Ross County are a point off a European spot, a gap that has been narrowing for months. Their last six games have seen wins over St Johnstone, Motherwell, St Mirren and Aberdeen, a draw with Hearts and a solitary defeat, at Celtic Park.
County were points adrift at bottom of the table as recently as December, having picked up just three points from their opening 10 games. They are now a team on what looks like an inevitable march to European football next season. So yes, we have a proper job to do on Sunday.
In the event Celtic emerge from season 2021-22 as champions, two added-time goals at Dingwall can be regarded as having an enormous bearing on the outcome. In December, with Celtic drawing 1-1 and reduced to 10 men, Tom Rogic dinked a cross high into the County six-yard box, where Anthony Ralston rose, salmon-like to head home in the 97th minute of play.
Celtic went into that round of fixtures four points behind, the prospect of further slippage felt ominous with so many difficult fixtures ahead. The remarkable recovery told us lots about this group of players and their never-say-die attitude.
The other significant game at Dingwall was, of course, Newco’s visit there a month later. I watched the highlights that night, County were poor, conceded three and could have shipped a few more. Newco should have won the game comfortably, but a combination of lax defending and dreadful goalkeeping kept the match alive until County conjured up a 96th minute equaliser.
History is made in moments like these. News that Josip Juranovic is missing for the game gives Anthony Ralston his Dingwall stage again, horses for courses, leaps to mind. Just as important will be the fitness of Giorgos Giakoumakis. The Greek scored his second hattrick of the season in the aforementioned recent County defeat to Celtic – another horse for the County course.
Expect the pitch to be hard, bumpy and probably trained on today. Defending will need to be assured, passing from the back will be more risky than normal. Still, Celtic will travel with a point to prove. Expect another away win.
516 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 14
- »
Turkeybhoy
Cruizero Belo Horizonte I think.
I believe Savio was the player right enough.
Turkeybhoy
Sorry just read page 2. Flamenco correct as someone else posted.
The other Brazilian team might have been the centenary game at Celtic Park. Got my Brazilians mixed up.
I won’t get in a wax over it though.
A good number of supporters on CQN were worried about dropping points at home to St Johnstone. I and one or two others rubbished such fears. I predicted 3-0.
Celtic won 7-0.
Here we go again. Ross County have won a few league games, so our title credentials are apparently in the balance going into Sunday.
How wany league games have Celtic won?
2-0 Celtic.
WESTCRAIGS
3 of our last 4 games are at home. Does that nor help us?
A wee reminder that Superbru predictions have to be in by 12 noon tomorrow as the huns have had their game moved forward.
We played Nacional(Uruguay) 1971 in a game in which 3 headed goals by Hoops players( Lennox 2 and Callaghan)at home.The visitors were South American champions.
Westcraigs, You’re right, it stinks. With 3 home and 2 away having an away match first in the sequence is illogical. And the choice of Ross County adds to me suspicion.
Ross County are a point away from a European place?
So are Motherwell.
Apart from a victory on Sunday, I hope we are not kicked off the park, as Ross County tried to do to us a couple of weeks ago.
RUBICON
Is they wanted to make it REALLY tricky for us, surely Tannadice would have been the obvious choice.
Never predict games but unless we beat OF they wullnae lose any split games, their participation in the speel is more important than any Euro games tae Scottish clubs
TURKEYBHOY @ 12:18 PM
Wee Bazza wondering if “We have the bottle for the title race”
———-
From what location did the intellectual giant propound such flawless wisdom?
Kitchen of his wife’s house perchance?
TONTIME TIM
unless we beat OF they wullnae lose any split games
How about one or two draws?
just win the next game,
Ange’s presser
Bhoyjoebelfast
I was at that game and the one in 67 when we beat penarol 2-0 and Willie Wallace scored.
I think Jimmy McGrory opened the new stand before the National game.
https://twitter.com/SBISoccer/status/1517529033503870977?t=kJXPsfDGkw6EBZKhpiGlgA&s=08
Big Cammy 🤞
new south stand
An Tearmann at 1.01 pm. It’s a horrible time of the year for Big Billy’s family. His grandson, Matthew McCombe , passed away tragically around this time of the year two years ago , he had just turned 21.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN @ 3:57
—–
Let’s all hope (& pray) you are right again – what a boost a good win would be – then, as pointed-out, three from four at home. It’s ours to lose – the SC semi-final would pale into insignificance HH.
There’s only one King Billy, that’s McNeil – a Celtic giant and a credit & example to everyone in the Celtic family. The day he stood nose to nose with Bob Valentine on the touchline at Celtic Park will never leave me – God bless & rest him.
Is it just me or is Mark McGhee a bit un-hinged? Talking about going naked for a week if they win this weekend
I’d rather ‘burst couch face’ stayed fully clothed
CONEYBHOY @ 6:23
—–
He is only copying the best – Dick Campbell conducts all training sessions stark-naked – & his success is there to be seen!!!!
