Malky Mackay sends Celtic a Champions League warning as Ross County raise red flags in Parkhead defeat

Malky Mackay reckons a ruthless European side would have punished Celtic on Flag Day as his Ross County side went down 4-2 losers at Parkhead.

The Hoops had nervy moments in defence versus a battling Staggies side, who had a penalty claim for Simon Murray waved away at 0-0 before David Turnbull's double and a Kyogo strike put the Premiership champions into a 3-0 lead on matchday one. Jordan White pulled one back before Matt O'Riley added a fourth for Celtic, and James Brown's deflected consolation reduced the deficit again.

Mackay was proud of his men and having watched Yokohama F. Marinos stick six past Brendan Rodgers' side in pre-season, he sensed County would get chances, and reckons a top European or international side would have made Celtic pay, amid the Hoops preparing to return to the Champions League group stages.. The boss told Sky Sports: "We know Celtic are clinical, we spoke before the game that we would get chances. We saw them in pre-season lose goals to Yokohama for example and I knew we would get chances but had to be clinical. I've said before if that had been a European team or an international team playing against Celtic we could have scored two goals in the first fifteen minutes. But we don't.

"That's where our downfall is against Celtic. The boys played the way I asked them to in terms of Celtic's pattern but coming in 3-0 at half time, I couldn't believe it but by the same the same token I know how they play. The message was to score a goal, we know it can go to six or seven here but it didn't. We go and win the second half 2-1. That's something the boys can look at it. They're a quality team without a doubt but we're not challenging Celtic this year. That's not where my league is."

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