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Stokes nets twice as Celtic rout Ross County

Champions now six points behind leaders Hamilton

County remain bottom of the Premiership table

Anthony Stokes scored a double as Celtic crushed Ross County to get back to winning ways.

The champions were out of sight by the break thanks to goals from John Guidetti, Callum McGregor, Stokes and Jason Denayer.

Stokes doubled his tally with an excellent shot from distance.

The win is a welcome boost for Celtic manager Ronny Deila, after his side lost 1-0 at home to Hamilton last time out in the league.

Rock bottom County went into the game on four points, but had gathered those from their previous two games - a 1-1 draw with Highland rivals Inverness and a 2-1 win over Dundee.

Celtic settled quicker, though, and hit the front with their first sight of goal.

Stokes floated a free-kick into the area and Charlie Mulgrew's deflected header fell perfectly for Guidetti to beat goalkeeper Mark Brown from close range.

Striker John Guidetti celebrates after opening the scoring for Celtic away to Ross County

It was soon 2-0 when Johansen drifted a great ball into Guidetti on the right and the Swede's centre was tucked away by McGregor.

Guidetti went close to his second after a sublime reverse pass from Stefan Johansen freed him in the box, but the striker's effort went narrowly wide.

The third soon arrived as the impressive Johansen broke away and slipped in Stokes, who curled the ball beyond Brown from 18 yards.

County boss Jim McIntyre hauled off defender Darren Barr with forward Michael Gardyne sent on, but a seemingly hopeless cause was lost soon after.

Johansen's corner dropped to Mikael Lustig at the back post and after Brown kept out his effort, Denayer poked the rebound into the roof of the net.

Johansen looked certain to grab the goal his first-half display deserved but his shot was cleared off the line by Staggies defender Scott Boyd.

Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre was carried off at the start of the second half after a challenge from Gardyne, with Adam Matthews coming on.

Anthony Stokes makes it 3-0 to Celtic with a fine curling effort from the edge of the box

And Stokes made it 5-0 with a 20-yard rocket that hit Brown's right-hand post on its way in.

Gardyne offered the hosts hope of a consolation goal with some bright forward play, dragging one effort wide before smacking the ball off Gordon's left-hand post with a fine strike from distance.

McGregor and substitute Stefan Scepovic passed up chances to add goal number six.

The win sets the champions up nicely for their Europa League meeting with Romanians Astra on Thursday.