Celtic vs Ross County - LIVE updates

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On flag day Celtic secured their first three points of the season, marking Brendan Rodgers return with an entertaining clash against Ross County.

Celtic vs Ross County - Figure 1
Photo Scottish Daily Record

It was a somewhat rocky start to the game for the defending champions before Greg Taylor was brought down in the area after 17 minutes and David Turnbull, given a vote of confidence by the Irishman, converted to open the scoring. Less than ten minutes a classic Celtic counter attack allowed Kyogo to sweep home after neat wing play.

All traffic was heading towards County's goal as Turnbull found himself unmarked at the back post and made the most of a well-weighted Matt O'Riley to cross to send the Hoops in to half time three goals to the good. And it didn't take long in the second half for the visitors to respond with Jordan White capitalising on poor Joe Hart awareness to head home from a corner.

That was compounded, however, by Danish midfielder O'Riley getting in on the act for himself, making no mistake inside the penalty area to smash past Ross Laidlaw and put an exclamation point on his performance. First flashes of Yang, Maik Nawrocki and Odin Thiago Holm warmed the Parkhead crowd before the game simmered on a low heat.

Carl Starfelt, who could be on the way out from Glasgow, made his potential Parkhead bow but could only turn a James Brown shot over Hart in injury time to hand County another consolation goal as six strikes flew by on the curtain raiser of the Premiership season. For returning Rodgers, three points and four goals will be a welcome sight but it wasn't the smoothest of afternoons in Glasgow's East End.

Relive all the action as it unfolded at Celtic Park on our LIVE blog.

Key Events

GOAL! County14:27

GOAL! Celtic14:05

Celtic vs Ross County - Figure 2
Photo Scottish Daily Record

GOAL! County13:52

14:29KEY EVENT

FULL TIME! Celtic 4 Ross County 2

(Image: SNS Group)

Six goals at Parkhead on the opening day of the season upon Brendan Rodgers return.

Two from David Turnbull amid goals from Kyogo and Matt O'Riley have the Hoops with three points on the board after the visitors managed to knock a brace of their own in at Celtic Park.

14:27KEY EVENT

GOAL! County

County pull another one back as Starfelt's deflection sends the ball past Hart in injury time.

A VAR check is ongoing, however.

14:22Matthew Fulton

Five added

Five minutes have been added on at Celtic Park.

We're to expect more injury time this season but this one will end relatively swiftly.

14:21Matthew Fulton

Oops

Laidlaw and Maeda tangle in the area as the Celtic Park crowd shout for a penalty.

It was an awkward one for the County keeper but in the end nothing doing for Nick Walsh.

14:19Matthew Fulton

Stunning Celtic

A Celtic counter attack straight from the training ground agonisingly ends in a save from Laidlaw.

First Yang gives County the slip outside the Hoops area, feeding Hatate who finds Maeda and his cross ends at the feet of Forrest who cannot finish with the Staggies keeper making himself big.

That would have been one for the end of season highlight reel.

14:15Matthew Fulton

Coming Holm

Odin Thiago Holm makes his Parkhead debut with goalscorer O'Riley off.

14:14Matthew Fulton

Malky turns scarlet

Malky Mackay might be 4-1 down but the County gaffer is turning scarlet on the touchline.

He barks commands at his Staggies as they experience a long period without the ball.

Celtic vs Ross County - Figure 3
Photo Scottish Daily Record

The gaffer is on a booking, however, and won't want to mark the league opener with a suspension.

14:13Matthew Fulton

Easy days

Celtic are motoring through the final ten minutes of the game and County can't get the ball.

It's pedestrian at times but Rodgers will be pleased with the manner of the second half showing.

14:10Matthew Fulton

Kyogo off

James Forrest comes on for Kyogo while Yang makes his Celtic league debut for Abada!

14:09Matthew Fulton

Abada down

Liel Abada looks in discomfort after a clash on a previous counter attack.

The Israeli moved with speed but is now down on the turf and looks to be replaced.

14:07Matthew Fulton

Close

Kyogo closes in on a brace but his final touch lets him down at a crucial moment.

The hitman finds the space inside the area but County respond with haste as 15 minutes remain on the clock.

14:05KEY EVENT

GOAL! Celtic

Celtic's Matt O'Riley celebrates after making it 4-1 (Image: SNS Group)

Matt O'Riley slams home with aplomb after a neat bit of interplay with Kyogo.

The Dane takes his chance when offered and makes no mistake. Celtic have daylight between themselves and County.

