Highlands & Islands

Ross Morren, The County Corner, external

When Ross County lined up to face Celtic on Saturday lunchtime there was a sense of optimism that Celtic had one eye on their trip to face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, and that could play into the Dingwall side's favour.

That optimism was diminished in the 10th minute when James Brown was shown a straight red card following a VAR check. In this day and age, a tackle like that will always result in a red card and the Staggies had a mountain to climb to get a positive result from the match.

Despite the 3-0 scoreline, the effort from the home side was nothing short of outstanding. Celtic can tear apart teams at will and have racked up some big scorelines over the past few seasons, so County deserve credit for their defensive organisation and character to play 80 minutes with 10 men against the league leaders and not crumble under the pressure.

Ross Laidlaw put in a Player of the Match performance to keep the score respectable. He made thirteen saves during the match, several of which were outstanding, and strengthens his case for a future Scotland call-up.

Matches against Celtic will never define Ross County’s season. Malky Mackay’s side have much bigger matches coming up over the next few weeks, non-more so than this weekend’s trip to Perth to face St Johnstone.

County fans will be confident they can take the three points back up the A9. We have only lost one of their last seven trips to McDiarmid Park and are unbeaten in the last three visits. Simon Murray opened the scoring in the 2-0 win for County back in April, and he’ll be keen to add to his tally of 10 goals in all competitions this season.

If County were to end their eight-match winless run on Saturday and widen the gap between themselves and the Perth side, it would be a huge psychological boost going into the international break.

We’re only in November, but it already feels like a huge match for both sides’ season.

Image source, BBC SPORT

We asked you for your views following County's home defeat to Celtic.

Here's what you had to say:

Allan: The Staggies are in the same boat as St.Johnstone and Livi. A few wins and they are top six, it's still early days.

Angus: We defended really well and were unlucky to lose three goals. We had decent chances but didn’t take them, then Palma’s goal was brilliant.

John: The red was harsh. Played well when we had the ball and kept looking to score. With 10 men it is always hard. The boys did well.

Ross County manager Malky Mackay believes Celtic's opener in the Staggies' 3-0 defeat on Saturday came beyond the allotted amount of stoppage time in the first half. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Mackay believes his players showed character after playing most of the match against the Scottish Premiership leaders with 10 players. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Manager Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic had two goals wrongly ruled out in Dingwall. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

Image source, BBC Sport

County fans, were you at the Global Energy Stadium this afternoon as the Staggies fell to defeat, or following the game from home?

Either way, we would like to hear your thoughts. Have your say on today's defeat here.

Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "It was a sending off. I've spoken to [James Brown] and he didn't actually see [Yang Hyun-jun]. He has apologised to the group and that's fine because there was no malice.

"It then causes us a problem playing against a really good team with 10 men. But on a day like this, if we don't get our tactics right and the discipline, organisation, and fitness from the players, that could end up seven or eight against a team like Celtic.

"We've got to make sure, for the rest of the game, to keep it tight and maybe nick something from a set play. It's frustrating because we started well in the first 10 minutes. It was a tight affair but we were playing against a really good team.

"We had to make sure it didn't run away from us today and it didn't. That is something that will stand us in good stead against the rest of the teams.

"They have done themselves proud today, I'm delighted to be fronting that group."

Image source, SNS

Colin Moffat, BBC Sport Scotland

County may have fancied their chances of an upset on seeing six changes in the visitors' line-up, but any such thoughts were soon dispelled after a moment of rashness from Brown.

With Celtic averaging around 80% possession throughout, the match resembled an attack v defence training exercise for long spells.

Oh had the chance to impress his manager but could not find a goal on his first league start of the campaign.

The striker was perhaps unfortunate to be pulled up for the challenge that led to Scales' effort not counting and the offside TV lines were far from convincing when he his first-half celebrations were cut short.

He could scarcely believe it when Laidlaw produced yet another good stop in the dying throes of the game.

Turnbull took his tally for the season to five - three against County - and played a leading role, along with captain McGregor, in the patient dismantling of their opponents.

Ross Laidlaw impressed in between the sticks for the home side this afternoon, making numerous saves to keep Celtic's goal tally at three.

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George Harmon, Yan Dhanda and Jordan White return to the Ross County line-up, with the latter two impressing as substitutes in the midweek draw at Easter Road.

Ben Purrington, Kyle Turner and Eamonn Brophy drop to the bench.

Kyogo Furuhashi is among those rested this afternoon as Celtic make six changes following Wednesday's 2-1 win over St Mirren.

Oh Hyeon-gyu's reward for scoring the winner as a replacement in that game is a starting berth.

Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Paul Bernardo, Yang Hyun-jun and Daizen Maeda also come in.

Alistair Johnston, Nat Phillips, Matt O'Riley, James Forrest, and Luis Palma join Kyogo on the bench.

Image source, SNS

Image source, .

Ross County: Laidlaw, Brown, Baldwin, Leak, Harmon, Randall, Allardice, Dhanda, Loturi, Murray, White.

Substitutes: Munro, Purrington, Turner, Sheaf, High, Samuel, Brophy, Smith, Nightingale.

Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Bernardo, Turnbull, Yang, Oh, Maeda.

Substitutes: Bain, A Johnston, Phillips, Palma, Kyogo, Holm, Tomoki, O'Riley, Forrest.

Image source, .

Ross County, who host Celtic on Saturday, need to show they "have enough mental strength to actually see games out", says manager Malky Mackay after dramatic ends to their past two games. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Yan Dhanda hopes County can make a statement by getting a positive result against Celtic. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

Ross County winger Josh Sims is in contention after recovering from a setback following his recent return from injury.

The Staggies are still without Josh Reid (toe), Ross Callachan and Ben Paton (both knee).

Cameron Carter-Vickers will return for the league leaders after being rested for the midweek win over St Mirren.

Celtic will still be without Reo Hatate (hamstring) and Liel Abada (thigh).

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Ross County manager Malky Mackay says he has had no discussions with chairman Roy MacGregor over a new deal.

Mackay, who took charge of the Staggies in May 2021, is due to be out of contract next summer.

Talking to Sky Sports, he said: “It’s not something we’ve talked about. We do talk every day, it’s a vast number of topics, concerning the football, his businesses, the structure of the club, the area and the community.

“I’m in my third year here, I’ve got to be thankful for that, it’s myself and David Martindale as the longest serving in the Premiership for over a fair period.

“To be in my third season shows a way of working that everybody is happy with and that stands you in good stead.

“I really enjoy it, it’s an incredibly precarious profession that in six weeks people can go from being comfortable in a job to being sacked.

“A lot of people have an opinion on the job of a football manager, but until you stand in those shoes, the actual reality of the job is quite incredible.”

Midfilder Yan Dhanda wants Ross County to impress in front of a wider audience when they host Celtic on Saturday.

The Scottish Premiership clash is live on television and Dhanda says County have "nothing to fear" when they face the league leaders.

“They’re a big team, they’ve got good players, but so do we," Dhanda said. "We gave them a really good game first game of the season. There shouldn’t be any fear in the boys. It’s time for us to show what we can do on TV.

“It’s a massive game. When you move to Scotland you want to be playing on Sky against Celtic. They come with a big crowd, we’re at home, so everyone’s very excited.

“The past few games we’ve been playing well, showing what we can do. We did well to come back and get a draw against Hibs and we could have got a win against Motherwell or Dundee. It just shows we’re working hard."

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