Malky Mackay pleased with Ross County performance in Celtic defeat
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Malky Mackay labelled Ross County’s late defeat against Celtic as heartbreaking after coming so close to getting at least a point.
With five minutes to go the scores were level in Dingwall, and the Staggies were standing over a free kick on the edge of Celtic’s box.
Seconds later, Celtic were ahead, and Liel Abada would put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time.
“It’s been a tough week in terms of the work we’ve done off the pitch in terms of the tactical messages I have given them and the footage we have watched,” Mackay said.
“We play in a manner that doesn’t allow us to be carved open because we were playing against a Champions League team.
“We needed to play in a manner that negated what Celtic did. I felt we did that.
“At the same time we needed the belief to, at times, threaten their goal which we did.
“It was never in my head that we would get a result because I have been here, seen it, done it. I know exactly what we are up against – we had to go to the 97th minute before we lost the final goal here last year.
“I was heartbroken for them because they were four or five minutes from putting in a performance that really puts people’s heads up in Scottish football wondering what was going on there?”
It is not uncommon for teams to change their usual gameplan when coming up against Celtic or Rangers, and Mackay followed suit on Saturday.
He played four natural centre midfielders in the middle of the park in a bid to negate Celtic’s attacking threat, and was generally pleased with how the tactic worked out.
“I felt that if we played in a way with certain players in certain positions and didn’t allow them into areas I think Celtic really expose teams in, then we could give ourselves a chance,” the Staggies boss explained.
“They are very, very strong and that’s why we have had a tough week, sitting in rooms with my coaches for long periods looking at where and how we stop that tactically.
“I know exactly what all of the Celtic players are capable of, but I thought we were excellent in the first half when they were nearly at their strongest, and with how we played tactically.”
