build in the right hand side. No way through for Johnston. As he's blocked by Aidan Denham. And now Johnston with the throw. Neat touch from Engles. Johnston comes in field just inside the Ross County half as Liam Scales. Now McGregor left-footed ball out to the far side. Maeda up against to Fetty. Fear is forward on the edge of the Ross County area. You talked before about Celtic full-backs liking to get forward. Well, Fear is on the edge of the Ross County yard box. Talking of full-backs, here's Johnston. Out to Nicholas Kuhn down the right-hand side. Kuhn skips in field. Thought about the shot. Took too many touches. Might fall for a Dyson Maeda though. Ross County got to get it clear. And Alex Fear has a goal. Blocked by BB Blue. Back in from Johnston. And the flick of the head from Aidan Maeda sends the ball wide. Yeah, he just had to almost bend his neck backwards to try to get a header on the ball. And just couldn't direct it on target. But initially, Kuhn, when he picked the ball up, I thought he had an opportunity to go and have a shot. Maybe on two occasions and he just took an extra touch, an extra touch. And the space closed down. And eventually, they sort of can almost struggle to get an opening. But eventually, the cross comes in to Adam Maeda and header wide. Brendan Rodgers going with the Irishman. Looking for the ball to stick with the big forward player who can also run in behind. He employed the South Korean Oh on his visit to Dingwall last year. Sarnie Engels has possession for the Hoops down this near side. Back to trustee. Yeah, Sarnie have just settled into their normal rhythm of passing and controlling the game. And Ross Kearney has just dropped back into their compact shape and trying to make it difficult for them to survive this first 20 minutes. Satati looking for scraps in the 18-yard box trying to get it clear. Difficult opening couple of minutes for the home side. As Vaya gets possession back for Celtic on the far side. Now McGregor. 1-2 with Engels. Vaya has it once again. Involved in two Barcelona squads at the start of the season. As an unused sub before making the move to Celtic Park just before the closure of the summer transfer window. Yeah, he comes in with a reputation coming from Barcelona no matter what. Even if you're on the bench you're saying, well, am I good enough to be on the bench with Barcelona? Then he must be a good player but he has to do it here on the pitch with Celtic. Transfer Celtic as Satati gets some joy down the near side. Eli Campbell on loan from Everton mops up for Ross Kearney. Yeah, just knocked that ball to the back post hoping that somebody was going to get it. Kuhn had made a he was injured he took a knock down here on the left-hand side so it was Johnson that was trying to get in at the back post and he ended up sort of not quite getting into the position that Kuhn would normally take up and the danger was cleared. As Kuhn incidentally took a knock to his right ankle but he's OK. No treatment required. Celtic have their second corner of the afternoon. Kevin Clancy has a bit of sorting out to do inside the Ross County penalty box as he has a conversation with Adam Ida and Eli Campbell. Meanwhile Arnie Engels will take aim with the corner down this near side right through delivery and it comes and Adam Ida with the head once again this time up and over the crossbar and clears the jail end. Yeah, you know he got a good contact on the ball you'd expect him to maybe get a little bit closer to the goal but it was well well over the crossbar maybe just a little bit of timing when he jumped but it was a fairly clear header and that'll be a little bit of a worry for Don Cowie when he goes man for man marking in the box you don't allow anybody to get a free header that's for sure. Billy Dodds is also watching this game for us in the studio. Billy, what have you made of the opening exchanges? APAC's pretty much nailed it I mean Celtic are expecting them to have lots of possession I think Don Cowie's expected that with the formation he's set up a five and a four knows that Celtic are going to have the ball the problem for Ross County is Hale is so isolated they've picked up the ball a couple of times Denham and the far side just nowhere to go no options so they're just giving Celtic the ball back but they look nice and secure in defence Celtic have the ball thanks Billy with Arnie Engels goes back to Johnston now McGregor a bit of room for the Celtic captain to work with now Vaya out to Hattati Celtic have it midway through the Ross County half over on the left hand side Hattati back in field to Johnston dead centre on to Ida now Johnston once more Engels takes over picks the pass forward to Hattati 18 yards from goal Hattati trying to take the shot had a second thought gives it to Nicholas Kuhn down the right hand side back in field to McGregor McGregor in short to Ida no way through for the champions at the moment as Vaya picks up on the far side plays the 1-2 with Maeda Celtic still have possession and McGregor once again he takes over pokes the ball forward to Ida