Celtic player ratings vs Ross County: Marvellous McCowan helps five-star Hoops blow Staggies away

Five-star Celtic produced a sensational first-half goal blitz to dismantle Ross County at Parkhead and move five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers made six alterations to the side that started Wednesday’s Champions League draw with Club Brugge, but that only underlined the champions squad depth as each player drafted into the starting XI contributed to an emphatic success.

Centre-back Liam Scales kick-started the rout with an explosive header from Luke McCowan’s corner in at the near-post after just 10 minutes before the Republic of Ireland international turned provider with a well-weighted pass to set up the ex-Dundee midfielder to rifle in a deflected effort on the turn.

Paulo Bernardo swept home Daizen Maeda’s cut-back from close range at the second attempt to make it three before skipper Callum McGregor added a quickfire fourth by slamming home a 20-yard thunderbolt for his sixth league goal of the campaign.

County were extremely poor and they found themselves five down at the break when Alex Valle picked out Adam Idah on the edge of the box. The former Norwich City frontman displayed excellent footwork to take the ball away from a defender and curl beyond the outstretched keeper.

Celtic had further opportunities to add to the scoreline in the second half with Idah denied by the woodwork from a header and substitute Greg Taylor clipping the near post in the closing stages. The victory extended their unbeaten domestic run to 28 games, stretching back to March.

Here’s how we rated the Celtic players at Parkhead.