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Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw looking forward to return of fans to stadiums. Ross County could host Celtic in test match next weekend


By Will Clark

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Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw says he is looking forward to playing in front of a crowd again.

Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Ross County(1) v Motherwell(1). 03.08.20. Ross County 'keeper Ross Laidlaw makes a terrific point-blank save from Motherwell's Callum Lang.
Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Ross County(1) v Motherwell(1). 03.08.20. Ross County 'keeper Ross Laidlaw makes a terrific point-blank save from Motherwell's Callum Lang.

At present, Scottish Government guidelines will allow all clubs a limited number of fans into stadiums from Monday, September 14.

In addition, up to three Premiership games could be chosen to host pilot matches on Saturday, September 12 to test fans coming back into grounds.

This could include Ross County’s clash with Celtic at the Global Energy Stadium next Saturday.

Laidlaw has not enjoyed playing in empty stadiums and thinks fans will be able to bring some life back to the game.

“It’s good that we can get fans back in. Hopefully we will be able to get even more in after that.

“It will be good to get a bit of atmosphere because it’s not good playing in front of an empty stadium.

“Just before the game, at the start and when goals go in, there’s no real celebration from fans, there’s no banter or atmosphere.

“It is different, but everyone is kind of used to it now.

“It still feels like a bounce match.

“It will be good when we start getting fans back in through the gates and start to feel a bit more real.

“It will be good to get the home fans in.

“They will have missed going to games as well, not just us. The sooner we go to games, the better.”

After winning their first two matches of the season against Motherwell and Hamilton Academical, Ross County have only picked up two points from their last four matches. They included draws with Kilmarnock and St Mirren along with defeats to Dundee United and Livingston.

Laidlaw said after such a good start, he is disappointed they have not made the most of it as they face Celtic, St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Rangers in their next four games.

“We’ve got to bounce back,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of tough games coming up, with Celtic being the next one.

“We need to dust ourselves down and get going for that.

“In-house we targeted the first six games which, although they weren’t going to be easy, we knew we didn’t have the Old Firm or the teams at the top,” said Laidlaw.

“We knew we had to get points on board, we would rather that than have games in hand.

“We would have wanted to get some points against Livingston so that’s disappointing.”

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