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.
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SAINT STIVS
The photo you posted of wee Jinky was V Raith Rovers. That was one of the few occasions Celtic wore a change strip in those days. That particular game was just a few days after wee Jinky had ran Red Star Belgrade ragged. Crowd was 31,000
WEE BOBBY COLLINS and TURKEY BHOY
I remember the Celtic Cha, Cha, Cha, chant and clap from that era. Not sure where we got it from exactly but I had always assumed it came from Spain. I can remember when playing football in the school playground a goal would be greeted with a chant in psuedo Spanish of “Madreed Cha, Cha, Cha”! As you say not much televised fitba’ in those days but we did get European Cup live which would have featured the likes of Real Madrid although I have no memory of actually hearing it on TV myself.
Another Celtic mystery!
Slainte
Greenpinata – I disagree.
Beaton was cheating last night to help ex ranger Laffatme to stay on the park.
A courtesy he would not reciprocate for any ex celt.
He is a horrible devious BIGOT
D :)
Ernie,
I would imagine the tickets would have been heavily discounted.
Nevertheless it’s a remarkable crowd and more than any men’s crowd this season I believe.
If cost is really the defining issue, then how unwise of Celtic to raise the cost of Season Tickets.
HH.
Beaton a cert for next week now,a Championship game last night, will mean no game today.
Great wee 19 deg sunny autumn afternoon watching my O55s team-mates rack up a nice 7-2 win (both forwards scored hatricks btw). Our goalie (from East Kilbride) was in Gran Muralla form too, btw.
But conundrum time:
How much should we laud the acclaimed excellence of our Sports Science team, when all of us can see the wee man is patently depleted and he himself goes on the record as being physically and emotionally drained ??
AUL’BLINDBARRCSC
WANMAIRSLEEPCSC
The Celtic cha-cha-cha originated from Bra-azil cha-cha-cha in the 1962 World Cup in Chile. I remember watching nightly highlights and clearly remember the Brazil fans chanting this. It then spread worldwide, adapted to, for example Celtic clap-clap-clap.
MCB @ 9.16
Re cha cha cha:
There is reference in the’ wee green book’ to stevie Chalmers circa ’63 in a photo as stevie had scored with the phrase cha cha chalmers!
SCULLYBHOY on 23RD APRIL 2022 8:38 AM
“https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61192083
For the politicos only. We here have to live with the results of a ‘Get Brexit done’ slogan.”
I note in that extract Johnson says:
“It’s about the balance of the Good Friday Agreement and because of what is happening, it would be fair to say, that the protocol really does not command the confidence of a large, large component of the population in Northern Ireland.”
As usual, he’s making a political decision and not one that would benefit the majority of the aforesaid population. It was and is forever thus! por cierto.
David 66,
I do not think you watched last night’s game with a neutral take on the referee.
I believe you had your opinion on Beaton prior to a ball being kicked.
If I am wrong, sorry.
Cheers and HH.
DAVID66
Beaton was cheating last night to help ex ranger Laffatme to stay on the park.
I watched the game last night. Any chance you could explain what you are basing that statement on?
I predict that Old Firm FC will struggle at Fir Park today.
1-1
Beaton had a good game last night. So, if he is actually capable of refereeing well why does he make so many mistakes in some games?
GREENPINATA on 23RD APRIL 2022 9:48 AM
David 66,
‘I believe you had your opinion on Beaton prior to a ball being kicked.’
###
I think most of us did. But when the evidence contradicts your opinion you should change your opinion.
And acknowledging that Beaton had a good game is to raise the question as to why he is so prone to making mistakes in other games.
Por Cierto on 23rd April 2022 9:46 am
I agree. The crazy thing is that the majority of this place voted against Brexit.
Hope the Well win today.
HH
Beaton doesn’t make mistakes in certain games, it’s deliberate😕
Even the Sweeney get it.
ERNIE LYNCH
I agree. He had no agenda or bias to concern himself with last night.
Beaton booked Lafferty for a foul on the keeper, who then gave the ref verbals, and some more verbals – which he had being doing prior to being booked.
Beaton called over the Killie captain to tell Lafferty to calm down.
It’s not under 12s playing,
Beaton should just have given Lafferty a direct instruction to shut it or he would be off. And if he continued produce a second yellow.
A bit like refs who grab hold of old firm players during an argy-bargy situation to prevent them from being sent off.
MILD COLONIAL BHOY on 23RD APRIL 2022 9:16 AM
SAINT STIVS
…………….
As a young Bhoy in the East End of Gl;asgow in the 1960’s,,, myself and and other young Bhoys at Celtic Park…and/or on our local streets would shout oot…
” Celtic…CHA, CHA CHA…
Rangers BOO, Boo, Boo” !
HH.
