Griffiths the Wow Factor

Celtic ground out another away win despite a laboured performance. With rivals losing at home later in the day Celtic founds themselves 6 points clear at the top. This was the sort of win from which Championships are forged.

Consult the Glossary for unfamiliar terms.

A Recipe for Struggle

Coyle has improved Ross County since being appointed in late September, with three wins and a draw from six matches. Whether this is “new manager bounce” or systemic improvement can be judged later in the season. Against the Champions there was no magic just hard graft. A 4-5-1 was implemented with relentless hard work from the home side to close down space. The Staggies had the limited Curran up front supported where possible by Draper. Gardyne and Keillor-Dunn showed flashes of invention from wide. Both were preoccupied ensuring Forrest and Tierney were shackled on the wings, and with considerable success. Their line-up was predominantly defensive, with the full backs only venturing over half way to take throw ins.

The home field seemed more suitable for rugby owing to the grass length – it took a full stud from the 1970s. Clearly a hindrance to a fast passing game. Although a yard wider than Celtic Park, the Global Energy Arena pitch is 5 yards shorter. The combination of hard working, space-reducing opposition, and a slow, short field, may have exacerbated Celtic’s laboured endeavours. But it’s not a great excuse.

Finally, Rodgers side was unchanged for the third match in a row, reducing the average personnel changes per match down to 3.6. Whether minds were on Paris and Hampden or the home side’s harassments were highly effective, Celtic struggled for fluency. Forward momentum requires the combination of accurate and appropriately risky passing, and movement and control from the forward players. As we will see, in the first half especially, both were lacking.

A First Half to Forget

Celtic predictably dominated possession in the first half with Ross County content to play on the break, yielding 2 shots at goal from Keillor-Dunn. Otherwise they relied on long punts from McCarey in goal or throws from Naismith for forward momentum all towards the gangling Draper. Possession in itself does not bestow chances, and Celtic settled into the slough of the “horseshoe of futility”: endlessly recycling the ball to no positive effect. The possession statistics at the half:

Doesn’t tell much of the story. 52% of all Celtic passes were attributable to Gordon in goal and the three centre backs (Lustig, Boyata and Bitton). Not the creative talent. Forrest completed 8 passes and Dembele 5.

By half time Celtic had not registered a single effort at goal. I do not believe I have ever seen that in the seasons I have recorded. At home to Borussia Moenchengladbach last season Celtic failed to record a single shot on target, managing 7 off.

More important than the number of attempts is the quality of the chances. We have Expected Goals (xG) to measure that. Apart from the aforementioned Borussia Moenchengladbach game, this was Celtic’s lowest xG total since I started recording this at the start of last season. It is by far the lowest against Scottish opposition. The only games with less than 0.5 xG are:

At the half, Celtic had managed just 9 possessions in the Ross County box, compared to 2 by the home side, and none by the striker Dembele, of whom more later.

Celtic Goal Threat stat box getting warmed up for Paris Saint-Germain away.

Dembele, in particular, lacking service yes, but can hardly have had a worse half as a professional.

“If I just lie here and go to sleep, will it all go away?”

Bitton had given away 4 passes in the first 15 minutes. All 4 Armstrong corners were dealt with easily. Celtic just could not connect with the inside forwards McGregor and Sinclair, nor the wingers Tierney and Forrest. When Celtic did fashion a promising position, the blocked referee missed the foul on McGregor, receiving no help from the other officials.

Credit must be given to Ross County for the doggedness and determination of their play. They simply out fought Celtic in that first half. If you are the better football side, you will generally win if you match the opposition for sheer physical endeavour. Celtic did not.

Even Brown was Won 1 Lost 5 on challenges in that half. Those statistics usually show a near 50% / 50% split. A perhaps distracted Celtic struggled with the basics.

When One Moment Is Enough

Celtic moved the ball quicker in the second half, and completed 197 open play passes compared to 329 in the first half. This is indicative of playing less recycle balls. Although 12 shots followed, 8 of them came after the more direct Griffiths and Hayes came on after nearly 20 minutes of the second half. The substitutions could perhaps have come earlier. Ross County predictably tired and fell back deeper as the half wore on. It was a tired tackle that brought down Armstrong for the Griffiths free kick. This provided the one, incongruous, moment of quality.

“Give that lad a Tunnocks!”

Ross County put so much into defence they barely registered in attack, recording an overall xG of 0.023. The only sides that have registered less managed 0 shots on target (Linfield twice, Kilmarnock twice, Partick Thistle and Dundee). 11 crosses failed to connect. Their one corner was a shambles. Packing wise, their most potent weapon was right back Naismith’s long throws in terms of getting past the Celtic team. He accounted for 6 of their 23 pack passes, and his Pass Impect of 30 was higher than any of Celtic’s midfield and forward players.

That’s 10 away league wins in a row since the last visit to Dingwall, 7 away wins in the league this season.

Bhoy of the Match

This was not a day for tearing up attacking stats. Sinclair had the highest CAT score of 7 and took 3 shots at goal, yet completed 4 passes in the second half – one of his disappearing performances. McGregor led the way as top receiver, with 51 Impect receiving and was involved in the few moments of first half danger. Dembele improved after the break yet only took possession in the box twice. Boyata completed 100% of his 78 passes!

A side bar on Griffiths, the wow factor and BT Sport Man of the Match. He was on the pitch 21 minutes. He completed 2 passes and 1 set piece pass, giving away 2 passes and 4 set piece passes. All 5 challenges were lost, and he miss controlled once. His 3 take ons failed. Yet 1 of his passes created a chance and his 1 shot won the game. Peak Griffiths.

Bhoy of the Match goes to a player lauded by Rodgers in the break (a touch defensively) and who is certainly improving in the centre back role.

Despite a shaky start giving possession away, including one defensive error leading to a Keillor-Dunn shot, Bitton did his best to drive Celtic on from the back. He also posted the most impressive defensive stats in a back line that struggled under the high ball at times. Not a concern for Paris I suspect, but pause for thought for Hampden.