Celtic move clear with Ross County victory

Celtic moved three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win over Ross County as they gained some revenge for their recent League Cup semi-final defeat.
The Hoops’ hopes of a treble had been ended following their 3-1 defeat at Hampden to the Highland side and the hosts started brightly at Celtic Park as they looked to make amends for that loss. However, it took until the 45th minute for Celtic to make the breakthrough as Leigh Griffiths volleyed home his 30th of the season. The Glasgow giants then earned some breathing space when Dedryck Boyata headed home to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute.
Aberdeen, who kept their title challenge firmly alive by defeating Celtic on their last league outing, could again draw level with the Hoops at the top of the table if they can win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Monday.
It had taken Celtic just 25 seconds to find the back of the net against County in their semi-final clash two weeks ago and the Hoops looked determined to make a similar start as Griffiths forced Scott Fox into a save at his near post with little over a minute played.
Fox was called into action minutes later to turn a strike from Gary Mackay-Steven round the post after the winger had been played through by Stefan Johansen.
At the other end former Celtic player Jackson Irvine dragged a shot narrowly wide from a Richard Foster cross as the visitors threatened for the first time.
Griffiths blew a golden chance to put Celtic ahead in the 35th minute when the Scotland striker raced through on goal but, after rounding Fox, he saw his shot slam off the base of the post before the ‘keeper then smothered the danger.

Amends
However, Celtic’s top scorer made amends for his miss as he fired the hosts in front seconds before the break.  
A poor defensive header from a Johansen cross landed at Griffiths’ feet at the edge of the box and the striker sent an angled volley bouncing into the ground and beyond Fox.
Despite Celtic’s advantage, the home fans started to become increasingly disgruntled as their side misplaced a number of passes at the start of the second half.  
Nevertheless, the pressure eased when Boyata headed home a second for the Hoops in the 57th minute.  
Armstrong broke down the left and floated a ball to the far post where the Belgian craned his neck to nod past Fox from close range.
Celtic nearly added another in the 69th minute when new signing Erik Sviatchenko came close to marking his home debut with a goal but the Danish defender sent his header from Armstrong’s corner just by the post.
Sviatchenko then caused his side problems at the other end when his misplaced pass allowed Michael Gardyne to break into the box only to see his effort hooked off the line by Bitton.
County remain fourth, ahead of Dundee on goal difference. Elsewhere, managerless Kilmarnock moved out of the relegation play-off position at the expense of Motherwell after winning 2-0 at Fir Park.
Dundee United, who drew 0-0 at Hamilton Academical, are 12 points adrift at the bottom with a game in hand on Motherwell, who they host on Tuesday.