Celtic 4-0 Ross County: Giorgos Giakoumakis Hat-Trick Helps Celtic Strike Scottish Premier League Lead

Giorgos Giakoumakis scored his second hat-trick in five games as Celtic knocked Ross County out of form to move Rangers’ six points to the top of the Scottish Premier League.

County defender Kayne Ramsay was sent off a moment later and Giakoumakis added his third from the penalty spot – and Celtic’s fourth – after a handball.

Not for the first time, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has not questioned his relentless 31-game unbeaten home pressure on second-placed Rangers ahead of reigning champions Dundee on Sunday.

“We can not influence what others do,” he said. “We just focus on what we have to do.”

County slipped into the bottom half after their three-player winning streak came to a shy end.

Manager Malky Mackay is not surprisingly stuck with the side that beat St Mirren last weekend to move into the top six after a run of just one defeat and eight outings, but he has found his former club in unforgettable form .

Jota returned to the starting line-up of Celtic in place of the injured James Forrest and the “really bright” band was selected by Postecoglou along with Giakoumakis and Maeda for praise.

Immediately showing the class that made such an impact on him after he arrived from Benfica last summer, Jota had already sent a dive just over the cross as his swinging cross found Giakoumakis crossing his marker. after a short tussle with the defender, Ross Laidlaw finally tucked the ball home. .

Another deep Jota cross led to the second, Maeda nodded back into the six-yard box, where Giakoumakis cleared his first header from defender Jack Baldwin off the line, but stopped to make no mistake with his second.

Laidlaw’s fine footwork caused nothing but headaches for Jaka. The keeper made the save, however.

There was still plenty of time in the afternoon for the county to get worse and it only did that two minutes later when loaned Southampton defender Ramsay showed a straight red card after diving into a challenge on Tom Rogic .

The Australian midfielder, who returned to the home side in place of Matt O’Riley, could not move on and swapped places with the Englishman as Mackay sent on fit-new defender Keith Watson for the side Joseph Hungbo with injury limitation the password.

Another couple of Laidlaw rescues were required as Celtic looked to say goodbye to their man after the break.

Celtic finally relieved after a clinical spot-kick completed Giakoumakis’ hat-trick – his 12th injury.

Man of the Match – Giorgos Giakoumakis

What did we learn?

They were second best for Bodo Glimt in the Europa Conference League, but there are no signs of Celtic releasing their post-winter break charge for what looked like an unlikely title early in Postecoglou’s reign.

With Turnbull back from injury and Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi closer to his, the strength and depth within the Australian squad is rising just at the right end of the season, and it looks as if the two remain Old Firm derbies crucial are for the destination of the titles.

Mackay stressed before the start that avoiding relegation has always been the county’s priority after he had to rebuild his squad this summer, but despite a hard-fought victory, they remain within touching distance of a top-six bonus.

With two players left in front of the gap, they remain in the mix, just one point behind fifth-top Hibernian and with six teams separated by two, and could end this on a bad day at the office.

What they said

Celtic Manager Ange Postecoglou: “We had some really tough away games where we did really well, but the playing field did not allow us to play our football.

“Today allowed us to be really good and bright and we were well controlled over the game.”

Ross County Manager Malky Mackay: “We had to show resilience and make sure it does not reach a score that can happen here if you go down to 10 men. I was very proud of them.

“We are still in a position to go with two players, which we are with many other teams with a chance to get into the top six.”

What’s next?

Celtic next visit title rivals Rangers on April 3 (12:00 GMT), with County Heart of Midlothian the day before (15:00).