He’s fat he’s round he’s worth a million pound
Latest
Ross County
12/1
Draw
5/1
Celtic
3/11
“……Thats’ Fat Charleeeeeeee…..”
<2
for months I’ve been reading here that the Huns won’t lose any points.
When we were 6 behind the word was we needed to win every game from there to the end if we were to win the Title.
The addendum was we weren’t going to win every game ergo we were not going to win the Title.
A week ago we were unbeatable, we lost a Cup game in extra time & suddenly we are on verge of cracking,
Make no mistake I’ll be mightily relieved of and when we beat Ross County, however the Huns are every bit as likely to drop points as we are.
We also hold a big goal difference advantage, we hold all the aces.
“QUADROPHENIAN on 22ND APRIL 2022 12:58 PM
Does Celtic – as a club and us as a fanbase – have some kind of underdog trauma in our DNA…”
I have long felt that that inferiority complex — as a consequence of the social more in Scotia — has been the exclusive domain of Celtic supporters. I am certain Ange does not feel that way and I doubt very much any of the players do. A parallel of sorts is the passing out from the back. The support is nervous as hell but the Mangaer encourages it and theplayers are quite comfortable with it.
I think Old Firm FC are more likely to drop points this weekend than we are .
JHB
Was that not (Dr) Andrew Waddell ? I was in the front stand and Billy definitely went nose-to-nose with him. But you may very well be right about another occasion involving Bob “St” Valentine.
“CORKCELT on 22ND APRIL 2022 7:22 PM
A week ago we were unbeatable, we lost a Cup game in extra time & suddenly we are on verge of cracking,”
So true and, apart from the unhappiness I felt at losing that game, I had to smile at the sudden arrival of doom and gloom :-))
Anyway, off to the pub to watch Killie v The Red Lichties in a very important game :-)
Cheerio for now.
1971-09-01: Celtic 3-0 Nacional, Friendly
Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-72 Pictures
Trivia
Celtic legend Jimmy McGrory performs the official opening of the new main stand which has cost a sum of £350,000 to build.
Estimated attendance 60,000. Stand was ticket only.
Nacional are South American champions and the Uruguayan goverment have commisioned a stamp in their honour.
They arrived in Scotland on the Tuesday having flown from Mexico where they had been playing , via New York.
For Celtic, a squad of 15 prepared at Seamills as was usual before superior games. Bobby Murdoch was again fully fit.
This was Nacional’s only defeat of their European tour and their first defeat on tour so far after 10 games.
Celtic would receive a severe censure from the SFL and warned about their future conduct for arranging this Friendly game against Nacional on the same night the last of the League Cup sectional games were due to be played. Celtic HAD recived permission from the SFA but the SFL’s nose was out of joint that they had not been consulted and the League Cup was their tournament
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/1971-09-01-celtic-3-0-nacional-friendly/
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/6m0N4kwngJqaAPO8P-Fwaw1111338
Where have all these Kilmasonic fans been for years???
D :)
Do not fret bhoys we will beat RC easily.
D :)
There is no reason that Celtic should lose in Dingwall.
There is a reason why the Holyrood propaganda system works.It recognises that all policies are mince and are delivering nothing & can deliver nothing – therefore it is essential to distract and mislead the voting public with tripe like indyref 2 & independence…..and menopausal memoirs.
DAVID66 on 22ND APRIL 2022 7:44 PM
Where have all these Kilmasonic fans been for years???
—————-
Ipox !
if you beat the world champions then surely your the best team in the world.
it ia impoaaible to really convey what an utterly brilliant team celtic actually were.
———————-
1967-09-05: Celtic 2-1 Penarol, Friendly
Match Pictures | Matches: 1967 – 1968 | 1967-68 Pictures
Trivia
Game was arranged to give Celtic experience of playing South American sides before their World Club games with Racing Club of Argentina.
Penarol had flown first to Spain and had played in an exhibition tournament where they had been beaten 2-0 by Valencia. They then flew on to Scotland.
Gemmell, Auld, Murdoch and Lennox were all carrying knocks following the League Cup game on the weekend against Aberdeen. They all managed to recover soi it was the Lisbon Lions side that faced Penarol.
Penarol were reigning World Club Champions at that time.
Penarol’s right half was Pablo Forlan, father to Diego Forlan.
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/1967-09-05-celtic-2-1-penarol-friendly/
if you want to watch the whole game again ………….
Celtic 2 Penarol 1 – Friendly 1967 First Half
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvk953mpuF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRl3synDa3M
We must both be right – I, my dad & uncle Frank were less than twenty-yards from the Valentine showdown – can’t remember the opposition though!.