Giorgos Giakoumakis hits hat-trick as Celtic thrash Ross County

Giorgos Giakoumakis scored a second successive Parkhead hat-trick as Celtic moved six points clear at the top of the Premiership with a 4-0 rout of 10-man Ross County.

A double from the Greece striker and a counter from fellow attacker Daizen Maeda preceded the dismissal of Kayne Ramsay for a foul on Tom Rogic, with all this drama taking place in the first 28 minutes. The Celtic onslaught continued in the second half with Giakoumakis scoring a penalty on the hour mark for another hat-trick following his treble at home against Dundee last month. Pressure moves to second-placed Rangers, who travel to bottom side Dundee on Sunday.

However, Celtic have not lost a league game since a 1-0 defeat at Livingston in September and, with seven league games remaining, are showing no signs of letting up with their trip to Ibrox after the international break taking on even more importance. Battered and bruised Ross County, meanwhile, have to recover from their first defeat in four games as they bid for a top-half finish.

There was a minute’s applause before the game in tribute to former Celtic coach and caretaker boss Frank Connor who recently died aged 86 before Jota, who returned along with Rogic, began a convincing Celtic performance by firing just over the bar.

County seemed to settle into the match but were first undone when Jota floated a cross to the back post where Giakoumakis rose highest to head in from close range for his 10th of the season. Moments later, there was a penalty shout for handball by Celtic attacker Joseph Hungbo in Ross County’s penalty box but referee Don Robertson waved play on.

However, the home side did not have to wait too long for their second and Giakoumakis again used his head to good effect. The