Celtic have told fans who disrupted the minute’s silence to commemorate Remembrance Sunday before the 4-1 win over Ross County they have “embarrassed the club” and are “not welcome” at games in the future.
It was a small minority of travelling fans in a crowd of 6,042 who made themselves heard but there were audible boos from all around the stadium at the start as well as the conclusion of the match.
The club said in a statement: “The silence was impeccably observed by the overwhelming majority of our fans, as it always is. Clearly we are disappointed a handful of individuals have chosen to embarrass the club and our supporters in this way. These individuals are not welcome at Celtic.”
Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager, also declared his disappointment in the action of the supporters. Deila said: “I am disappointed in it. It is something the club maybe say something about but personally it is disappointing.”
Asked if it surprised him, he said: “Yes, of course. I come from Norway and I don’t know too much about these things but it is something the club has to deal with.”
Celtic fans had plenty to cheer about during the game as a quick-fire double after the break from Leigh Griffiths following Tom Rogic’s first-half opener put the home side into a commanding lead. Tony Dingwall pulled a goal back for the hosts but Nir Bitton made it four to re-establish the champions’ six-point lead over Hearts at the top of the table.
Deila and his players had been heavily criticised after the 2-1 Europa League defeat to Norwegian side Molde at Celtic Park kept them at the bottom of Group A with qualification hopes damaged most likely beyond repair, and the former Stromsgodset manager said: “It is always important to bounce back.
“It is tough mentally to get over Thursday and be ready for the game on Sunday. We did that in a very good way and scored some nice goals and got three points and that is very good. The most pleasing thing is first of all we won, that is the most important thing, and that we scored four goals. In the end we controlled it, played the game out and that was the pleasing thing.”
Deila was pleased with the added desire he had asked his players to show. “I feel it was better,” he said. “Having said that, there is a lot of tired boys in that dressing room now. It will be good to have days for players to get some rest [during the international break] and get ready for the second stage of every competition.”
There was something of a surprise for Celtic fans when Carlton Cole – the 31-year-old former West Ham striker recently signed by Deila as a free agent – was on the bench, but the Celtic manager resisted the temptation to bring him on to make his debut.
“He hasn’t trained so much yet,” said Deila. “It was good to have him on the trip and in the dressing room so he can get to know even more how we do things on match day.”
The Ross County manager, Jim McIntyre, rued missed chances, with the striker Liam Boyce heading past the post and Martin Woods failing to get enough on his shot when the game was goalless.
He said: “I don’t think it was a 4-1, that’s for sure. There were pivotal moments in the game. Celtic showed their quality by punishing us when we made mistakes, but we had glaring opportunities in that match and we have got to be better in front of goal – it’s as simple as that – especially when you play the top sides.
“As disappointed as I am with goals conceded, I was pleased with what we have going forward, but the final bit was missing.”