nice lay up for Maeda he's through on goal out comes the goalkeeper and the decision is gone the home side's wait but Ross Leidl will come out and make a big block putt it's an important block and they'll need their goalkeeper to play well today but I think it's been given offside I didn't see it must have or it must have been a free kick I didn't quite catch it actually what happened there but I didn't see the assistant putting his if his flag went up it went back down straight after maybe Billy might have seen it in the studio where there was a what the free kick was given for yeah it looked like a handball by Maeda just caught him high up and when he knocked it through with his arm I think that's maybe why they've blown up here's Randolph at Ross County trying to poke it through for Ronan Hale Ian Denham is buzzing around and almost took the ball off the feet of Austin Trusty but Celtic have it and emerged they cross the halfway line with Arnie Engels Engels looking for the short run of Adam Ida but it's infield to Vaya now Hatati Hatati's got Noah Chilvers for company Celtic's seeing a lot of the ball at the moment Johnston takes a touch and then goes left to McGregor just on the edge of the Ross County box is Adam Ida but he's crowded out by a couple of Ross County players including the captain Connor Randolph Nicholas Kuhn takes over once again now Vaya who takes aim and goes for a goal and inches over the crossbar of Ross Laidlock yeah and so like winning the ball back quickly again through Kuhn and he just and Vaya picking up that sort of almost inside left position again not staying wide getting into a good position and when the ball came to him he just dropped the shoulder creating a little bit of space for himself and then struck it it wasn't that far away but it was a decent strike from the player who's just come into the team and if he can get that part to his game also then he becomes a bit of a threat but he's playing as almost like that inverted full backs and it allows then on that side to go out into his position and pick up a little bit of space and the same is happening over the right hand side too you can see it here angles popping out into the right back position and getting a bit of space to work in once again lovely through ball and it comes to the six yard area and no takers and Ross County managed to get it clear and Ross County survived a scare but brilliant defensive work from Campbell who is the wing back making sure he was getting the in the right hand side almost in line with the Ross County 18 yard box and the Celtic captain once again in possession and short to the multi million pound box and the an impact since coming in. Domestic football was out of it mid week and pushing forward and holding his position and giving McGregor a chance to where they really exploited those spaces. Ross almost still in but he recovers and strides forward out to Kuhn. Kuhn looking for the shot and that's he's out by Campbell. Chilvers goes to ground. I can play again. Match and Kuhn as he gets the overlap from Johnson. Kuhn got tied to him and matched his run inside and eventually got a little block in and that's what you've got to do, you've got to really decide where I'm going to go tight and deal with him, forget the runner, get somebody else to do that job for me and take care of Kuhn, but he's done it now twice on two good occasions. Meffetti flicks his header forward from the free kick, Chilvers and Hale give chase, but Celtic have it back with Scales on the far side, Scales into Schmeichel, takes a touch on the edge of his six yard box with Hale bearing down on him, it's Hattati, loses out on the edge of his 18 yard box as Randle picks up, drills his way into the box, looks for the cut back and Celtic clear. Yeah, it's only trying to really play intricate football down in their sort of almost left back position and three, four pass, eventually gets cut out and Randle getting to the byline and trust he just read it though, he came across from his almost right centre back position and just read the cut back and cleared it, but it was a good opportunity for Ross County, the first time they've really been in Celtic and now they've got I think a long throw in here which will be a test if they go for it. Arceo right, winding one up, into the box it goes, misses the target of Michi Yeffeti and it's out of play once again for a throw in to Ross County, Arceo right, has been in amongst the goals for the Staggies of late, come up with a big goal late on against St Johnston a fortnight ago to rescue a point, Ross County three, one down, heading into the final four minutes. Wow, that's resilience isn't it? Yeah. You know and that's what you want in your team also, never to give up. Ross County work it all the way back to Ross Laidlaw in the lime green goalkeeping outfit, as Chilvers loses out in the midfield, Celtic pick up a Fatati, first team ball forward looking for Kuhn, away by the head of Leek it's on to Ingles, back to Kuhn into the penalty box Celtic goal, Ingles and Kuhn link up well, Kuhn gets the break of