Kyogo Furuhashi double helps Celtic sink Ross County before late salvo

Stand-in winger Kyogo Furuhashi showed his adaptability by scoring two goals to send Celtic on their way to a comfortable win. He switched position from centre-forward after the Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, lost four wide ­players for the trip to Dingwall. But Furuhashi was in familiar ­territory in front of goal when he scored in each half.

Jordan White had levelled from the spot for the hosts but the Japan forward headed Celtic back in front in the 81st minute. Arne Engels and substitute Luke McCowan both struck deep in stoppage time to add some gloss to the scoreline as Celtic moved 18 points clear at the top of the table.

Furuhashi was shifted wide after Daizen Maeda joined James Forrest and Nicolas Kühn on the injured list and Luis Palma was given ­compassionate leave.

Kasper Schmeichel had ­layered up for the -5C temperatures and he faced two shots inside the first two minutes as Celtic gave the ball away on the frosty pitch. Adam Idah stabbed a shot into the side-netting as Celtic settled down and Idah then set up Alistair Johnston to force the first save with a flick towards goal.

County had a better chance after good skill from Josh Nisbet set up Noah Chilvers but the former Colchester midfielder missed the ­target with only Schmeichel to beat.

Celtic had a penalty claim rejected when Reo Hatate got in front of Elijah Campbell and was knocked off balance. Furuhashi passed up a good chance by stabbing the ball straight at Jordan Amissah from close range but he opened the scoring in the 40th minute when he steered home Johnston’s inch-perfect cross after a slick move.

Luke McCowan celebrates after making it 4-1 deep into stoppage time. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Shutterstock

Amissah made a double stop from Idah and Furuhashi after left-back Alex Valle’s cross before Don Cowie made a double switch at half-time, bringing on Kieran Phillips and White.

Yang Hyun-jun forced a save early in the second half but County’s ­substitutions paid off when White scored from the penalty spot after Johnston had pushed Phillips in the goalmouth.

Celtic restored their advantage when Engels crossed from the left and Furuhashi headed into the top ­corner despite Amissah getting his hands to the effort. Engels then netted from a re-taken penalty after James Brown was penalised for a challenge on Yang after a VAR review. Amissah saved the first effort but was adjudged to have moved off his line by another VAR intervention. McCowan slotted home Celtic’s fourth eight minutes into stoppage time.

Rodgers was full of praise for Furuhashi: “He worked really well. You have to remember he was a winger when he played in Japan. But his profile is not one-v-one, beating people like some wingers . So it was a case of, with two ­goalscorers out of the team, trying to bring goalscorers in and find a way to be flexible to allow him to do that.”

Cowie said: “I’m really frustrated and disappointed for the group - to be level with 10 minutes to go and for the score to finish the way it did was harsh.”