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Attendance: 6,512
Ross County
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 15
Dec 1, 2019 at 12pm UK
 
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1-4

Stewart (24')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Christie (11', 38'), Rogic (67'), Johnston (73')

Neil Lennon expecting "difficult game" at Ross County

Neil Lennon expecting
© Reuters
The Hoops are through to the last 32 of the European competition as group winners.

Neil Lennon wants Celtic to park their burgeoning Europa League aspirations and quickly focus on the home front at Ross County on Sunday.

The Hoops boss was delighted that the emphatic 3-1 win over French side Rennes on Thursday night confirmed the Scottish champions as group winners for the first time with one fixture remaining.

Breaking the 10-point barrier for the first time by moving on to 13 ahead of the final Group E match against Cluj in Romania next month was also pleasing for the Northern Irishman.

However, there is no respite for Lennon's side as they face the long trip to Dingwall, where they will resume their quest to win nine titles in a row in the Ladbrokes Premiership, in which they lead Old Firm rivals Rangers on goal difference.

"We are in good form," said the Parkhead boss, who will assess striker Odsonne Edouard after he missed the Rennes game with a niggle.

"It is difficult. It is away from home, a quick turnaround and obviously a long travel on Saturday, so we will get the players recovered as quickly as we can.

"We'll get them in on Saturday, get some second day recovery and then we'll travel.

"It's a difficult game. We know our priority is the league so we can finish with the European in terms of competitiveness and maybe we can fully concentrate on domestic duties.

"Ross County had a really good start to the season. They have just come off a little bit but they are at home.

"Teams raise their game when we are in town so we know how fraught the game could be. But we're in a good place, not taking anything for granted, and we have to stay really focused now because the games are coming thick and fast."

The Hoops had already qualified for the last-32 of the competition before Rennes arrived in Glasgow but Lennon had stressed the importance of winning the group to ensure the possibility of a more favourable draw.

Goals from makeshift centre forward Lewis Morgan, in for Edouard, Ryan Christie and second-half substitute Mikey Johnston had the home side in easy street before Rennes substitute Adrien Hunou headed in a late consolation for the visitors.

Scotland international Greg Taylor, who made his European debut for Celtic in the absence of injured Boli Bolingoli and Jonny Hayes, is relishing a busy December where the Hoops will play nine games.

The former Kilmarnock left-back said: "We will see who we get in the last-32 but at this club you just have to take one game at a time.

"There are so many competitions and we are hoping to do well with them all.

"It is not going to be easy up there. We know Ross County will make it difficult for us. But the next couple of days the boys will rest and recover and they will be ready to go come Sunday."

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon pictured on November 28, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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