the ball and Ross County will manage to clear, although Nisbet's passed it back to his ten to half Ryan Leek who was under a bit of pressure and he's going down under the foul and Ross County have a chance to just take a bit of pressure off themselves. Yeah, just slow the game down, get a breather, they've worked hard at the moment, you know in the start of this game just to get their concentration levels, keep their distances right, you know in a compact shape, not give Celtic too much, especially through the middle. They've been done a few times in behind with Maeda but they've defended decently well in the box as Billy indicated early when we went to him. So that's the role and the job today but you've got to keep that going throughout the game. Here's a chance, here's Ronan Hale into the box, he goes, goes for a goal first time, saved by Schmeichel, only as far as Noah Chilvers who lets fly from the edge of the 18-yard box and it sails wide of Schmeichel's left-hand post, almost out of nothing but... Out of nothing but he got in behind and down the side of Auston Trusty, Ronan Hale and just one thing on his mind, I'm going to go and I'm going to test Kasper Schmeichel in that Celtic goal, he did a good shot across the goalkeeper who parries it away and then it comes to Chilvers who ends up taking the shot on again, I think he could have maybe steadied himself a little bit more to get the accuracy right but that was a good opening for Ross County and Celtic just giving, kind of almost giving the opportunity to them. One thing about Ronan Hale is he's not afraid to have a goal, Billy is he someone who's impressed you? Yeah, just his work rate as well, it's not just, obviously it's about scoring goals for a striker but I think his tenacity, his will to work, put defenders under pressure and then also any chance he gets he just has a dig at goal and he was so unlucky there, it was a hard angle but he certainly tested Schmeichel. Kasper Schmeichel on his toes, six consecutive clean sheets for the former Leicester City goalie in the league anyway, Celtic looking to break a club record with a seventh consecutive league clean sheet this afternoon as Trusty picks up, out to Nicholas Kuhn down this right hand side, skips away from Eli Campbell, still Kuhn has it, heads towards the violin, flicks it into the penalty box for Johnston, Johnston fires it back across, Ross County get it clear Yeah, he did all the right things there Kuhn, he did really well, beat Elijah Campbell down his outside and I'd just put that ball in, put it in early but he goes and takes another touch and then tries a link up, I think it was with Ingles and the opportunity kind of disappeared but once you get that space and you can put that ball in between the goalkeeper and the back four, it's up to the strikers to make the run but that's your job done but you don't have to take an extra touch This one flowing nicely, still it's Ross County nil, Celtic nil, live on BBC Radio Scotland SportsZone, the first of three live commentaries for you this afternoon As Nicholas Kuhn picks up, throws his way forward, Adam Ida lays off the edge of the box, MacGregor, now Maida, Maida looking to get the shot away on the left foot, takes a deflection and goes behind for a Celtic corner Yeah, it could have went anywhere but it was a decent block, again you know the wing-backs stick into their task, you know you don't always, you know you need a bit of luck of course and that time he did go into the tackle, went to ground, deflected off and just over the crossbar Celtic with their third corner on the afternoon, Arnie Ingoes once again over it with the right route to deliver, out-swinger from the Belgian, Ross County have a bit of work to do here and in comes the corner, Liam Scales flicks the header on and it sails harmlessly over the crossbar Yeah, again getting his head to the ball first but it was well past the near post but he has scored from that position, he has created things by making that run across so that's not new to Ross County, they will have analysed it, they will know that he does make that run so you've got to match him, they've got one player in that front post, Connor Randall, they've got one player, I think, I'm not sure which Celtic player has gone in on top of the goalkeeper, they've got one marking him and then the rest are all going man for man with Celtic players, lots of space for Celtic to exploit Goal is so far in Dingwall and Schmeichel picks up on the edge of his box and it's Alistair Johnstone with it and rolls the ball back to his goalkeeper Alistair Johnstone, the last Celtic player to score against Ross County, he was a match winner when the two clubs last met back at the end of January, Derek Adams in charge for Ross County that afternoon, his third tenure as Ross County manager was coming to an end, came to an end a few weeks later, Don Cowie took over the reins on a caretaker basis and he's in permanently over the summer and he goes up against his former manager Brendan Rodgers, Brendan Rodgers signed him as Watford boss in 2009 for a member