SPFL

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Celtic Park

CELTIC…4

(Turnbull pen 17, 42, Kyogo 26 O’Riley 73)

ROSS COUNTY…2

(White 60, Brown 90+5)

A Man-of-the-Match performance from David Turnbull saw two goals from the midfielder help the Hoops to an opening-day 4-2 win over Ross County just after James Forrest delighted the 60,000 crowd by unfurling the 2022/23 title flag before the game.

Aside from Turnbull’s double, goals from Kyogo and Matt O’Riley eased the Celts into the campaign despite two goals from the visitors in the second half against the run of play in a game dominated by the Hoops.

The visitors survived in the Premiership last season by the skin of their teeth in a penalty shoot-out with Partick Thistle, and, as the game kicked off, it looked like a feat well deserved as they took the game to the Celts seemingly intent on testing the new partnership of Cameron Carter-Vickers and debut Bhoy, Maik Nawrocki.

However, the Celts stood firm and it wasn’t long before their class showed and that was turned into goals at the other end of the pitch.

But not after a VAR penalty check when Simon Murray hit the deck after Joe Hart chested the ball, but no spot kick was the correct decision.

Pretty soon there was another check at the other side of the pitch when, right at the corner of the box, Greg Taylor was brought down by Josh Sims and the referee pointed to the spot with the award confirmed by VAR, again correctly.

Turnbull slotted the ball into the right-hand corner with Ross Laidlaw diving the other way and the Hoops midfielder had scored the opening goal if the 2023/24 campaign.

The second goal was netted not very far from the spot, but this time from some neat open play and Turnbull was involved again as his touch found Liel Abada on the right and the Israeli swept the ball into the box for the onrushing Kyogo who turned the ball into the net for his first of the season.

Kyogo then set up Turnbull for what looked set to be his second of the day but his two attempts were thwarted by Laidlaw before the keeper also got his hand to another on-target effort from O’Riley in the same move with a triple save from him inside a matter of seconds.

However, all three Celts involved in that move combined again soon after as some lovely interplay in a stylish one-two from Kyogo and O’Riley saw the midfielder get by his marker to the line and then he chipped to the back post where Turnbull knocked the ball high into the net out of reach of the four County defenders around the line.

Spot-on display from Turnbull as the Hoops get off to winning start