14:01Matthew Fulton

Hatate blooters

In unorthodox fashion, Reo Hatate boots an unisghted ball in to the middle of the park that ends up in lost possesion.

The Japanese star is known for his slick play but he looks slightly unbalanced coming on, however it could just be a bit of rustiness as the season gets properly underway.

13:58Matthew Fulton

Starfelt last bow?

Carl Starfelt enters the fray alongside Reo Hatate with Nawrocki and Turnbull off.

Celtic vs Ross County - Figure 4
Photo Scottish Daily Record

It could be a final bow for the Swede with Rodgers confirming transfer interest in the defender pre-match.

13:58Matthew Fulton

Boyd gives penalty verdict

Kris Boyd reckons Joe Hart should have conceded a penalty in the first half after an uh-oh moment in the area.

Simon Murray looked to be infringed but nothing was doing for Nick Walsh.

Kris Boyd 'guarantees' Celtic penalty conceded on one condition as Joe Hart told he got lucky

13:55Matthew Fulton

A stinger

That goal has stung the Parkhead crowd somewhat.

It's a set piece that the Hoops have lost from, with the marking leaving a lot to be desired at the back post.

Kyogo does his best to try and clear but the ball was only heading in one direction after White connected.

13:52KEY EVENT

GOAL! County

Ross County get one back as Jordan White rises highest from the corner with Joe Hart stranded.

A looping header in to the far post has the Staggies reducing the advantage.

13:50Matthew Fulton

Japan connection

Super play from Kyogo on the shoulder as he finds Maeda who flees the County defence.

His cross however is too close to Baldwin who deals with the threat with Turnbull and Abada racing towards goal.

13:48Matthew Fulton

Ch-changes

County bring on Samuel, Turner and Allardice while Sims, Loturi and Murray go off.

13:46Matthew Fulton

Baldwin sore one

Jack Baldwin saved his side from going down by four but he takes a sore one from a stinging Kyogo strike.

The County skipper putting it all on the line for his side to avoid more goals.

13:43Matthew Fulton

Celtic vs Ross County - Figure 5
Photo Scottish Daily Record
Maeda troubles

Daizen Maeda is now troubling the County defence after a quiet day.

His blocked effort goes for a corner after O'Riley forced a big save from Laidlaw.

13:43Matthew Fulton

O'Riley hesitance

Matt O'Riley finds himself inside the six yard box but wanted to get the ball on his left and missed the chance.

The Dane has made an impact from the front today but fluffed his lines.

13:41Matthew Fulton

Kyogo deep

Kyogo is coming deep in to his own half to build from the back.

It's an unusual position to see the Japanese man in, and at times his play is a little loose which can cause problems for the Hoops defence.

A clear instruction from Rodgers, however, seems to have the hitman changing up his game.

13:39Matthew Fulton

The daunting task

County must now look to shore up in the hope of avoiding a heavy defeat.

It's an all-too familiar feeling for Scottish sides and goal difference, while not today's immediate priority, could be a factor on the final day.

13:37Matthew Fulton

RESTART!

The second half gets underway at Celtic Park!

13:20KEY EVENT

HALF TIME! Celtic 3 Ross County 0

Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after making it 2-0 (Image: SNS Group)

Celtic go in to the break three goals to the good after a David Turnbull brace and a cool Kyogo finish.

Brendan Rodgers couldn't have asked for more from his return match.

13:19Matthew Fulton

Malky booked

Malky Mackay's remonstrating has earned him a booking as Nick Walsh brandishes the card.

Not the first half the gaffer would have envisioned.

13:18Matthew Fulton

Stingy

Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker says the fourth official has been stung by a wasp and needs treatment.

Yet Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton rightly pointed out that it is the visitors who are suffering the affects so far as County's bright star has dissipated majorly.

13:16Matthew Fulton

A smart call

Brendan Rodgers may have raised a few eyebrows dropping Hatate for Turnbull today.

But the former Motherwell man has more than rewarded his new boss with two smart finishes in the first half. Not only that, Turnbull has played high up the pitch and his movement is causing County all sorts of a bother.

A dream start to the season for the Scotland star.

13:13KEY EVENT

GOAL! Celtic

Celtic's David Turnbull scores to make it 3-0 (Image: SNS Group)

David Turnbull grabs a brace after he connects with O'Riley's floated cross at the back post!

A smart finish from the midfielder who is now on a hat-trick. He was unmarked in the penalty area and County look all at sea.

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