Ryan Christie’s double helped Celtic run out 4-1 winners over Ross County at Victoria Park.
Christie struck twice in the first half each side of Ross Stewart’s equaliser, before second half goals from Tom Rogic and Michael Johnston secured an ultimately comfortable win for the Premiership champions.
County made four changes from the side which went down 2-1 against St Mirren the previous weekend, with Skipper Marcus Fraser, Billy Mckay, Brian Graham and the ineligible Ewan Henderson replaced by Richard Foster, Lee Erwin, Harry Paton and Keith Watson.
Celtic, who were fresh from an impressive nine-game winning streak in all competitions, were without talismanic leading scorer Odsonne Edouard through injury. Thevisitors set the early pace and carved out opportunities, with Christie striking the post with a free kick from the wide right, before Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor saw efforts blocked.
County were undone on 11 minutes however, with referee Nick Walsh pointing to the spot after Watson brought down Lewis Morgan. Although Baxter was equal to Christie’s spot-kick, the former Caley Thistle midfielder was quick to latch on to the rebound and tuck home.
County pulled level against the run of play on 23 minutes, in surprisingly simple fashion as Josh Mullin’s free kick was met by the head of Stewart who steered home.
It was a timely boost for the hosts, but Celtic regained the lead on 39 minutes when Christie latched on to a threaded pass through the middle of the defence by Kristoffer Ajer, before calmly stroking low past Baxter.
The second half was uneventful, with Callum McGregor coming closest to increasing Celtic’s lead with a low shot which struck the post.
Rogic wrapped up the victory on 68 minutes with a deflected effort which nestled in Baxter’s bottom right corner, before substitute Johnston added a fourth after cutting inside from the left and sidefooting past Baxter.
