Bhoys Take Aim at Staggies For Eight

Bhoys Take Aim at Staggies
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Daizen Maeda scores in midweek to secure the 2-1 win over Motherwell


Celtic Parl, Glasgow
Saturday, 12 November 2022
15.00 GMT

Paradise will play host to the visit of Ross County on Saturday, keen to add an eighth straight win and ensure that the 7 point advantage at the top of the table is maintained - if not extended - prior to the Premiership shutting down ahead of the World Cup beginning in just over a week's time.

The Bhoys continue their defence of the League title, having defeated Motherwell on Wednesday, courtesy of goals from Japanese pair, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.

However, there is still a long way for the Champions to go still, and Ange Postecoglou will want his team to continue the attacking style that has already netted 48 goals in 14 games this season - and in truth could have been quite a few more!

It is that sort of form and goal production that will see the Bhoys flush with confidence coming into this game, and having a packed out Celtic Park looking for another entertaining afternoon of football in front of a packed Celtic Park.

World Cup bound Cameron Carter-Vickers in action against Motherwell on Wednesday

The Bhoys will be up against the Staggies, who once again have gotten off to a rocky start this season - which has been reminiscent of their 2021/22 campaign kicked off also, before making a top half finish.

But Malky Mackay's side are beginning to find their way, and are coming into this game on the back of consecutive wins in just the last 7 days, which has not only kept them in touching distance of the teams above them as they begin to climb the ladder, and even clawed ahead of both Killie and United.​

The recent wins over St Mirren at home followed by away at Hibs has eased the pressure for now. Had they not, County might well have found themselves adrift and rooted to the foot of the table. But as it is, the Dingwall camp will be much more at ease going into this match than they might well have been, this time a week ago.​

Ange's Bhoys have won 13 of the 14 League games, including the last 7 straight

By the Numbers​

• The Hoops are currently on a 7 Premiership game winning streak coming into this weekend.

• Celtic have kept just 3 clean sheets in the past 9 League games, but still have statistically the best defensive record, conceding just 12 goals thus far.

• Celtic have this far won every game (5 League & 1 League Cup) against the Staggies in the Postecoglou era.

• To that point, this is the third meeting between these sides this season, following 3-1 win in the League and 4-1 League Cup win - both up at Dingwall.

• The Highlanders have scored just 4 League goals away from Dingwall this season - and just 12 in total.

• County have lost just once in 6 games they have scored first (W4 D1), but have managed just 1 point from 8 games when opponants have opened the scoring.

August: Jota chalked up 3 assists in the first League meeting against County this season

Team News

The Bhoys will be without James McCarthy as the midfielder picked up a 'significant hamstring injury' at training, which will keep him sidelined likely until the new year, alongside skipper Callum McGregor, while Moritz Jenz remains one booking away from picking up an automatic suspension.

The Staggies will once again without defender Connor Randall, Alex Samuel and Ben Paton through injury, however Ben Purrington has overcome his ankle troubles and is available for Malky Mackay's side.

Referee: David Munro

Since making his debut in 2019, Munro has 43 Premiership matches to his name and previously taken charge of 4 Celtic games - but only one Celtic won (a League Cup match against Raith Rovers) and never in the Premiership. In the League he has officiated draws with St Mirren and St Johnstone, and incidently, the last time Ross County defeated the Bhoys (Feb 2021) Munro was the man in the middle.

M:4 W:1 D:2 L:1

VAR: Euan Anderson​

~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 37 W: 26 D: 6 L: 5​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W W W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W W L W D ~ W W L L D

SPFL
W W W W W ~ W W L L D​