Match Pictures | Matches: 2020 – 2021
Trivia
- 7:30pm Sunday, latest Sunday kick-off Celtic have had.
- POST Match: Neil Lennon’s last match as manager of Celtic, ‘resigned’ few days later.
- Another shambles defeat and dire performance, and Lennon annoys everyone by reiterating that he is the man to turn things around.
- Celtic 18pts behind Sevco.
- Could the sky cameramen not get a view from higher up? The sky tv view no better than someone holding a camera phone in the seats behind the dugouts! What a joke!
- The Scottish FA have apologised to Hibernian and Hamilton Academical after it emerged that one of the assistant referees for their game on Saturday should have been self-isolating.
- Massive blow with Christopher Jullien ruled out for NINE months. Injured back in December.
- Moussa Dembele on his time at Celtic, ‘I’m a fan now, it is the greatest club in the world”
- Covid vaccinations going ahead and encouraging news on reductions on hospitalizations etc.
- Shane Duffy has received racist and sectarian abuse on Instagram, as well as a sick message about his father.Commenting on the messages, Duffy wrote: “There’s abuse which is fine but surely there’s a limit.”
Summary
Lenny “We let ourselves down with the final ball. We didn’t play badly. We are not learning from defending set plays. We’ve conceded a free header from the biggest guy in their team”.
BBC’s Q: “Are you the man to do the rebuild?”
Lennon: “I’ve done it before. I don’t see why not,” Neil Lennon
The pitch, the camera angle, the lack of emotion and crowds, the knowledge that the result doesn’t matter, and the air of everyone including us going through the motions just waiting for this season to end, followed by the clear out. It’s what being an armchair fan is all about.
That was a dire performance in a match played on a Sunday evening! Possibly first time ever.
Shambles losing to the team who were prior to this match bottom of the table!
Christie kept messing up shots. Poor match.
Another goal lost from set piece.
Taylor off injured very early in the game Laxalt came on and offered little.
(Matt McGlone)
An utterly rudderless squad from top to bottom. No passion, no hunger, no leadership with a management team wired to the moon. Dishing out constant verbal drivel. A horrible way to treat those who fund the club who have passion & hunger but are being insulted
Teams
Celtic:
29Bain
16Kenny
57Welsh
35Ajer
3Taylor Substituted forLaxaltat 9’minutes
8Brown
18Rogic Substituted forGriffithsat 67’minutes
14Turnbull
42McGregor
22Edouard
17Christie Substituted forElyounoussiat 83’minutes
Substitutes
9Griffiths
10Ajeti
11Klimala
12Soro
27Elyounoussi
52Henderson
56Ralston
65Hazard
93Laxalt
Goals: –
Assists:-
Ross County:
1Laidlaw
23Naismith
5Morris Substituted forWatsonat 42’minutes
16Iacovitti
3Tremarco
20Spittal Substituted forPatonat 60’minutes
18Kelly Substituted forTillsonat 69’minutesBooked at 90mins
19Lakin
7Gardyne Substituted forDraperat 69’minutes
28Andreu Substituted forCharles-Cookat 69’minutes
26White
Substitutes
6Draper
8Shaw
9Mckay
14Hylton
15Watson
17Charles-Cook
21Hilton
22Tillson
24Paton
Goals:
White (71′ minutes)
Assists:
Paton (71′ minutes)
Ref: David Munro
Att: none – covid
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior
- Match
- Post
- MoTM
Stats
Home Team
Ross County
Away Team
Celtic
Possession
Home27%
Away73%
Shots
Home6
Away20
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home2
Away9
Fouls
Home9
Away8
Articles
BBC
By Andrew SouthwickBBC Scotland
Last updated on
21 February 202121 February 2021.From the section Scottish Premiership
Highlights: Ross County 1-0 Celtic
Ross County moved out of the Scottish Premiership relegation places after their second win over Celtic this season all but ended their visitors’ slim title hopes.
Jordan White’s 71st-minute header hauled County up to 10th and added to their League Cup win in November.