of Scully Thistle and he admitted pre-match it was his first player he'd actually spent money on, here's Celtic with possession on the far side, floated cross in, not properly cleared by Ross County as Alistair Johnstone picks up the scraps, now McGregor once again via, dancing on the ball away from Joshua Nisbet now McGregor, Celtic come infield, now possession with Arnie Engels, Alistair Johnstone once again on the ball, yeah so far Ross County have done a really good defensive job right through that middle of the pitch, there's very little space for Celtic to take spot, even when the ball goes wide and they get done maybe down the sides, they're tracking their players really well and they're getting blocks in and defending that space between the posts really, really well and so just moving the ball, keeping the ball moving, hoping that there may be a lack of concentration or a gap will open up that they can exploit. Conor Rundle just won two challenges here against Johnstone and then Engels, showing the fight and tenacity that a captain should to win possession back for the home side, now Ryan Leake has it, rolls the ball back to his goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw, who if I remember correctly was man of the match when the two clubs last met here in November, he had a number of outstanding saves, he'll have to be no doubt at his best again this afternoon of Ross County are to get something, Celtic unbeaten in their last 11 games against the Staggies, it's hail battles for possession down this near side, he's gone down right in front of us but just clutching on his left ankle, yeah he's just trying to control the ball and I think he's just stamped almost down the top of his instep but he's okay, he's a back and running, he's a hardy young Irish man. Here's McGregor looking to loop one over the top of this Ross County defence, it's not like trying everything to work their way beyond the Ross County rear guard as McGregor picks up across the deck this time, ball into the box for Maeda but Ross County clear and Noah Chilvers has some joy in the far side, he writes the challenges of McGregor and scales and Celtic have possession, no free kick says Kevin Clancy, Arnie Engels dead centre in the Ross County half, out to the right hand side where Johnston takes a touch and drifts back infield to find McGregor who meets Noah Chilvers who is after a bit of afters after that previous encounter a few moments ago. Yeah I'm just looking at Adam Aide up front for Celtic, he's almost coming to the ball a lot in this game and it's kind of making the job of the centre-halves quite easy, you know he's going into traffic and I think he's going to just maybe try to run down the side of them a few times, even without the ball just to stretch them a little bit, if Cale was in the team that's the problem for centre-halves, he's always playing off your shoulder. Here's McGregor, time on the ball, lovely ball to find Maeda, it's a great ball over the top for McGregor, Maeda stretching to get the ball under control and the touch just goes behind for the goal kick, what a wonderful pass from McGregor. It's a great pass but you know it's going to happen, I think he's almost square, he's not looking at Maeda's run and he doesn't react until that ball's played over the top and then it's too late, you've got to see him running, you either step up and try and catch him offside if you can or you've got to get there early but you can't allow Maeda with that pace to run in behind just so easily and then McGregor's got the ability to pass the ball and it was a beautiful pass. Here's Hattati, he gets the lay-off from Maeda, he's got the supporting run of Varney Engels who first time crosses into the box looking for Coon, Aidan Denham goes back rather awkwardly to Eli Campbell and he has to take a touch before sending the ball forward down this cross-county left-hand side and Chilvers and Trusty battle for it. Trusty almost ending up into the front row of the main stand here. It's quite tight actually, he was going at pace there, Trusty, but he's got away with it. Here's Hattati, out to the far side to find Maeda, back with Hattati, tries the three-ball for McGregor. Lopata takes a slip inside the penalty box and he jogs his way rather awkwardly back into possession as Maeda for Celtic has possession on the far side into Vaya. Alex Vayan will weave through as he dances around looking for the pass, behind him is Liam Scales, now McGregor. Still awaiting the first goal of the afternoon in Dingwall, first county nil, Celtic nil On BBC Radio Scotland Sports, I'm with you for the first of three commentaries this afternoon, we're off to Potaudri at three o'clock for Aberdeen against Hearts and then later on at eight o'clock it's live at Ibrox with Rangers against St Johnstone. Here's McGregor, out to Johnstone. Fault angles, tracked all the way by Ryan Leake and Ross County have a break of the ball and have a chance to break forward with Aidan Denham and he's eventually stopped and fouled on the halfway line by the Celtic captain Callum