I also think Beaton should have given a late penalty when Arbroath player got a knee / boot in the ribs when heading the ball. Either that or foul to Killie for low head. But he gave nothing. Which is not correct.
I also thought Killie were on the end of quite a few wrong decisions.
So, in my opinion he didn’t have a good game at all..
How ANY Celtic supporter on here or not, can ATTEMPT to ” Defend” Beaton is BEYOND Me.
This HUN so called Ref……HAPPILY ALLOWED Morelos to Stamp on, kick, Trip, push and shove several Celtic players during one 90 minutes at Ipox….and then was just as HAPPY to be drinking Pints with the Hun Horde immediately after that game in a Bellshill Hun/Animal Pub…
?????????
Greenpinata
Agree that cheatin Beaton had a fair game last night. This suggests he knows the rules and can apply them.
Ironically, his fairness last night only serves to highlight his inconsistency (other words are available) when refereeing ourselves or sevco
Unlucky 13 degrees C here in N Yorks. COYBIG
SUPERSUTTON
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a referee getting between players facing up to each other, or even dragging a player away from a potential powderkeg. That is his job.
You can see referees do exactly that in the EPL every week.
@Big j…Sorry to hear your health problems back again…Hope the Tic perk you up Tomorrow….
Aye wee Indie mate ..She’s down in Bham this weekend catching up with our extended family..
Her late Dad ..my son …loved growing up Brum, I had 20 happy years there and made many friends….
Family means everything mate ..I hope you meet up with your Aunts(sisters) soon…
i loved the stories from the elderly side of the family…History passed on generation to generation …
And embedded in a young mind to pass on. Enjoy yer racing today big mhan and keep the patter flowing..
H.H
Guys,
Let’s no make our mind up about the referee before tomorrow’s game. I can see the comments now even before a ball is kicked.
Cheating, bigot, masonic etc etc.
Judge the individual performance without preconceived notions.
Last Sunday Madhun had a stinker. But nobody took any notice of our complaints because its expected and the norm.
Think ” The boy who cried wolf”.
HH.
GREENPINATA
Post of the week.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 23RD APRIL 2022 10:10 AM
Even the Sweeney get it.
Another
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS-7c0xV_x8
@Greenpinata..Fraid you might be in the minority group where your Sunshines mate!!!!
Refs??? manipulators more like…….
The Bhoy who cried cheatin barstewards
Criticism of Beaton last night unwarranted surely?
IMHO,
Nice to see a referee remaining very calm
Using common sense to defuse a situation
Where a player is giving him verbals
https://www.google.com/amp/s/videocelts.com/2018/09/blogs/latest-news/watch-the-anger-of-john-beaton-as-he-sends-off-dedryck-boyata/amp/
Even the establishment is complaining about the oligarchs – Financial Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyk12Wf_TeQ
BIG JIMMY on 23RD APRIL 2022 10:20 AM
‘How ANY Celtic supporter on here or not, can ATTEMPT to ” Defend” Beaton is BEYOND Me.’
##
As the risk of you spitting oot your dummy could I suggest that saying that Beaton had a good game, and is therefore capable of refereeing properly, is not actually defending him but, on the contrary is highlighting that his manifest errors in other games can not all be down to incompetence.
That’s not defending him, but accusing him.
@Gold coast….Really???? post of the week….
Read back mate at all the heartfelt posts lately….From top CQN Bhoys..
One said gent updated us on the health of a fellow Celt who was attacked..
And had zero response?..Is this what the Blog has become???
Post of the WEAK ….Back of the bus p***
H.H
Genuine question ….
… perhaps directed more at those with long memories or access to historical data
Has John Beaton ever ….
a) Sent off a Sevco player
(from field of play, no retro)
OR
b) Awarded a penalty against Sevco?
Not stirring things for the sake of it.
Am honestly struggling to remember an instance of either.
DRAMBOWIE CELT
Post of the week.
There. Feel better now?
Drambowiecelt,
Again something we touched on here in the last few days.
Do we have an underlying inferiority complex. Especially in a certain age group.
I wonder.
However what I do know is that the younger generation do not.
Back of the bus attitude is historic.
There will be no back of the bus attitude with the younger generation.
HH.
Greenpinata on 23rd April 2022 10:38 am
Guys,
Let’s no make our mind up about the referee before tomorrow’s game. I can see the comments now even before a ball is kicked.
Cheating, bigot, masonic etc etc.
Judge the individual performance without preconceived notions.
Last Sunday Madhun had a stinker. But nobody took any notice of our complaints because its expected and the norm.
Think ” The boy who cried wolf”.
HH.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Still won’t make any difference.
JackieMac,
I note none of the Ukrainian oligarks are included or even the most famous comedic actor in the world who uses the same methods to launder his ill gotten gains since coming to power.