Ronny Deila claimed he sensed a rousing performance was on the cards for his Celtic side following their 5-0 rout of Ross County in Dingwall.

Pressure on the Hoops boss had increased following the shock 1-0 home defeat to Hamilton in their last outing which meant 10 Scottish Premiership points had been dropped in eight games

However, the champions went on the rampage in the first half and goals from John Guidetti, Callum McGregor, Anthony Stokes and Jason Denayer made the points safe by the interval.

Stokes grabbed his second with a long-distance drive in the 56th minute as the visitors cruised in the second half and afterwards the Norwegian said: "I had a good feeling on the pitch and also in the game.

"The result is everything, but you can feel if something is growing and we've been growing for a long time and this is very good proof that we can do very well in matches as well.

"We smashed them in the first half. It was a high-level performance. We were up for the game and the boys did a fantastic job.

"I was happy about the defence, we didn't give them anything. We created chances, scored on crosses and had set-pieces on the level we want.

"It's very pleasing and important to see strikers scoring, we need goals and we're back on track again."

Kris Commons was missing due to a recurrence of a buttock injury but Deila was relaxed when informed of Neil Lennon's interest in him.

The new Bolton boss admitted he would like to be reunited with the Celtic midfielder whose contract is up at the end of the season, if the price was right.

Deila said: "My reaction is that no one is leaving, we won't want to sell anybody. We want to build a team.

"I think we have a very good dialogue and process going on with this. This doesn't worry me."

Emilio Izaguirre was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury following a challenge by Michael Gardyne but Deila is hoping both he and Commons will be fit for the Europa League game against Romanian side Astra Giurgiu at Parkhead on Thursday night.

He said: "I think it's too early to say but I hope and I think Emilio is going to be fine.

"It's the same ankle he broke a couple of years so maybe he got a bit scared about that, so I really hope it's nothing serious.

"Commons is injured. I think he will be back for Thursday."

After four points from their previous six ahead of the visit of Celtic, County collapsed to remain bottom of the table.

Manager Jim McIntyre recognised his side's "poor performance" but was confident that they would bounce back.

He said: "It was a sore one. It is a sore day for us but it is a learning curve and we have to respond to it.

"Celtic are more than capable of doing that to anyone but we are really disappointed. We never gave ourselves a chance.

"At 4-0 it is about pride. The game is done at half-time, you are never coming back from that.

"It is important that you make sure you compete a bit better than you did in the first half. But it is no consolation.

"I am positive we will bounce back, there is no doubt. We just have to learn from today's mistakes."