You’ve seen the scorelines. You’ve probably seen the highlights of Celtic picking apart a defensive line in Dingwall under the floodlights. On paper, it looks like a foregone conclusion every single time. People talk about the financial gulf, the squad depth, and the fact that Ross County—a club from a town of roughly 5,000 people—is playing against a global giant.
But if you actually sit through 90 minutes of Ross County vs Celtic FC, you quickly realize the "easy win" narrative is a bit of a myth.
Highland trips are a nightmare for the Glasgow clubs. It's not just the distance. It’s the tight pitch at the Global Energy Stadium, the biting wind off the Cromarty Firth, and a Ross County side that has made a living out of being incredibly difficult to kill off. Honestly, some of Celtic's most stressful moments in recent years haven't come at Ibrox or in the Champions League—they’ve come in the dying minutes of a rainy Wednesday night in Dingwall.
The Tactics That Keep Don Cowie in the Game
Don Cowie isn’t just "parking the bus." That’s the first misconception.
If you watch how County set up against Brendan Rodgers' side, they play a very specific, high-intensity containment game. In their recent January 2025 meeting, County held Celtic to a 1-1 draw until the 81st minute. Think about that. Celtic had nearly 80% possession, yet they were struggling to find a way through.
Cowie often uses a back three that morphs into a back five the second Celtic cross the halfway line. But the trick isn't the number of defenders; it's the positioning of the holding midfielders like Nohan Kenneh. They don't just chase the ball. They shadow the "half-spaces" where Celtic’s creative players like Reo Hatate and Arne Engels love to operate.
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Why the Late Goals Happen
You might see a 4-1 scoreline and think it was a blowout. It wasn't. In that January match, the score stayed 1-1 for a huge chunk of the second half after Jordan White buried a penalty.
Celtic wins these games because of a "wearing down" effect. It’s basically a siege. Eventually, the Ross County lungs give out. When you spend 70 minutes sprinting side-to-side without the ball, your concentration slips in the 80th minute. That’s when Kyogo Furuhashi finds that one yard of space he’s been denied all afternoon.
- Ross County's Strategy: Low block, vertical counter-attacks, physical presence at set-pieces.
- Celtic's Counter: Extreme width, constant recycling of the ball, high-press to prevent County from breathing.
The Managerial Merry-Go-Round at Parkhead
There’s been some real drama lately. If you haven't been keeping up with the 2025-26 season, Celtic actually went through a bizarre managerial blip. Wilfried Nancy had a disastrous four-week stint that saw the team crumble in the league and fall behind Hearts.
The club had to move fast. They brought back a legend—Martin O’Neill—on a short-term deal to steady the ship after Nancy was sacked following an Old Firm loss. This tactical shift back to a more "old school" grit has changed how Celtic approaches these "banana skin" games against teams like Ross County. They aren't just trying to pass teams to death anymore; there’s a renewed focus on being clinical and physically dominant.
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The "Global Village" Atmosphere
The Global Energy Stadium is tiny compared to Celtic Park, but don't let that fool you. The "Staggies" fans are some of the most loyal in the country.
There's this weird thing that happens in Dingwall. Because the stadium is so compact, the Celtic away support—which is always massive—creates this wall of sound that bounces off the small stands. It feels more like a cup final than a standard league game.
Expert observers like former Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel have noted that the pitch conditions in the Highlands are often the biggest "leveller." If the grass is a bit longer or the surface is slick from the Highland rain, Celtic’s quick, one-touch passing game slows down. That's exactly what County wants. They want the game to become a scrap. They want it to be about who wins the second ball, not who has the better technical flair.
Key Players Who Change the Script
When you’re looking at this fixture, the names on the back of the shirts matter, but their specific roles matter more.
- Jordan Amissah (Ross County): He’s been a revelation in goal. Against Celtic, the County keeper has to have the game of his life. Amissah has shown he can pull off those "unnatural" saves that keep his team in it mentally.
- Callum McGregor (Celtic): He’s the metronome. If McGregor is having an off day or is being marked out of the game by someone like Connor Randall, Celtic becomes predictable.
- Arne Engels (Celtic): The record signing has brought a new dimension to Celtic’s midfield. His ability to hit a dead ball is often the only way Celtic breaks the deadlock when the County defense is playing perfectly.
What Most Fans Miss
The real story of Ross County vs Celtic FC isn't the goals. It’s the 15-minute window right after halftime.
Statistically, Ross County is most vulnerable between the 46th and 60th minutes. This is when the adrenaline of the first half wears off, and the reality of Celtic’s "death by a thousand passes" starts to sink in. If County can survive that window without conceding, the game usually turns into a nervous, frantic finish for the Glasgow side.
Tactical Reality Check
It’s easy to say Celtic should win because of the budget. But look at the 2025 table. Hearts have been leading the pack, and Rangers have been hot on Celtic’s heels. Every point dropped in Dingwall isn't just a minor setback; it's a potential title-ending disaster.
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The pressure on the Celtic players is immense. They know that a draw is a "loss" in the eyes of their fans. That psychological weight is something Ross County uses to their advantage. They play on the frustration of the Celtic supporters, hoping that if they hold out long enough, the Celtic players will start to force passes and make mistakes.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the next clash or looking to understand the nuances of the Scottish Premiership, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the corners: Ross County target the back post because they often have a height advantage over Celtic’s smaller, more agile backline.
- The "Highland Hangover": Celtic often looks sluggish in the first 20 minutes of these away games. The long travel and the change in environment play a real role.
- Substitutions are key: Look at when Brendan Rodgers (or Martin O'Neill in his current stint) brings on the wingers. Celtic usually switches to a 4-2-4 shape late in the game if they haven't scored, which opens up massive gaps for County to counter-attack.
- Check the pitch reports: If there’s been heavy rain in Dingwall, expect a much closer game. The ball moves slower, which favors the defensive side.
The gap between these two clubs might be huge in terms of history and money, but on that narrow pitch in the North of Scotland, it's always closer than the experts think.