da esport bet： Celtic have played an incredible seven games already in the month of December and the matches keep coming. The Bhoys host Ross County tonight hoping to carry winning momentum into the weekend’s massive derby match vs. Rangers at Ibrox.
da betsson： Brendan Rodgers’ side have won their last 15 domestic games across the Scottish Premiership and League Cup and haven’t been beaten by a Scottish side since May.
It’s an incredible run that shows no signs of slowing down despite injury problems, suspensions, a heavy schedule and some tough winter conditions.
All the chatter this week is about the Glasgow derby on Hogmanay but the three points against Ross County are just as important to Rodgers and his team.
There’s been lots of rotation over the last month and again Rodgers is likely to have Ibrox in his mind when picking his XI for Celtic Park.
Who should play and what system should he use?
This is the team that we think can get the job done vs. Ross County…
GK: Craig Gordon
Gordon kept another clean sheet away to Hamilton on Christmas Eve, his third in four matches. The Bhoys are looking as solid as ever at the back and the stopper’s organisation of his backline is a big part of that.
He’s firmly in place as the Bhoys’ No.1 and will surely start again at home to Ross County.
RB: Mikael Lustig
Lustig filled in at centre-back on Saturday away to the Accies, with Rodgers opting to protect Jozo Simunovic from the plastic pitch at New Douglas Park.
It was another solid shift but we’re expecting him to return to the right flank in place of Cristian Gamboa for the visit of Ross County.
Gamboa hasn’t done much wrong, but Lustig is a leader in this Celtic side and could be vital in pushing his team on in search of victory in what could be another tight encounter.
CB: Erik Sviatchenko
Sviatchenko has been one of Celtic’s top performers in the 2016 calendar year, rarely putting a foot wrong and often bailing the Bhoys out as a last line of defence.
The big Danish international will likely retain his place in the side through Ross County and the trip to Ibrox, as he’s an almost ever-present fixture in Rodgers’ team.
County are unlikely to test Celtic to any great level but the Hoops fans will know that if they do, Sviatchenko will be there to snuff out the threat.
CB: Jozo Simunovic
Simunovic was rested completely for Saturday’s short trip to South Lanarkshire and should be fresh and ready to go for the visit of Ross County.
Sviatchenko and Simunovic are likely to be the partnership for not just the weekend derby trip but well into 2017. Another 90 minutes together, even if not tested to any great extreme, can only benefit them as players, as a partnership and the Celtic team as a whole.
LB: Emilio Izaguirre
Izaguirre is showing some of the best form in his time at Celtic, and looks reborn under Rodgers after a struggle last season with Ronny Deila.
Kieran Tierney’s injury helped him establish place in the first-team again but he’s done well enough to the point that the Celtic fans and manager know they’re in safe hands should the youngster’s recovery not go 100% to plan.
The Honduran can play no matter how heavy the schedule gets so we see no problem with him retaining a place against Ross County.
Using him as an attacking outlet could prove key against what is likely to be a very deep and compact Highlanders defence.
CM: Scott Brown
Brown looked as good as ever against Hamilton on Saturday, with his return undoubtedly giving the Bhoys a shot in the arm after a very narrow win over Partick Thistle in the game previous.
The captain missed that match due to suspension and looked all the fresher for it vs. the Accies. He should have the legs to lead his side against Ross County tonight and drive them on to what would be a 16th Celtic domestic victory in a row.
CM: Nir Bitton
When Callum McGregor was sent off against Hamilton early in the second half, Bitton was the man Rodgers put faith in to come on and fill the obvious midfield gap.
The Israeli was in superb form and his accurate passing and cool, calm nature really made it look like the Scottish Champions had a full quota of players on the pitch.
That second half performance should be enough to earn him a start vs. County where he’ll be eager to put in the best performance possible to try and work his way back to a regular start under Brendan Rodgers.
CM: Stuart Armstrong
Celtic fans are running out of good things to say about Armstrong this season.
His dynamic performance in the last match drove the team onto victory after going a man down, with his goal coming just minutes after the Callum McGregor sending off.
It wasn’t just timely, it was also a goal of the season contender. He put his foot through the ball from 25 yards, rocketing it into the top corner to give the Bhoys a massive cushion in adversity.
He’ll be vital – absolutely vital, in fact – if the Hoops are to pick up another three points on Wednesday night.
LW: Scott Sinclair
Sinclair had a quiet game by his standards on Saturday but to be fair, the conditions weren’t exactly conducive to his style of play on Celtic’s left-hand side.
As Storm Barbara rolled into New Douglas Park, the wet and windy conditions meant supporters were lucky to see anything approaching good football for the first hour in the game.
The wide pitch and sheltered surroundings of Celtic Park should provide a much more comfortable setting for Sinclair who, since returning from injury, looks like he hasn’t missed a step.
RW: James Forrest
Forrest returned from a hamstring problem off the bench against Hamilton and made an immediate impact, surging down thleft-handnd side before squaring the ball for Moussa Dembele to fire home Celtic’s third of the afternoon.
That’ll no doubt please Rodgers ahead of Sunday’s massive game. The Hoops have missed the width the likes of Forrest brings to the team in his absence.
His direct, quick running is likely to be a thorn in the side of County all night on Wednesday.
ST: Moussa Dembele
Dembele may have scored his 18th goal of the season against Hamilton but it was his first in open play since October and badly needed to get his campaign back on track.
He played twelve games between October and Saturday without finding the net outside of opportunities from the penalty spot and Celtic fans were beginning to wonder when he’d start to show the ability everyone knows he has again.
He came on at half-time for Leigh Griffiths, who was feeling a muscle injury, and played a vital part in securing the win.
We’re expecting him to get the nod up front tonight and to give Rodgers a massive headache about who to start in the huge game against Rangers this weekend.