McGregor. Yeah I'm sure he was looking for a little run from Ronan Hale down the side there of into that space down this sort of almost inside left channel just so he could relieve himself of the ball, he had to hold on to it and hold on to it and then the swarm of silly players came around him but he's got his foul and it allows some of the big players to get high up the pitch again and maybe put a little bit of pressure on to Celtic's back line, defensive line, they have got a bit of height in the team at Ross County. Chilvers knocks it short into the middle of the pitch to find corner Randall, he looks up and strings out a pass to the far side where Ryan Leake has it at the corner flag, rolls it back to Accio right, he takes a touch and crosses it into the box, Lopata's forward, gets his head on it, Lopata and it's comfortably into the gloves of Kasper Schmeichel. Yeah, it was well worked, knocked it into the middle of the pitch to corner Randall, nobody there, Celtic had everybody back defending that free kick so he had time to look up and had the diagonal, eventually they work it down, that right hand side and get a cross into the box for the big guys, just couldn't get power on the header when it was headed and it just fell into Schmeichel's hands but it just shows you that in Ross County if they get into decent positions they're a bit of a threat. Baia goes down the left hand side to find Maeda, Maeda takes a touch into the box, it goes, Hatati looking to get away from Accio right, back to Arnie Engels, into the box and Arnie Engels takes a touch and whizzes the ball way up over the top of the jail end and 20 yards out, he has to do better. Absolutely, the idea was right, you know, open it onto his right foot and you would expect better technique from him, he just got right under and went right over, over the stand also, that small stand on the right hand side as we look at it, so I'm sure there'll be somebody around there collecting footballs, maybe some young boy might have a present for himself. I don't know about you Pap, I'm really enjoying the autumn colours of the trees behind the jail end as well, one of the iconic stands in Scottish football and it's full of autumnal colours, as Daiza Maeda might get in here as Ryan Leake slips on the surface 20 yards from goal, he does enough to send the ball back to his goalkeeper and it's forward by Ross Laidlaw. Engels gets his head on it, Johnston goes into a challenge right in front of us, you might have heard the smack of the two boots coming together of Campbell and Johnston. Yeah, I'm just looking at the TV camera that's down there in front, right on, almost with a yard from the sideline and the two of them was just heading towards it and that could have been a little bit of danger. A full-blooded challenge as we await the first goal of the afternoon in the Highlands. There's only been one goalless drop in the previous 42 meetings between these two clubs, that was back in 2014 at Celtic Park. Yeah, I'm just thinking, you know, Ross Laidlaw and Ross County goal, I think he's had one free kick or offside or whatever, but that was it. He hasn't really had anything else to do in this game so far. Johnston with the deep cross, finding Diaz and Maida, and his header has to hit the target all alone at the back post. Wonderful ball in from Alistair Johnston and Maida, but he has to hit the target once again. Yes, I think Fethi slipped and given the opportunity to have an absolute clear header. They made good contact, but again, well off target. You would expect them from that position just at least to hit that goal. Eight yards high, 24 feet long. It's a decent target to hit when you have to hit the ball with no opposition. Scales going back to Schmeichel. Scales and Schmeichel will join up with their international squads in the coming days. Of course, many more Celtic players will do so. Trusty is one of them. He's heading off to join up with the USA squad. He's part of Mauricio Pochettino's first selection. Vaya picks up, crosses the halfway line for Celtic. On to Maida, who'll run at Fethi. Great ball in from Maida. Across the deck, so dangerous to deal with. The pass to Lopata is there for Ross County to turn it behind. Yeah, you just can't deal with that pace, can you? As soon as he knocks it past you and he's got space to operate in, he's on his bike. And then it's very difficult to catch him. But the players in the centre have done their job there. I think it was Ronan, was it Ryan Leake, that came across and got a block in. Gave away a corner again. Engels is over it once again. The Belgian looking for the target. She's gone near post. In goes Connor Randall. Took a sore one in the process. It was a coming together with Auston Trusty. And Randall picks himself up. Yeah, it wasn't a great cross, was it? It was low and it was hit into that area. And Randall doing that job as that spare player in that near post. Taxed the ball really well before Trusty gets the clearance in. So Ross County have done their job so far. They've really defended well as a unit. Very compact. Any