Ange bullish as his Bhoys make statement against Ross County

Ange Postecoglou believes Celtic delivered a "statement" 4-0 win over 10-man Ross County that boosted them six points clear of Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership.

Giorgos Giakoumakis scored the first two goals of a successive Parkhead hat-trick with fellow attacker Daizen Maeda also on the score sheet before Staggies defender Kayne Ramsay was shown a straight red for a foul on Tom Rogic, and all this with just 28 minutes gone.

Giakoumakis scored with a penalty on the hour mark - he scored three against Dundee in his last Celtic Park appearance last month - as the Hoops heaped pressure on Rangers who face bottom side Dundee on Sunday.

Celtic, unbeaten in the league since a 1-0 defeat at Livingston in September, are showing no signs of letting up with seven league games remaining and they face a trip to Ibrox after the international break.

The Hoops boss, who described Rogic's injury which forced him off as "not too bad" said: "I don't think our players had lost ruthlessness but it's very easy to succumb to anxiety at this time of the year when the stakes are so high.

"It's important that we keep playing our football and not shy away from that.

"That's why it was important not just to win the game but to make a statement about playing our football against a side that has been in great form.

"We went in determined to set the tempo and pace of the game.

"We started the game really brightly, I thought our football was really good today."

On another hat-trick for Giakoumakis, who took his tally for the season to 12, he said: "I thought him and Daizen were outstanding again in their press today and Jota was good with the ball.

"The front three got opportunities to score and assist, but they know they have to work hard for that.