Goals from Erik Sviatchenko and Stuart Armstrong gave Celtic a deserved victory over Ross County and extended their gap at the top to 16 points with a game in hand.
The away side worked well to negate Celtic’s attacking threat, but two goals at the end of the first-half was enough to secure all three points in the final home game of 2016.
Sviatchenko scored from 35-yards-out to give Celtic the lead as Scott Fox was unsighted between the posts, but probably should have saved the shot that nestled in the bottom left corner given the distance the ball covered.
One minute from the break Armstrong doubled Celtic’s lead after faking to shoot on his left and right foot before firing the ball across the ‘keeper into the bottom right corner for his eighth league goal of the season.
Celtic continued to dominate the game in the second-half but couldn’t find a third goal to finish off County.
Here are the player ratings from tonight’s game.
Craig Gordon 6/10
Little to do in the game.
Mikael Lustig 5.5/10
Few sloppy passes and not his best game in defence.
Jozo Simunovic 7/10
Good sliding tackle to clear the danger and headed the ball away from the resulting corner. Intercepted a ball into feet with a well-timed tackle.
Erik Sviatchenko 7/10
Did well to get back and close the gap to cover for Simunovic after a poor touch from the Croatian. Well taken goal from distance.
Emilio Izaguirre 7/10
Good run down the wing and used his strength but the final ball was poor. Good delivery into the box for the opening goal. Solid defensively.
Scott Brown 7/10
Swept up the loss balls in midfield and helped keep Ross County pinned in their own half. Fired a shot high over the bar from Griffiths layoff. Good cross into Griffiths at the back post.
Stuart Armstrong 7.5/10
Solid in midfield once again. Could have offered more going forward for Celtic in the final third. Dummied twice and worked his way inside the box and drove the ball into the bottom right corner.
Ryan Christie 6.5/10
Good turn inside to beat his man and smashed the ball off a County defender. Final ball was poor but got into dangerous positions on the ball with sharp turns and bursts of pace. Good game for the youngster.
James Forrest 6.5/10
Good play cutting inside and played it onto Izaguirre who found Sinclair in the box. Spun inside and shot but it was easily saved. First start after his hamstring injury as was taken off on 70 minutes after a good shift.
Scott Sinclair 6/10
Came close to giving Celtic the lead from Izaguirre’s cross into the box. Good play down the wing but lacked a killer pass or through ball.
Leigh Griffiths 6/10
Quiet in the game and couldn’t get any clear shots on goal. Played the ball to Brown who fired the ball well over the bar. First shot on target came after 49 minutes; shot was easily saved. Well timed run a the back post but couldn’t keep his header down.
Liam Henderson 5.5/10
Came on for Christie with 30 minutes left in the game. Solid in midfield once again alongside Brown and Armstrong.
Moussa Dembele 5/10
Came on for Griffiths with 25 minutes remaining in the game. Didn’t do much when he came on.
Patrick Roberts 5/10
Replaced Forrest with 19 minutes remaining in the game. Didn’t do much