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Anthony Stokes strikes twice as Celtic hit five past Ross County Anthony Stokes strikes twice as Celtic hit five past Ross County
(about 1 hour later)
Celtic took just 35 minutes to take 13 days worth of anger out on Ross County. That time had passed since the home defeat for Ronnie Deila’s team against Hamilton Academical. Celtic began this Scottish football weekend as the sixth placed team in the top flight; an unacceptable scenario whatever the extent of Deila’s rebuilding job.Celtic took just 35 minutes to take 13 days worth of anger out on Ross County. That time had passed since the home defeat for Ronnie Deila’s team against Hamilton Academical. Celtic began this Scottish football weekend as the sixth placed team in the top flight; an unacceptable scenario whatever the extent of Deila’s rebuilding job.
This was precisely the response Deila had sought; his team attacked with pace and vigour. County, the division’s bottom team, were utterly abject in every area of the field but Celtic are worthy of credit for their front-foot approach to what may have been a hazardous fixture.This was precisely the response Deila had sought; his team attacked with pace and vigour. County, the division’s bottom team, were utterly abject in every area of the field but Celtic are worthy of credit for their front-foot approach to what may have been a hazardous fixture.
Now for the hard part. Deila must avoid the kind of false dawns which have plagued his Celtic tenure to date.Now for the hard part. Deila must avoid the kind of false dawns which have plagued his Celtic tenure to date.
With Europa League and League Cup matches sitting amidst league games, Deila now has four home encounters in succession during which he will finally look to gather some winning momentum. Without it, doubts will remain over his ability to successfully make the transition from a small club in Norway to the deeply intense nature of the Old Firm environment.With Europa League and League Cup matches sitting amidst league games, Deila now has four home encounters in succession during which he will finally look to gather some winning momentum. Without it, doubts will remain over his ability to successfully make the transition from a small club in Norway to the deeply intense nature of the Old Firm environment.
For now, though, Deila is entitled to savour one of the most ridiculously one-sided games anybody will witness all season.For now, though, Deila is entitled to savour one of the most ridiculously one-sided games anybody will witness all season.
“We were up for this game,” Celtic’s manager said afterwards. “Someone told me that the team had big problems here before but this was a fantastic performance. There is always a lot of emotion when you lose games but something in my brain told me after Hamilton that we created a lot and just needed to be more clinical. Today we created chances and scored goals.”“We were up for this game,” Celtic’s manager said afterwards. “Someone told me that the team had big problems here before but this was a fantastic performance. There is always a lot of emotion when you lose games but something in my brain told me after Hamilton that we created a lot and just needed to be more clinical. Today we created chances and scored goals.”
Deila was denied the services of the injured Kris Commons here but was helped by the return from injury of Mikael Lustig. It was another Swede, John Guidetti, who started this goal-fest.Deila was denied the services of the injured Kris Commons here but was helped by the return from injury of Mikael Lustig. It was another Swede, John Guidetti, who started this goal-fest.
Guidetti, a loan arrival from Manchester City, has looked the pick of Deila’s outfield signings to date. With the forward unlikely to be brought back into the first-team fold at the Etihad Stadium, Celtic could do worse than pursue a permanent deal for Guidetti now. He was on hand to slam home at close range after Ross County, as was to prove a trend, failed to adequately deal with an Anthony Stokes free-kick. Guidetti, a loan arrival from Manchester City, has looked the pick of Deila’s outfield signings to date.
The lead was soon doubled courtesy of a swift counter-attack which pulled the hosts apart. Stefan Johansen fed Guidetti, who laid the ball across goal for Callum McGregor. The youngster was left with little more than a tap-in. With the forward unlikely to be brought back into the first-team fold at the Etihad Stadium, Celtic could do worse than pursue a permanent deal for Guidetti now. He was on hand to slam home at close range after Ross County, as was to prove a trend, failed to adequately deal with an Anthony Stokes free-kick. The lead was soon doubled courtesy of a swift counter-attack which pulled the hosts apart. Stefan Johansen fed Guidetti, who laid the ball across goal for Callum McGregor. The youngster was left with little more than a tap-in.
Stokes, who was to enjoy his finest performance of the season, claimed number three courtesy of a fine curling shot. Johansen again played a part in the lead-up. So, too, did more comic cuts attempts at defending from the Dingwall team.Stokes, who was to enjoy his finest performance of the season, claimed number three courtesy of a fine curling shot. Johansen again played a part in the lead-up. So, too, did more comic cuts attempts at defending from the Dingwall team.
Celtic scored a fourth, 10 minutes before the break. This time a corner caused chaos in the County back line, with the centre-back Jason Denayer blasting into the roof of Mark Brown’s net. It could and should have been five before half-time, but for a despairing header from his own goalline by Scott Boyd after Johansen had seemed certain to score. Celtic scored a fourth, 10 minutes before the break. This time a corner caused chaos in the County back line, with the centre-back Jason Denayer blasting into the roof of Mark Brown’s goal net. It could and should have been five before half-time, but for a despairing header from his own goalline by Scott Boyd after Johansen had seemed certain to score.
As seemed inevitable, the second period was something of a non-event. There was Celtic concern as Emilio Izaguirre left the field on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury. Deila played down any long-term concerns for the full-back during his post-match press conference.As seemed inevitable, the second period was something of a non-event. There was Celtic concern as Emilio Izaguirre left the field on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury. Deila played down any long-term concerns for the full-back during his post-match press conference.
Stokes claimed his second of the day in fierce style from 20 yards, via Brown’s right-hand post. County would have settled for full-time at that point but could take some solace from the fact Celtic halted their scoring there.Stokes claimed his second of the day in fierce style from 20 yards, via Brown’s right-hand post. County would have settled for full-time at that point but could take some solace from the fact Celtic halted their scoring there.
“We didn’t do the fundamentals well,” said the home manager Jim McIntyre. “Celtic are more than capable of doing that to any side but we are still really disappointed.” “We didn’t do the fundamentals well,” said the home manager, Jim McIntyre. “Celtic are more than capable of doing that to any side but we are still really disappointed.”