Sometimes, a wake-up call comes in unexpected places, and for Celtic, that came in the damp chill of Dingwall, rather than the bright lights of Dortmund. After a punishing lesson from Borussia, where Celtic were ruthlessly exposed by a side operating at a higher gear, the Ross County fixture was meant to be the perfect opportunity to get back on track, to remind everyone of the relentless domestic juggernaut that had steamrolled its way through the league in the early stages.

But what we got was far from the free-flowing, swashbuckling football we’ve become accustomed to under Brendan Rodgers. Instead, it was a sluggish, disjointed affair, where a spirited County side came perilously close to causing an upset. Some would call it a “stiff” performance; others might say it bordered on shaky. Yet, as much as this might be seen as Celtic’s first real stumble in the league this season, I would argue that it’s the reality check they sorely needed.

For weeks, whispers of invincibility had begun to swirl once again in the stands. After six games of relentless dominance, some were already suggesting this team could go unbeaten, the echoes of Rodgers’ historic first stint beginning to resurface. But the trip to Ross County, on a brisk afternoon that lacked glamour and grace, was a reminder of the gritty side of Scottish football. This was no place for lofty ideals or playing out from the back with ease – this was about digging deep, grafting through the muck, and finding a way to win when the football wasn’t pretty.

The trip to Germany seemed to knock the wind out of Celtic. Dortmund exposed a naivety that still lurks beneath the surface – one that can only be properly banished with experience and resolve. The mistakes made in that match were glaring – caught too high, too open, and at times, far too complacent against one of Europe’s sharpest teams. But five days later, it was clear that bruising defeat hadn’t been forgotten. Celtic played like a side still reeling from the smack of reality delivered by Dortmund.

The beauty of the County match, however, lies in its ugly truth. These are the matches that win titles. The kind where you don’t dazzle, where the opposition finds every gap you’ve left unattended, and where a flailing hand in the box can undo all your hard work. It was a reminder to the new bhoys – this isn’t just about playing well, it’s about knowing when to fight and when to scrap. Every side that faces Celtic in Scotland will do so with grit, desire, and the hope of turning their season around with a scalp.

But despite the discomfort, Celtic found a way. And therein lies the lesson. Yes, the invincibility chat should be put to bed – it was premature at best. But this performance showed that even when things aren’t clicking, when the pressure mounts, and when your back is against the wall, there is enough quality in this side to pull through. Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and the usual suspects showed that when Celtic need moments of magic, they can still summon it, even if it’s late in the game and the nerves are beginning to fray.

If anything, this close call will serve Rodgers’ men well in the long run. Complacency is the enemy of champions, and if the Ross County game did anything, it was to bring everyone back to earth. It reminded Celtic that they aren’t bulletproof, that they need to graft for every win, and that domestic dominance is earned, not given.

Now, with Aberdeen waiting after the break, Celtic have an opportunity to reset. A chance to dust themselves off, refocus, and kick on. The invincibility chatter is gone, but in its place is a team that’s been reminded of the hard graft required to lift trophies. And that, perhaps, is the greatest armour they could wear for the season ahead.