Celtic began the defence of their Scottish Premiership title with a 2-0 home win over Ross County yesterday, but not without cost or controversy.
Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring from the spot after only four minutes, but the striker then hobbled off after 19 minutes with an injury which could leave him struggling for the second leg of the Hoops’ Champions League third qualifier against Qarabag in Azerbaijan on Wednesday night.
Midfielder Stefan Johansen doubled Celtic’s lead in the 35th minute with a drive after referee Willie Collum had angered the visitors by only showing Parkhead goalkeeper Craig Gordon a yellow card for a ‘last man’ challenge outside the box on former Celtic player Jackson Irvine.
Gordon went on to make a couple of good saves as the Dingwall men tried to battle back, but Celtic were worth their win.
At the end of the match, Ross County manager Jim McIntyre went to see the referee to seek answers.
He said: “It is a goal-scoring opportunity. But Willie felt it wasn’t an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, and that is the wording of the law.
“And if the referee doesn’t feel that, he can’t give it. So I have to grin and bear it.
“I certainly think Virgil van Dijk was getting round so I am not sure it is a red card, but Jackson could have got on to the ball and scored.
“It was a sore one because it would have been interesting if we had managed to get that.”
Greg Stewart and Rory Loy both scored twice as Dundee kicked off the new season with an emphatic 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Stewart opened the scoring in the 34th minute and added his second in the 78th, either side of Loy’s double (45 and 47) on his Dundee debut.
A debut goal from Wes Fletcher ensured Motherwell claimed a 1-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Highland capital.
The only goal came in the fourth minute of the game, while Scott McDonald also had a penalty saved after 27 minutes for the visitors, as Caley Thistle side failed to break down their stubborn counterparts.
Hamilton, meanwhile, were forced to settle for a goalless draw despite a dominant display against 10-man Partick Thistle in their curtain-raiser at New Douglas Park.
Accies looked more dangerous in front of goal but could not find the back of the net, despite being helped by the 26th-minute dismissal of Frederic Frans.
Results
Premier League
Celtic-Ross County - 2-0
Hamilton-Partick - 0-0
Inverness-Motherwell - 0-1
Kilmarnock-Dundee - 0-4
Today
Hearts-St Johnstone - 13.30
Dundee United-Aberdeen - 16.30
League Cup – first round
Annan-Queen of South - 3-4
Ayr United-Brechin City - 2-0
Berwick Rangers-Alloa Athletic - 3-2
Dunfermline-Cowdenbeath - 5-1
East Fife-Dumbarton - 1-1 (aet; East Fife win 4-3 on pens)
Hibernian-Montrose - 3-0
Livingston-Clyde - 1-0
Morton-Elgin City - 5-0
Queen’s Park-Forfar Athletic - 0-2
Raith Rovers-Albion Rovers - 2-0
Stirling Albion-Airdrie - 0-1
Stranraer-Stenhousemuir - 2-0
Today
Rangers-Peterhead - 16.00