Celtic dominated possession but created little on another dispiriting night for Neil Lennon’s reigning champions.
They are left trailing Rangers by 18 points with eight games left.
That means Gerrard’s side would guarantee the title with a draw in the Old Firm game on 21 March, should they win their next two games.
However, they could win it as soon as 6 March, if Celtic lose to Aberdeen next Saturday.
Lennon apologises to fans after defeat
Podcast: What is the future for Celtic?
Reaction & as it happened
Celtic arrived in Dingwall on form. Five wins in a row, with 13 scored. In contrast, County had conceded 11 in their last last five and had found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table.
The visitors cleaved out first-half chances, but County did too. Scott Bain had to tip wide a dangerous Blair Spittal pile-driver towards the near post, and Tony Andreu headed over from the corner.
Celtic were always going create something, and when Odsonne Edouard outpaced the defence and was first onto a miskick from Laidlaw, he cut-back to Ryan Christie who looked certain to make it 1-0. But the Scotland international blasted over from close range.
Christie headed wide and had a near-post shot saved and Diego Laxalt – who replaced the injured Grey Taylor – shot over.
But then County sucker-punched them at the other end. Harry Paton’s free-kick found White, who rose powerfully to head in off an upright in what could be a huge moment in County’s fight for survival.
Christie continued to be Celtic’s main threat but a jinking run into the box ended with another shot over.
Celtic piled on the pressure and almost broke County hearts in the final minute, but Laidlaw got his fingertips to a Mohamed Elyounoussi header.
A late, late Leigh Griffiths free-kick sailed over as County won for the first time against Celtic in the league for eight years, and the second time in three months.
Man of the match – Michael Gardyne
Michael Gardyne and Celtic’s Tom Rogic
Gardyne (left) was a colossus in midfield for County as they battled to a huge win in their fight to beat the drop
What did we learn?
County have had a knack this season of producing the best results against the bigger sides. They have won at Easter Road and Celtic Park and hammered Aberdeen at home. And, in their fight to stay up, they have produced another seismic result.
Celtic all too often tried to play too much football on a pitch that was unforgiving. Despite an enormous amount of the ball, home goalkeeper Laidlaw will have had busier nights.
What did they say?
‘Massive win’ for Ross County – John Hughes
Ross County manager John Hughes: “Absolutely fantastic. We knew there would be long periods where we wouldn’t have the ball but we defended for our lives. We rode our luck a little bit but the chances we gave up were mistakes of our own doing.
“Tactically we were spot on all night. We’ve been banging on about set-pieces for a while so it’s really pleasing to get one from a free-kick.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “It’s a strange one. It’s another poor goal from a set-piece. But I think we played well tonight and did enough to win the game.
“The goal is inexcusable. Our defenders don’t seem to want to defend this season. We do the work on the training pitch but if the players don’t attack the ball there’s not much you can do. It’s been a running theme for us this season for whatever reason.”
Ross County 1-0 Celtic: Neil Lennon apologies after champions lose in Dingwall
Last updated on
21 February 202121 February 2021.From the section Celtic
‘I’m not going to answer any more questions’ – Lennon rues Celtic defeat
Neil Lennon has apologised to Celtic’s supporters after a 1-0 defeat at Ross County all but ended their slim Scottish Premiership title defence.
Jordan White’s 71st-minute header earned Ross County a second win over Celtic in three months after their November League Cup success in Glasgow.
Lennon admits his side “let the fans down” as they stumbled again in their forlorn pursuit of 10 in a row.
“I apologise. It wasn’t for the want of trying,” he told Sportsound.
“The players were putting in the effort, but it wasn’t good enough.”
Celtic defeat leaves Rangers seven points from title
Podcast: What is the future for Celtic?
Reaction & as it happened
Celtic dominated possession but created little on another dispiriting night for the reigning champions.
They are left trailing Rangers by 18 points with eight games left.
