Ross County narrowly failed to record their first top-flight win after a draw with champions Celtic in Dingwall.

Richard Brittain scored the hosts' first ever goal in the top-flight with an expertly struck free-kick just four minutes into the second half.

Celtic hit the County woodwork on either side of the interval, but struggled to find a way through.

However, a low drive from Kris Commons in the fourth minute of added time salvaged a point for the visitors.

The draw extended County's unbeaten run of league matches to 37, as Celtic struggled with injury ahead of Tuesday's Champions League qualifier against Helsingborgs.

Neil Lennon's 10-man injury list meant he had to reshuffle his side with regulars Scott Brown, James Forrest, Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes all out as Georgios Samaras started up front with Commons supporting.

County made three changes with midfielder Stuart Kettlewell returning from suspension and Rocco Quinn and Mark Corcoran also coming in for Sam Morrow, Martin Scott and Paul Lawson, the latter two out injured.

Inside the first 10 minutes, Marc Fitzpatrick swung a tempting ball across the face of Celtic's goal that Kettlewell nodded inches wide of Fraser Forster's left-hand post.

Commons should have done better on the 25-minute mark with a low drive from inside the County penalty are that he struck straight at the feet of keeper Michael Fraser.

With almost 30 minutes played, Kettlewell tested Forster from 25 yards with a powerful strike, but the Englishman gathered comfortably. Moment later, Samaras headed down inside the Ross County six-yard box, but his effort was off-target.

Victor Wanyama struck the woodwork when the ball bounced off his shoulder from a Commons corner, then as half time approached Izaguirre failed to find a Celtic jersey inside the home penalty area with another trademark cross.

Only four minutes after the restart, Brittain blasted in an outstanding free-kick from 19 yards that Forster failed to reach at full-stretch.

Moments later, Samaras appeared to be denied a penalty when Brittain tripped him on the 18-yard line, but referee Craig Thomson was having none of it.

A long-distance Commons shot was kept out by Fraser as the hour mark approached, then Charlie Mulgrew struck a free-kick off the Ross County crossbar from 25 yards out.

Defender Mikael Lustig made way for striker Tony Watt as Lennon looked to restore the balance, but County continued to keep up the pressure.

Another Commons shot was deflected out for a corner by Grant Munro, then Brittain struck the Celtic crossbar from distance with Forster rooted to his line.

In the final two minutes of the match, Fraser kept his clean sheet with an instinctive save to deny a Samaras header and Watt's right-footed shot inched past the near-side post.

Then, moments later, Beram Kayal was unlucky to volley just over from ten yards out.

As the seconds ticked away and Celtic faced the prospect of a long tip home and nothing to show for it, Watt broke free on the right-hand side and worked into the County penalty area, then Fraser parried the Coatbridge man's shot before Commons followed up and struck low past Fraser to avoid defeat.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (2)

Ross County

  • 01 Fraser
  • 03 Fitzpatrick
  • 04 Munro
  • 05 Boyd
  • 06 Tokely
  • 07 Kettlewell Booked
  • 10 Brittain
  • 11 Vigurs
  • 12 Quinn
  • 15 Corcoran
  • 09 McMenamin

Substitutes

  • 28 McCarthy
  • 22 Kovacevic
  • 23 Macphee
  • 18 Duncan
  • 24 Ross
  • 17 Morrow
  • 27 Porritt

Celtic

  • 01 Forster
  • 02 Matthews
  • 03 Izaguirre
  • 06 Wilson (Slane - 77' )
  • 21 Mulgrew
  • 23 Lustig (Watt - 64' )
  • 15 Commons
  • 16 Ledley
  • 33 Kayal
  • 67 Wanyama
  • 09 Samaras

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska
  • 25 Rogne
  • 43 Chalmers
  • 42 McGregor
  • 28 Keatings
  • 30 Slane
  • 32 Watt
Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 6,110

Match Stats

Shots

7 19

On target

4 10

Corners

1 9

Fouls

12 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:39

Tony Watt provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +2:39 Goal scored

Goal - Kris Commons - Ross Co 1 - 1 Celtic A goal is scored by Kris Commons from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Ross County 1-1 Celtic.

90:00 +1:28

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre on Stuart Kettlewell, free kick awarded. Ross Tokely takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +1:28

Unfair challenge on Stuart Kettlewell by Emilio Izaguirre results in a free kick. Michael Fraser takes the indirect free kick.

89:26

Effort from the edge of the box by Tony Watt goes wide of the left-hand upright.

88:16

Effort on goal by Beram Kayal from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

87:54

Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Michael Fraser.

87:14

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kris Commons.

86:43

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the left by-line, clearance by Scott Boyd.

85:09

Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Boyd.

