This was a demoralising afternoon for the Staggies but Ross County’s Scottish Premiership status won’t be determined by their results against Celtic.
The Dingwall side have never tasted victory at Parkhead and there was little chance of that changing on Saturday as a clinical Hoops side dismantled 10-man County for a 3-0 win.
Moussa Dembele netted his 14th of the season from the penalty spot before Staggies captain Andrew Davies saw red for a reckless challenge on Scott Brown six minutes before the break.
There was only going to be one winner after that with Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic netting early in the second half to give the Hoops a commanding victory.
The likelihood of County taking anything from the champions was always slim but the Premiership’s bottom team contributed to their own downfall with poor decision-making.
If County are to remain in the top flight then taking something from tomorrow’s encounter with fellow strugglers Partick Thistle appears vital.
The Firhill team were beaten 2-0 by Hibs on Saturday, leaving them three points above County with seven games remaining.
There were precious few positives for Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson and they will now be without their captain for tomorrow’s game due to suspension.
County’s interim co-managers named three strikers in a bold line-up with Alex Schalk, Billy Mckay and Craig Curran all in from the start. Curran was deployed in midfield with Ross Draper, Tim Chow and Jamie Lindsay, ineligible against his parent club, all missing.
Celtic – by their own high standards – had endured somewhat of a poor spell in recent weeks with two wins in five league games and the Staggies gave cause for encouragement with their first foray forward when Mckay’s low drive was spilled by Scott Bain.
The Hoops soon began to dominate proceedings with Armstrong proving a particular nuisance but the Staggies defended diligently.
Scott Sinclair, without a goal in nine games, drilled wide after 21 minutes – but the home support did not have to wait much longer for the opener.
There were not many complaints from the Staggies when referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot after Jason Naismith tripped Sinclair inside the area with Dembele stroking home the penalty to give the Hoops the lead.
It went from bad to worse for the Staggies six minutes before the interval when Davies paid the price for a rush of blood to the head when he was sent off for a late challenge on Celtic captain Scott Brown.
Nothing was going County’s way and in the final minute of the half, goalkeeper Aaron McCarey limped off and was replaced by Scott Fox, leaving Kettlewell and Ferguson plenty to ponder at the break.
Celtic required only three minutes of the second half to make their numerical advantage count with Armstrong afforded too much space on the edge of the area to find the bottom corner with a left-footed drive.
Australian international Rogic added the third for Celtic on the hour mark, calmly rolling the ball beyond the advancing Fox.
To their credit, County continued to push players forward but this was a day to forget for the Staggies, who have no time to dwell on the loss with Partick Dingwall-bound tomorrow.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1) – Bain 6, Brown 7, Dembele 7 (Griffiths 70), Sinclair 7, Armstrong 8, Rogic 7, Boyata 5 (Hendry 46), Lustig 6, Ajer 6, McGregor 7, Forrest 7 (Roberts 63). Subs not used – De Vries, Ntcham, Edouard, Musonda.
ROSS COUNTY (5-3-2) – McCarey 5 (Fox 45), Fraser 6, Naismith 6, Routis 6, Souttar 6, Schalk 6 (Gardyne 66), Curran 6, Davies 5, Mckay 5 (Dow 63), O’Brien 6, Fontaine 6. Subs not used –Ngog, Dinwall, Melbourne, Gallagher.
Referee – Steven McLean 6.
Attendance – 58,765
Man of the match – Stuart Armstrong.
