Dingwall may be small but already this season it has had a fairly big say in the title race.

Anthony Ralston’s 97th-minute winner back in December prevented Celtic from falling six points behind Rangers at that particular stage of this season while County’s 3-3 draw with the Ibrox side at the end of January cut the deficit at the top of the table to two points; it meant that Rangers had to walk into Parkhead knowing that the impetus in the title race would swing Celtic’s way if Ange Postecoglou’s side were victorious.

The Hoops needed no further invitation to take the initiative as they flew out of the blocks and into a 3-0 lead by the interval. They have sustained their position at the summit ever since.

But in sharp contrast to that display, Celtic were hesitant and leggy at Hampden on Sunday afternoon. Between now and this coming Sunday, as they prepare to head north, they will need to rediscover the zip that had been evident prior to the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Rangers will be eager to scent any weakness wafting off of Celtic before the teams face off for the fifth and final time this term at Parkhead. All of a sudden that game at Dingwall against Malky Mackay’s Staggies looms significantly large as the final five fixtures of the season come into view.

The Highlanders have little to lose. Having enjoyed a renaissance of their own since the turn of the year they have made the cut for the top six and will enjoy the freedom that the spotlight falling firmly on Postecoglou’s side this weekend brings.

How Celtic react to the defeat to Rangers will be vital in ensuring that they keep their focus firmly on the league. Callum McGregor, Celtic’s best player at Hampden, has shown quiet leadership throughout this campaign.

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There were echoes of Brendan Rodgers and Tynecastle as he took the Celtic players into a post-match huddle after an unbeaten sequence that stretched to 33 domestic games came to a halt. Bringing the focus back to the league title will be imperative if Celtic are to hold their nerve now.

It was the Parkhead side who looked as though they had played 120 minutes three days before the game rather than Rangers. Whatever the physical or mental fatigue that was there - and it was notable given the fact they had had a full week to prepare for the game - Celtic can ill afford for it to take hold.

For all that there were criticisms of referee Bobby Madden’s performance, justifiably so given the erratic nature of his display, he was not the reason why Celtic ending up on the losing side. 

Rangers restricted Tom Rogic and Reo Hatate muted Celtic’s presence in the middle of the park. They missed the presence and physicality of Giorgos Giakoumakis. Kyogo Furuhashi, talismanic in the opening half of the season, did not look fit when he entered the fray on Sunday, no real surprise given that he has played no football for three months.

If the Greek forward is fit and available for the journey to Dingwall then the expectancy is that he will go back into the starting line-up with Daizen Maeda on the left.

And what about Jota? The Portuguese winger has had a productive loan spell at Celtic and, like Furuhashi in the opening months, was a go-to for the club when they sought a creative outlet. Recent performances look very much like a player playing for himself rather than for the collective.

His summer will come quick enough when decisions are to be made that way but, for now, Celtic need him fully focused for the run-in.