Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 23

Jan 11, 2025 at 12.30pm UK

Global Energy Stadium

Ross County vs Celtic

Match preview

After finishing sixth in the Scottish Premiership in 2021-22, Ross County have struggled to reach the same heights in the two and a half seasons since.

The Staggies have been relegated in each of the last two seasons, finishing 11th in 2022-23 and beating Partick Thistle in the relegation play-off, before finishing 11th again in 2023-24 and beating Raith Rovers in the relegation play-off.

Don Cowie would have liked to keep Ross County out of the relegation play-offs for a third successive season at the start of this season, but the Staggies are once again fighting the drop.

Ross County are 10th in the table with 25 points from their 22 league games after six wins, seven draws and nine defeats, just two points clear of 11th-placed Hearts.

However, victory here could see Ross County move into the top six depending on results elsewhere, with sixth-placed St Mirren just two points clear of the Staggies.

Ross County will go into this game full of confidence, having won three and drawn one of their last four games, but they remain huge underdogs against the league leaders.

Celtic have enjoyed a remarkable 2024-25 season so far, suffering just two defeats in their 31 games in all competitions, as well as five draws and 24 wins.

Those results have seen the Bhoys sit comfortably atop the Scottish Premiership table with 56 points from 21 games, a healthy 16-points clear of second-placed Rangers, who have a game in hand.

Brendan Rodgers' side are also on course to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2012-13, while they have already claimed their first silverware of the campaign, beating rivals Rangers on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw after 120 minutes.

Their unbeaten run in domestic competition, which dates back to a 2-1 defeat to Hearts in March 2024, was broken earlier this month when they suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Rangers, but they have bounced back in style.

The Bhoys are back to winning ways after beating St Mirren 3-0 and Dundee United 2-0 in their last two outings and they will be looking to extend that run and maintain their lead at the top of the table with another win here.

Recent Performance

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:LLWDWW

Celtic Scottish Premiership form:DWWLWW

Team News

The hosts will be without Alex Samuel (thigh), Elijah Campbell (knee), Ross Laidlaw (knee), Ryan Leak (Achilles) and Will Nightingale through injury.

Elsewhere, Cowie could stick with the same starting line-up that beat Kilmarnock 1-0 last time out to extend their unbeaten run to four games.

The visitors will be without James Forrest (foot) and Odin Thiago Holm (calf) due to ongoing injury problems, although both are expected to return later this month.

Celtic have won back-to-back Old Firm derbies by a combined score of 5-0 since their disastrous defeat, so Rodgers could field a similar side this time around.

Possible starting lineup

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Amissah; Wright, Lopata, Randall; Brown, Grieves, Kenneh, Nisbet, Harmon; Chilvers, White

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; McCowan, McGregor, Engels; Kuhn, Idah, Maeda