THE focus of so much of the attention after another remarkable cup semi-final at Hampden and another surprise defeat for Celtic last night was on the implications for their manager Ronny Deila.
Yet, it would be wrong not to pause and lavish praise on Ross County for the fine victory which ensured they reached only the second major cup final in their entire 87 year existence.
No doubt about it, the Highland club got a huge break in this game when their opponents, who had gone ahead after just 26 seconds, were reduced to 10 men in the 13th minute when Efe Ambrose, their calamitous centre half, was shown a straight red card.
Nothing, though, should be taken away from Jim McIntrye and his players for their assured and gutsy performance. They were comfortably the better of the two sides over the course of 90 compelling minutes and are in the final on merit.
Certainly, their goalkeeper Scott Fox produced some outstanding blocks – including from a Leigh Griffiths penalty with 13 minutes of regulation time remaining – to maintain their advantage. But so did his opposite number Craig Gordon.
The thousands of County fans who made the long journey to Glasgow to support their team despite the foul winter weather were rewarded for their backing with a game which none of them will ever forget.
County have moved on considerably since contesting the Scottish Cup final in 2010. On the evidence of this outing suggested they will give Hibs a tough game in the League Cup final in March and have a realistic chance of claiming their first ever major honour.
“It means everything to the club,” said McIntrye afterwards. “We’re absolutely delighted. I'm really pleased for my chairman Roy McGregor. The backing that he has given me since I have come in the door has been fabulous.”
And what of Deila? Many Celtic supporters wanted their manager replaced as a result of the Parkhead club’s poor showings in the Champions League and Europa League earlier this season. The calls for him to go will increase as a consequence of the reverse.
The circumstances which resulted in the loss and the fact his side is comfortably ahead in the league should ensure he survives. One more slip up and he will not be able to make much of a case for having his services retained.
Paul Quinn, who re-joined County from Aberdeen last week, went straight into the side. It was the defender's first competitive match in over a month and his rustiness perhaps showed as his side fell behind.
Callum MacGregor did superbly to send Griffiths through on goal with a defence-splitting pass. The striker only had keeper Fox to beat and you fancied him to score given his form of late. However, Griffiths had Mackay-Steven alongside him in support and he unselfishly laid the ball off to his team mate who side-footed into an inviting empty net to put Celtic in front.
County deserve great credit for hauling themselves into the match after that start. Shalk, their German striker, tested Craig Gordon with a powerful long-range shot in the sixth minute. It took an excellent one-handed save to deny him. It was an indication the Dingwall outfit were not there simply to make up numbers.
They drew level nine minutes later. Jackson Irvine dinked a pass beyond Ambrose and into the path of Shalk who was advancing at pace on goal. The Celtic defender should, as has been the case on countless occasions in the path, have done far better and cleared it to safety.
He attempted to atone for his error and only succeeded in clipping his rival player. Craig Thomson was correct to award a penalty and red card the offending player. How many more opportunities will Ambrose be given? Time and again he has cost his side in big matches.
Erik Sviatchenko took Ambrose’s place at centre half after McGregor had been sacrificed. The Danish internationalist, who was only signed last week, looked far more comfortable in what is a pivotal position.
Martin Woods stepped forward to take the County spot kick and coped with the pressure on him admirably. He confidently drilled his attempt into the bottom right corner as Gordon dived the wrong way.
Celtic had their chances in the first half. Stuart Armstrong hooked a shot from the edge of the County area over the crossbar. Mikael Lustig had a glancing header at a Stefan Johansen corner saved by Fox. Their numerical disadvantage, though, clearly affected them.
McIntrye’s side took the lead early in the second half at a corner. Andrew Davis did well to nod a Michael Gardyne corner back into the path of Quinn and the defender bulletted a header into the roof of the net.
Shalk increased County’s lead in the 63rd minute after being supplied with the ball by Martin Woods. He put the ball onto his left foot, steadied himself and gave Gordon no chance with his effort.
Deila withdrew Bitton and put on Scott Brown in central midfield. Despite it being his first game in over two months, he made a definite difference. Nevertheless, Celtic could easily have conceded more.
If they had lost by more than 3-1 it would surely have spelled the end for the man in charge. How much longer he can hold onto his job remains to be seen. Lose to Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Wednesday night and the clamour to dispense with him will be deafening.
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