Match ends, Ross County 0, Celtic 5.
Ross CountyRoss County0CelticCeltic5
- Stokes nets twice as Celtic rout Ross County
- Champions now six points behind leaders Hamilton
- County remain bottom of the Premiership table
Anthony Stokes scored a double as Celtic crushed Ross County to get back to winning ways.
The champions were out of sight by the break thanks to goals from John Guidetti, Callum McGregor, Stokes and Jason Denayer.
Stokes doubled his tally with an excellent shot from distance.
The win is a welcome boost for Celtic manager Ronny Deila, after his side lost 1-0 at home to Hamilton last time out in the league.
Rock bottom County went into the game on four points, but had gathered those from their previous two games - a 1-1 draw with Highland rivals Inverness and a 2-1 win over Dundee.
Celtic settled quicker, though, and hit the front with their first sight of goal.
Stokes floated a free-kick into the area and Charlie Mulgrew's deflected header fell perfectly for Guidetti to beat goalkeeper Mark Brown from close range.
It was soon 2-0 when Johansen drifted a great ball into Guidetti on the right and the Swede's centre was tucked away by McGregor.
Guidetti went close to his second after a sublime reverse pass from Stefan Johansen freed him in the box, but the striker's effort went narrowly wide.
The third soon arrived as the impressive Johansen broke away and slipped in Stokes, who curled the ball beyond Brown from 18 yards.
County boss Jim McIntyre hauled off defender Darren Barr with forward Michael Gardyne sent on, but a seemingly hopeless cause was lost soon after.
Johansen's corner dropped to Mikael Lustig at the back post and after Brown kept out his effort, Denayer poked the rebound into the roof of the net.
Johansen looked certain to grab the goal his first-half display deserved but his shot was cleared off the line by Staggies defender Scott Boyd.
Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre was carried off at the start of the second half after a challenge from Gardyne, with Adam Matthews coming on.
And Stokes made it 5-0 with a 20-yard rocket that hit Brown's right-hand post on its way in.
Gardyne offered the hosts hope of a consolation goal with some bright forward play, dragging one effort wide before smacking the ball off Gordon's left-hand post with a fine strike from distance.
McGregor and substitute Stefan Scepovic passed up chances to add goal number six.
The win sets the champions up nicely for their Europa League meeting with Romanians Astra on Thursday.
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 21Brown
- 25Toshney
- 5BoydSubstituted forQuinnat 46'minutes
- 18Frempah
- 23Carey
- 8Brittain
- 31Dunfield
- 13BarrSubstituted forGardyneat 31'minutes
- 7Cardle
- 10Kiss
- 15ArquinSubstituted forJervisat 46'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Reguero
- 9Jervis
- 14Maatsen
- 16Boyce
- 17Ross
- 40Gardyne
- 43Quinn
Celtic
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 26Gordon
- 23LustigSubstituted forBittonat 60'minutes
- 22Denayer
- 5van Dijk
- 3IzaguirreSubstituted forMatthewsat 53'minutes
- 42McGregor
- 8Brown
- 25Johansen
- 21Mulgrew
- 10Stokes
- 9GuidettiSubstituted forScepovicat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Matthews
- 4Ambrose
- 6Bitton
- 12Scepovic
- 24Zaluska
- 28Griffiths
- 32Wakaso
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 5,693
Match Stats
Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamCeltic
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away6
- Corners
- Home2
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Celtic 5.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Stokes (Celtic).
Post update
Terry Dunfield (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Stefan Scepovic (Celtic).
Post update
Richard Brittain (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Paul Quinn replaces Scott Boyd.
Post update
Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Brown.
Post update
Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Filip Kiss (Ross County).
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lewis Toshney.
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael Gardyne.
Post update
Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Lewis Toshney (Ross County).
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lewis Toshney.
Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
Post update
Jake Jervis (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
