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Celtic restored their nine-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership by overcoming lively Ross County.
County survived a first-half of Celtic dominance until Alex Iacovitti handled moments before the break and Jota scored from the penalty spot.
That forced Malky Mackay’s side to attack in a second 45 minutes during which both sides had chances.
With County down to 10 men following a Ross Callachan injury, Alexandro Bernabei fired a late settler.
It means that Ange Postecoglou’s side head into Saturday’s derby at home to second-top Rangers with 15 consecutive victories since the Glasgow rivals drew at Ibrox at the start of January.
An eighth consecutive defeat at the hands of Celtic leaves County second bottom of the table, four points adrift of Kilmarnock.
More to follow.
What’s next?
Celtic host Rangers in a first versus second derby showdown on Saturday (12:30 BST), while Ross County travel to face St Johnstone that afternoon (15:00).
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Laidlaw
- 2Randall
- 30Smith
- 6Iacovitti
- 16Harmon
- 4CancolaSubstituted forEdwardsat 74′minutes
- 14LoturiSubstituted forCallachanat 84′minutesSubstituted forat 88′minutes
- 42Kenneh
- 29EdwardsSubstituted forSimsat 56′minutes
- 27BrophySubstituted forMurrayat 74′minutes
- 26White
Substitutes
- 7Edwards
- 8Callachan
- 11Sims
- 15Watson
- 17Murray
- 19Hiwula-Mayifuila
- 21Munro
- 25Samuel
- 49Stones
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hart
- 2Johnston
- 20Carter-Vickers
- 4Starfelt
- 3TaylorSubstituted forBernabeiat 65′minutes
- 33O’RileySubstituted forTurnbullat 75′minutes
- 42McGregor
- 24Iwata
- 17Neves FilipeSubstituted forVataat 90+6′minutes
- 8FuruhashiSubstituted forOhat 75′minutes
- 38MaedaSubstituted forHaksabanovicat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Haksabanovic
- 14Turnbull
- 18Kobayashi
- 19Oh
- 25Bernabei
- 29Bain
- 53Summers
- 57Welsh
- 69Vata
- Referee:
- William Collum
- Attendance:
- 6,690
Live Text
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Match ends, Ross County 0, Celtic 2.
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Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Celtic 2.
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Substitution, Celtic. Rocco Vata replaces Jota.
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Goal! Ross County 0, Celtic 2. Alexandro Bernabei (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jota.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Sims.
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Attempt saved. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alistair Johnston.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by George Harmon.
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Attempt missed. Sead Haksabanovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
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Jota (Celtic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Tomoki Iwata.
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Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Oh Hyeon-Gyu.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Ross Callachan went off injured after Ross County had used all subs.
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Delay in match because of an injury Ross Callachan (Ross County).
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Foul by Alexandro Bernabei (Celtic).
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Connor Randall (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Ross County. Ross Callachan replaces Victor Loturi.
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Attempt missed. Josh Sims (Ross County) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Owura Edwards with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Joe Hart.
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Attempt saved. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Ross County
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Squad number1Player nameLaidlaw
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Squad number2Player nameRandall
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Squad number30Player nameSmith
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Squad number6Player nameIacovitti
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Squad number16Player nameHarmon
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Squad number4Player nameCancola
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Squad number14Player nameLoturi
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Squad number42Player nameKenneh
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Squad number29Player nameEdwards
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Squad number27Player nameBrophy
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Squad number26Player nameWhite
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Squad number7Player nameEdwards
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Squad number8Player nameCallachan
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Squad number11Player nameSims
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Squad number17Player nameMurray
Celtic
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Squad number1Player nameHart
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Squad number2Player nameJohnston
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Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers
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Squad number4Player nameStarfelt
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
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Squad number33Player nameO’Riley
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Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number24Player nameIwata
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Squad number17Player nameJota
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Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi
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Squad number38Player nameMaeda
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Squad number9Player nameHaksabanovic
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Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
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Squad number19Player nameOh Hyeon-Gyu
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Squad number25Player nameBernabei
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Squad number69Player nameVata
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By Clive Lindsay
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