84:45

Iain Vigurs challenges Beram Kayal unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Kris Commons.

82:59

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Georgios Samaras misses to the right of the target.

80:25

Richard Brittain takes a shot.

76:37 Substitution

Substitution Paul Slane comes on in place of Kelvin Wilson.

75:00

Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Stuart Kettlewell makes a clearance.

74:47

Kris Commons takes a shot. Richard Brittain gets a block in.

73:42

Rocco Quinn takes a shot. Blocked by Charlie Mulgrew. Inswinging corner taken by Iain Vigurs, Victor Wanyama makes a clearance.

72:00

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the left by-line, clearance made by Grant Munro.

68:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Ledley on Ross Tokely. Free kick crossed left-footed by Iain Vigurs, save by Fraser Forster.

67:34

Rocco Quinn fouled by Tony Watt, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Fraser.

67:04

Kris Commons takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Boyd.

61:27 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Tony Watt coming on for Mikael Lustig.

61:27

Mark Corcoran gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Ledley. Charlie Mulgrew produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick. Ross Tokely gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons. Charlie Mulgrew produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick,

57:11

Kris Commons takes a shot. Save made by Michael Fraser.

56:20

Foul by Beram Kayal on Richard Brittain, free kick awarded. Michael Fraser takes the free kick.

54:20

Mikael Lustig gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Corcoran. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Richard Brittain from left by-line, Mikael Lustig makes a clearance.

53:00

Foul by Scott Boyd on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Ledley.

52:30

Kelvin Wilson takes the direct free kick.

52:30 Booking

Booking Caution for Stuart Kettlewell.

52:24

Georgios Samaras fouled by Stuart Kettlewell, the ref awards a free kick.

51:19

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kris Commons, Header from close in by Victor Wanyama misses to the left of the goal.

49:48

Shot by Joe Ledley from outside the box goes over the target.

48:36 Goal scored

Goal - Richard Brittain - Ross Co 1 - 0 Celtic Richard Brittain finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Ross County 1-0 Celtic.

47:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Corcoran by Mikael Lustig.

47:10

Beram Kayal produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

45:56

Victor Wanyama concedes a free kick for a foul on Iain Vigurs. Direct free kick taken by Richard Brittain.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +0:33

The referee blows for offside against Colin McMenamin. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.

43:53

The referee blows for offside against Joe Ledley. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Fraser.

41:15

Foul by Beram Kayal on Richard Brittain, free kick awarded. Grant Munro restarts play with the free kick.

37:15

Georgios Samaras is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Fraser.

35:02

Outswinging corner taken by Kris Commons, Victor Wanyama takes a shot.

34:06

Corner taken by Kris Commons from the left by-line, Marc Fitzpatrick manages to make a clearance.

32:08

Unfair challenge on Rocco Quinn by Emilio Izaguirre results in a free kick. Iain Vigurs has an effort direct from the free kick. Effort on goal by Iain Vigurs from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

31:08

Emilio Izaguirre sends in a cross.

28:19

Iain Vigurs takes a shot. Fraser Forster makes a save.

26:51

Unfair challenge on Adam Matthews by Marc Fitzpatrick results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Matthews.

24:55

Kris Commons takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster. Corner from the right by-line taken by Kris Commons, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc Fitzpatrick by Victor Wanyama. Michael Fraser restarts play with the free kick.

24:11

Unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson by Colin McMenamin results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.

22:26

Unfair challenge on Scott Boyd by Georgios Samaras results in a free kick. Michael Fraser takes the indirect free kick.

20:26

Colin McMenamin concedes a free kick for a foul on Victor Wanyama. Victor Wanyama takes the free kick.

19:23

Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Kelvin Wilson takes a shot. Save made by Michael Fraser.

18:23

Grant Munro gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons. Direct free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.

17:38

Georgios Samaras produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

14:15

Charlie Mulgrew gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rocco Quinn. Ross Tokely takes the direct free kick.

13:20

Mark Corcoran is caught offside. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.

12:19

Mark Corcoran challenges Mikael Lustig unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Matthews takes the free kick.

10:59

Colin McMenamin fouled by Charlie Mulgrew, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Colin McMenamin.

9:21

The ball is delivered by Victor Wanyama.

8:24

Stuart Kettlewell produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

6:18

The official flags Kris Commons offside. Marc Fitzpatrick takes the indirect free kick.

5:47

Unfair challenge on Mark Corcoran by Beram Kayal results in a free kick. Grant Munro takes the free kick.

4:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Iain Vigurs on Victor Wanyama. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick. Iain Vigurs concedes a free kick for a foul on Beram Kayal. Direct free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.

3:41

Victor Wanyama takes a shot. Michael Fraser makes a save.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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