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~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


November: Luis Palma hit a spectacular long range strike in the 3-0 win over County


Celtic Park, Glasgow
Saturday, 27 January 2024
15.00 GMT

The Hoops' return to Premiership action for the first time since the winter break when they host the visit of 11th placed Ross County this weekend.

Brendan Rodgers side were professional in overcoming Highland League side, Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup on Sunday, with a comfortable 5-0 victory, which eased them back into competitive football after having had a couple of weeks off.

But now it's time to focus on the League, with the Bhoys holding a slender lead at the top of the table before the second half of the season gets underway.


Paulo Bernardo continued his fine run of form with a classy chipped finish against Buckie Thistle

The Staggies come into this game on the back of having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup last weekend after a resounding 3-0 defeat by Championship side, Partick Thistle.

In truth, since Malky Mackay was replaced in November, Derek Adams has sparked considerable debate regarding his highly critical, contentious and explosive post match comments - not simply regarding County, but the state of the wider Scottish game.

If the aim of these has been to sting his squad to raise their efforts, inspire performances and spark an uptick in the results, then on current evidence this seems to be backfiring equally, both with his squad and alienating the support.

There have been 7 league games since Adams returned, in which they have earned 8 points - 7 of which came in his first 3 games and the new manager bounce seemed to be having the desired effect.

However, since Adams first aired his controversial opinions following a last gasp 1-0 defeat to Dundee in mid-December, County have picked up just 1 point and have now also been thumped out of the Scottish Cup by Championship side, Partick Thistle, which prompted another scathing assessment as he doubled down on his previous contentious remarks.

Will County be able to inflict their first defeat at Parkhead since the 2-0 League Cup win in Novermber 2020 remains to be seen. But for Celtic, while there can be no room for complacency, the Bhoys should be confident of being able to take all 3 points and stay ahead in the title race.


Are Derek Adams controversial post-match comments truth-bombs or a strategy gone wrong?

By the Numbers​

• The Hoops are coming into this game on the back of 5 consecutive wins across all comps for the first time this season.

• The Hoops have won all of the last 10 consecutive meetings (9 League & 1 League Cup) against the Staggies.

• County are yet to score a single 1st half 'Away' goal in the league this season.

Kyogoal! The talismanic striker was on the scoresheet in the Scottish Cup win last week

Team News

Celtic will be without Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Yang Hyun-jun, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Marco Tillio, who are all away at the Asian Cup. On a brighter note, Tomoki Iwata and Cameron Carter-Vickers are both training, and expect Callum McGregor's return to lead the side after sitting out the Scottish Cup win over Buckie Thistle last week, while new signing Nicholas Kuhn will be looking to make his first appearance for the Hoops.​

As for the visitors, Derek Adams has been busy in the loans depertment this window, having already brought in 4 players. And while George Wickens and Eli King both made their debut in the 3-0 Scottish Cup loss by Partick Thistle, fellow new arrivals Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Brandon Khela are still waiting for theirs.

Edit - County have also secured two more additional loan signings, in the form of defender Loicke Ayina and midfielder Teddy Jenks.

Referee: Euan Anderson

This game marks a personal milestone for Anderson, as it will be his 100th Premiership match since making his debut at this level in February 2015. It will also be his first time taking charge of a Celtic game in over a year - the previous being in December 2022.

Celtic Overall Record with Anderson
M: 16 W: 14 D: 1 L: 1

VAR: Greg Aitken



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 41 W: 30 D: 6 L: 5​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W W W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~

All Comps
W W W W W ~ L L D L L

SPFL
W W W W L ~ L D L L W​