That means that – regardless of Celtic’s results – Gerrard’s side will guarantee the title with a draw in the Old Firm game on 21 March if they win their next two matches against Livingston and St Mirren.
However, they could win it as early as 6 March, if Celtic lose to Aberdeen next Saturday.
“It’s a strange one,” said Lennon of the defeat. “It encapsulates our season. It’s another poor goal from a set piece. But I think we played well tonight and did enough to win the game.
“The goal is inexcusable. Our defenders don’t seem to want to defend this season. We do the work on the training pitch but if the players don’t attack the ball there’s not much you can do.
“It’s been a running theme for us this season for whatever reason. It’s hugely damaging.”
Despite the defeat, Lennon maintained his stance that he wants to continue to lead Celtic, and says the club need to rebuild.
“So far I’ve not been told anything otherwise,” he said when asked about his future. “I love this job, I love the club. This has been a difficult season but you always want to rebuild and go again.”
‘Next six months critical for Celtic’ – analysis
graphic
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on Sportsound
Neil Lennon is a big part of Celtic history and I do feel sorry for him but even though he has done great things at Celtic that doesn’t help him right now. He knows it himself that he’s on borrowed time.
He was playing for his credibility from now to the end of the season, but it’s all about the leadership and what decisions they make at board level. They need to come out with a clear plan soon.
What is the future for Celtic? There are players being put on pre-contracts or signing new ones, who is making those decisions? Is it the new or old CEO? What happens to Neil Lennon? This next six months are critical for Celtic.
Celtic verdict: An obvious theme tune for latest loss as calamity strikes again
They don’t pipe any noise into the Global Energy Stadium during games. There was, though, an obvious soundtrack to accompany Celtic’s latest failure: the Jaws theme.
By Andrew Smith The Scotsman newspaper
Monday, 22nd February 2021, 7:00 am
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths looks on during the 1-0 defeat by Ross County.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths looks on during the 1-0 defeat by Ross County.
For just when they thought it was safe to assume they had regained a modicum of authority over their performances courtesy of five straight wins, along came this avoidable 1-0 defeat to bite them in the backside. Against a team that started yesterday at the foot of Premiership and had their manager John Hughes bemoaning goals conceded from set pieces. Cue, then, of course, the Highland hosts undoing Celtic from precisely one of these: a 71st minute corner headed in by an unmarked Jordan White at the back post.
How on earth this goal wasn’t merely a consolation in a 3-1 defeat will cause agonies to Neil Lennon … and also Ryan Christie. The attacker contrived to balloon over the bar from six yards midway through the first period, skied another from the edge of the box later in the opening first 45, and was thwarted by County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw when he did find the target with a goalbound angled drive late on. Then there was his set-up with a driven ball across for what should have been a certain goal for Odsonne Edouard midway through the first period, a ball crying out to be tapped in missed by the Frenchman.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports
Celtic dominated territory, possession, opportunities. And lost. It says everything about how much, and how calamitously, they have let everything slip this season. The 18-point gap Rangers are sitting on means that even the smallest objective for the effectively deposed champions – not allowing Steven Gerrard’s men to leave the Parkhead derby in three weeks as title winners – could prove beyond them. If both Glasgow clubs win their two games before that March 21 fixture, it will really be done with when only six games will remain for the pair and Rangers hold a 23 advantage in goal difference.
Lennon said on Friday the season had not been the unmitigated disaster it had been presented. Frightening to think what an unmitigated disaster would look like to the Celtic manager. The Dingwall defeat was the second loss to Ross County, following the 2-0 League Cup loss in November that ended the club’s four-year monopoly on Scottish trophies. The double they have now completed gave them a first league win over Celtic since 2013.
Never mind their earliest Champions League qualifying exit since 2005, or being the only top seeds in a Europa League group to finish bottom of a section, they have been also-rans in a ten-chasing championship within ten weeks of it starting. At Dingwall, it felt as if they could play ten hours without producing the necessary composure to convert an opportunity and managed to leak a goal when under little pressure across the 90 minutes. Celtic, as a club, and their support have been at bitter odds across these past six months, but there is one thing upon which they will both agree: they end of this God-awful campaign for them cannot come soon enough.
