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Ross County
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 33
Feb 21, 2021 at 7.30pm UK
Victoria Park
Celtic logo

Ross County
1 - 0
Celtic

White (71')
(90+3')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Ross County vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash between Ross County and Celtic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Celtic will travel to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday hoping to win their sixth consecutive league match in February.

Meanwhile, the Staggies continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table and will head into this weekend's match having conceded 10 goals in their last four top-flight games.


Match preview

Celtic's David Turnbull celebrates scoring against Lille in the Europa League on December 10, 2020© Reuters

Neil Lennon is focusing on his Celtic side "getting a groove on" for the remainder of this season after they won their fifth successive league match, narrowly beating Aberdeen 1-0 on Wednesday.

David Turnbull's long-range strike in the 14th minute proved enough for the Hoops to claim all three points and their 10th league victory on home soil this campaign.

Celtic remain 15 points behind rivals Rangers at the summit of the Scottish Premiership and with their nine-year tenure as Scotland's finest on the cusp of being taken away from them, the Hoops will be hoping to defer the Gers's inevitable confirmation as champions for as long as possible by winning every game they have left this season.

Despite losing 2-0 to Ross County in the Scottish League Cup last November, Celtic have won each of their last eight league meetings with the Staggies, including a 5-0 thrashing away from home in September.

Celtic have a 100% record this month and another victory on Sunday would see Lennon's team claim their 20th league win of the campaign.

John Hughes in charge of Hibernian in 2010© Reuters

Ross County head into their clash with Celtic having had a 15-day break as last weekend's fixture at home against Hibernian was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

The Staggies were hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Dundee United, a result that was another setback for John Hughes's team in their fight for survival.

Ross County are back at the foot of the Scottish Premiership as relegation rivals Hamilton have picked up five points in their last three matches since losing 2-1 to the Staggies just over two weeks ago.

The Dingwall outfit have won just two home games in the league all season and with three of their next four matches to be played at Victoria Park, Hughes is keen to address that form and turn their ground into a "fortress" moving forward.

Ross County have a poor record against the Hoops and are currently winless in 22 top-flight matches against them since a 3-2 home victory back in March 2013.

Claiming a surprise three points this weekend would provide a huge boost to Hughes's outfit and would see them climb off the bottom of the table if Hamilton fail to beat Hibs.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form: LWLLWL

Celtic Scottish Premiership form: LWWWWW


Team News

Odsonne Edouard in action for Celtic on December 20, 2020© Reuters

Celtic pair Christopher Jullien (knee) and James Forrest (ankle) both remain out through injury, although Forrest could be back in training before the end of the month.

Forward Mohamed Elyounoussi (knock) and defender Shane Duffy (Achilles tendon) are doubtful, meanwhile, and are to be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Odsonne Edouard – who has been directly involved in seven goals in his five league appearances against Ross County, scoring five goals and providing two assists – is likely to start up front.

Staggies midfielder Iain Vigurs is suspended for this weekend's game, while defenders Tom Grivosti (hamstring) and Connor Randall (back) have been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

Teenage centre-back Leo Hjelde is ineligible to face his parent club after joining from the Hoops in January, which could see Keith Watson start in defence.

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Morris, Watson, Iacovitti; Naismith, Kelly, Paton, Tillison, Tremarco; Shaw, White

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Bain; Kenny, Welsh, Ajer, Taylor; Brown, McGregor; Turnbull, Rogic, Christie; Edouard


SM words green background

We say: Ross County 0-3 Celtic

Ross County have looked defensively vulnerable throughout this campaign and face a Celtic side that have scored 28 goals in their last eight meetings against them. The Hoops seem to have found their form in February and should not have too many problems in claiming a comfortable win away from home on Sunday.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data



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Written by
Oliver Thomas

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Celtic win with a probability of 79.82%. A draw had a probability of 12.6% and a win for Ross County had a probability of 7.63%.

The most likely scoreline for a Celtic win was 0-2 with a probability of 10.04%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-3 (9.79%) and 1-2 (8.31%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (5.69%), while for a Ross County win it was 2-1 (2.35%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 1.9% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Ross County vs Celtic

Ross County
25.0%
Draw
3.6%
Celtic
71.4%
28
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A general shot of the Global Energy Stadium, the home of Ross County
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1514104444043
2Aberdeen16104230181234
3RangersRangers1510232791832
4Motherwell168172226-425
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd166642519624
6St Mirren176382228-621
7Dundee165472729-219
8Hibernian173682129-815
9Ross County173681333-2015
10St Johnstone1742112032-1214
11Kilmarnock163581734-1714
12Hearts163491825-713


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