Celtic reject the memo as they eventually wake from Dortmund nightmare after comfy old jammies don't slip on

Celtic crumbled in front of the Yellow Wall but this time they smashed through a brick one in the Highlands.

Nicolas Kuhn’s late hammer blow bagged all three points when it looked like resilient Ross County were going to pull off the kind of rugged defensive display the Hoops could have done with a few days earlier in Dortmund. Brendan Rodgers’ men struggled to shake their Champions League hangover and the Staggies came closer than anyone to ending Celtic’s 100 per cent record. But a touch of quality and a whole lot of desire ensured the Parkhead men made a breakthrough after an afternoon banging their head against a wall. And it’s another reason why this side are going to take some shifting this season.

Celtic were miles off their best. The shellshock from the seven-goal battering by Borussia was still apparent in a low-key opening period when County sat tight and then sprung a surprise when Liam Scales was caught on camera using an arm to divert Michee Efete’s cross.

In-form Ronan Hale showed nerves of steel to beat Kasper Schmeichel from the spot after being ordered to retake his first miss for the keeper straying off his line. And by the time Rodgers was forced into making several subs, it looked nailed on for a day when points were dropped. Yet his side refused to accept the memo. Even a point wasn’t going to cut it when Alistair Johnston managed to smuggle an equaliser as the chase was on for a winner.

It wasn’t quite like the famous Tony Ralston 96th-minute one in these parts a couple of seasons ago, but Kuhn’s finish with two minutes left caused a similar explosion in the away end. Getting the job down when not quite firing on all cylinders is the mark of champions. But it was cruel on County after holding firm