Match ends, Ross County 1, Celtic 0.
90’+4′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 1, Celtic 0.
90’+3′
Post update
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
90’+2′
Booking
Jordan Tillson (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+2′
Post update
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’+2′
Post update
Foul by Jordan Tillson (Ross County).
90′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Laidlaw.
90′
Post update
Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross.
90′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Charlie Lakin.
90′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Turnbull.
88′
Post update
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
88′
Post update
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88′
Post update
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
88′
Post update
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84′
Post update
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
84′
Post update
Regan Charles-Cook (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Ryan Christie.
83′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
82′
Post update
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
80′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Draper.
- 79′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Draper. - 79′
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Diego Laxalt. - 75′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard. - 74′
Post update
Attempt missed. Diego Laxalt (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Turnbull. - 73′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jordan White. - 72′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half. - 72′
Post update
Foul by Ross Draper (Ross County). - 71′
- Goal!
Goal! Ross County 1, Celtic 0. Jordan White (Ross County) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harrison Paton with a cross following a set piece situation. - 70′
Post update
Foul by Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic). - 70′
Post update
Harrison Paton (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing. - 69′
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Regan Charles-Cook replaces Tony Andreu. - 69′
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Jordan Tillson replaces Stephen Kelly. - 69′
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Ross Draper replaces Michael Gardyne. - 67′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Tomas Rogic. - 66′
Post update
Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic). - 66′
Post update
Stephen Kelly (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half. - 65′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jordan White (Ross County) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Carl Tremarco with a cross. - 63′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Diego Laxalt. - 62′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard. - 62′
Post update
Offside, Ross County. Charlie Lakin tries a through ball, but Jordan White is caught offside. - 60′
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Harrison Paton replaces Blair Spittal. - 58′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stephen Welsh. - 55′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Blair Spittal. - 54′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Blair Spittal. - 53′
Post update
Hand ball by Jordan White (Ross County). - 52′
Post update
Attempt missed. Diego Laxalt (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard. - 49′
Post update
Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half. - 49′
Post update
Foul by Tony Andreu (Ross County). - 48′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tomas Rogic with a cross. - 47′
Post update
Attempt saved. Blair Spittal (Ross County) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jordan White. - Second Half
Second Half begins Ross County 0, Celtic 0. - 45’+3′
Half Time
First Half ends, Ross County 0, Celtic 0. - 45’+1′
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Diego Laxalt. - 45′
Post update
Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing. - 45′
Post update
Foul by Jordan White (Ross County). - 44′
Post update
Stephen Welsh (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half. - 44′
Post update
Foul by Jordan White (Ross County). - 42′
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Keith Watson replaces Callum Morris because of an injury. - 39′
Post update
Foul by Stephen Welsh (Celtic). - 39′
Post update
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
34′
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Jonjoe Kenny.
33′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by David Turnbull.
32′
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32′
Post update
Foul by Charlie Lakin (Ross County).
31′
Post update
Stephen Welsh (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
31′
Post update
Foul by Jordan White (Ross County).
29′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alex Iacovitti.
28′
Post update
Attempt missed. Tony Andreu (Ross County) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jason Naismith with a headed pass following a corner.
27′
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Scott Bain.
27′
Post update
Attempt saved. Blair Spittal (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tony Andreu.
24′
Post update
Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Christie.
23′
Post update
Hand ball by Tony Andreu (Ross County).
19′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
15′
Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
15′
Post update
Stephen Kelly (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12′
Post update
Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
12′
Post update
Charlie Lakin (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard with a headed pass.
9′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Diego Laxalt replaces Greg Taylor because of an injury.
5′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Morris.
3′
Post update
Attempt saved. Tony Andreu (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stephen Kelly.
1′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Posted at 19:35 21 Feb19:35 21 Feb
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
…