Ross County 1-4 Celtic: League Cup holders cruise into last 16
- Published
Callum McGregor's first Celtic goal since March opened the scoring in Dingwall
Celtic maintained their unbeaten start to the season after the holders dispatched fellow Scottish Premiership side Ross County to set up a League Cup quarter final at Motherwell.
Two goals in four first-half minutes from Callum McGregor and Giorgos Giakoumakis put the visitors firmly in the driving seat in Dingwall.
Malky Mackay saw an improvement from his side after the break as Alex Iacovitti nodded in to pull one back, but Celtic sealed the win with strikes from Daizen Maeda and James Forrest.
The result warms up Ange Postecoglou's side - who have now scored 25 goals in their opening six domestic games - perfectly for Saturday's derby with Rangers.
After Sunday's record-breaking 9-0 win at Tannadice, Postecoglou made nine alterations to his XI, but there was no change in Celtic's relentless attacking intent, as they hit the County crossbar twice in the opening five minutes.
First, Stephen Welsh crashed a header off the woodwork, before David Turnbull's deflected free-kick looped high and bounced off the bar.
The large away crowd wouldn't have to wait much longer to see the net ripple, though, as Turnbull's quick corner caught County off guard and McGregor cushioned a first-time finish in via a deflection.
Four minutes later, it was two. This time Giakoumakis made space for himself on the edge of the home box and drove a left-foot finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
County threatened to make a second-half comeback when unmarked Iacovitti nodded in after a Jordan White knock-down.
But just five minutes later, Celtic reinstated their two-goal cushion as Maeda was quickest to react to a rebound after McGregor had a shot saved.
And substitute Forrest put further gloss on the victory by hooking in his first goal of the season from a Anthony Ralston cut-back.
Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "First half, we let ourselves down with the two goals, but we stayed in the game and were resilient.
"Second half, I decided to make a couple of changes and go man-for-man all over the pitch. We came back in the game and scored and the momentum was with us - I have got to be proud of them for that."
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "I'm happy with the efforts and glad to still be in it. I made nine changes, which should affect the cohesion, but the boys have bought into what we are doing.
"To win 4-1 away from home is a very good performance. It is going to be a pretty hectic schedule and it's great to know I can rely on these guys."
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