balls that come into the box, they've dealt with them. Seldig trying to move the ball. They haven't created anything really too much, apart from getting in behind them in the wide areas. But inside that box, they haven't been able to test Ross Laidlaw in that Ross County goal. Itati trying to force the ball through. Ryan Leake was short in possession. And he's given it away to Adam Ida. Into the box goes Ingles. And he pizzes one across the deck. And it's held comfortably low down to his left post by the Ross County goalie, Ross Laidlaw. He rolls the ball out to Joshua Nisbet on the far side. Chilvers hogging that touchline on the Ross County right. Wins the throw-in. Nisbet takes all the way back to Accio right. And it's infield to Kasper Lopata. Deadline day signing from Barnsley. And it's Leake who sends a good ball forward to Aidan Denham. He's under pressure from Trustee. Denham slips on the surface. And Kevin Clancy points to the ground and gives Ross County the free kick. Yeah, it was a really good ball. Really good ball from back to front, down that channel we talked about. And I thought maybe he could have maybe even flipped it on and sort of can almost test Trustee with a little bit of pace there. But he held it up. And Trustee did reasonably well to defend but give away the free kick. So this is an opportunity again for Ross County to get a big players into that box and test Celtic. Midway through the Celtic half. Noah Chilvers takes aim. Swing and cross in. Header come in from Michi Efeti. But it's bounced down and up into the gloves of the fluorescent, kitted out Kasper Schmeichel. Yeah, he got again good contact at the back post. Won the ball. Just knocked it in. If he headed that ball back across the goal and maybe people arriving in. But he sort of almost had come off his head and went into Kasper Schmeichel's hands again. And it was easy for the goalkeeper. Here's Randall for Ross County. Crosses the halfway line. He's got Eden Denham for company once again. Takes a throw in from Alistair Johnston. But Kevin Clancy not having any of it. Ross County win it back. It's Eden Denham who's picked himself up and back involved again. Now Chilvers down the Ross County left. Heads towards the corner flag. Roosevelt back to Eli Campbell. He's got plenty of time on the ball. Infield that goes to Nisbet. Back with Campbell just in front of our commentary position down the Ross County left. But his ball to Chilvers. Chilvers had the neat little layoff and Celtic have it back through McGregor. Now they can break with Engels. Lovely ball in behind the centre half. Accio right for Dyson Meuda to latch on to. But Ross Laidlock is off his goal line and comfortably claims. Yeah. It's Ross County committing players forward in this occasion. They had about six players beyond the ball and ends up when they lose it then they're very vulnerable to the counter attack and Celtic just breaking forward. I thought it was a, you know, difficult pass right through the middle. It was easy for the goalkeeper to read actually comes off that wet surface. Johnston on the halfway line goes back to Trusty. Signed from Sheffield United. 34 appearances in the English Premier League last season for Trusty. Vaya who's been a bit quiet in the last 10 or 15 minutes or so in field to Engels who's been a constant threat for Ross County. McGregor once again involved takes a touch, knocks it forward to Ida. McGregor then helps it on looking for the run of Kuhn. And in the box is Eli Campbell and he's asking for a bit of clarity as he knocks the ball behind. Yeah, he's asking for his goalkeeper to come and take that ball and he should have. There was a poor pass from McGregor and he knocks it. Here's a chance. Here's Hattati into Ida. Back to Hattati on the edge of the box. Takes aim, takes a deflection. Back to Ida and it bounces up and Ross Laidlaw this time grabs a hold of it and takes it down and takes the pressure off. Yeah, that all came from that little hesitation at the back from Ross County. You know, when Campbell was forced almost to give away a throw in when the goalkeeper should have been you know, really screaming and getting everybody out of the road and taking that ball because McGregor just over hit the ball and was right through almost to the six yard box and should have been out for it. Maia launches the ball forward. Ida was in an offside position. County have it back with Lopata along the deck to find Shilvers in the halfway line. Now Randall out to Nisbet. He's got Effety on the overlap. Effety with the ball in! Looking for Hale. Hand ball is a shout from the Ross County players and supporters and they're checking for a potential penalty as Randall helps it on. Ronan Hale was certainly adamant that there was a striking of the hand. Play rages on though with Denham down this near side. Looks to drift infield. Stopped in his tracks by Kuhn and Celtic pick up. Referee Kevin Clancy is stopped and he's heading across to the monitor. Kevin Clancy being advised by the VAR official. Well, well, this could be a big, big moment in the game.