Craig Fowler looks at some of the key battles that could play out in this afternoon’s League Cup semi-final between Ross County and Celtic.
Leigh Griffiths v Andrew Davies (and the County defence)
Staggies fans think the world of the centre-back who joined from Bradford in the summer - if he can keep Griffiths quiet in this match then he'll be elevated close to legend status. Unfortunately, stopping the striker scoring is much easier said than done. He's at the point now where his confidence is so high that even half-chances are buried with emphatic ease. His movement also means the entire back line will have to keep tabs on him, which will open up space for others.
Jackson Irvine v Stefan Johansen
The former Celtic midfielder caught the eye at his former place of work when County took on the champions on the first day of the season, and he'll need to put in another display like that if County are to have a chance. Ronny Deila's team will keep possession for the majority of the game, but it's up to Irvine and McShane to ensure Bitton and Johansen don't have the time to thread the needle and make those sort of key passes that can cut through defences.
Scott Fox v Celtic
There is little doubt that if County want to get to the final, they're going to have to ride their luck at times and rely on their goalkeeper to bail them out of certain situations. Celtic are going to get some chances, which means he'll have plenty of opportunities to be the hero. Thankfully for the Highland club, Fox has been in excellent form this season and will be confident he can keep out the champions.
