Scottish Premiership
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…3
(Edouard 44, 53, Christie 57)

KILMARNOCK…1
(Brophy 32)

CELTIC continued their dominant start to the season with a six successive win after defeating Kilmarnock 3-1 at Paradise. The visitors snatched the lead against the run of play but Celtic fought back to secure a convincing win.

Eamonn Brophy fired Kilmarnock ahead in the first half but Odsonne Edouard equalised just before the break. The French forward put Celtic ahead early in the second half and Ryan Christie quickly added a third.

Kilmarnock came into the game undefeated in their last four games with three wins and a draw, all without conceding a single goal.

Celtic had no problems in creating chances, however, their tempo and aggression kept on-loan Juventus keeper Laurentiu Branescu busy from kick-off.

Christie, high on confidence from scoring his ninth goal of the season in midweek, was the first to test the Romanian stopper with a low, driven left-footed strike from the edge of the area in the third minute.

James Forrest looked keen to add to his tally of seven goals this season and had four shots at goal inside the first 20 minutes. The winger, playing out on the left, caused problems for the Killie defence with his tendency to drift inside and shoot with either foot.

Boli Bolingoli teed up the 28-year-old’s first shot which flew just wide of the far post from the edge of the area. His next attempt was better but came back off the post.

Edouard nearly put Celtic in front with a mazy run through the Killie defence but the French Under-21 striker didn’t pull the trigger early enough and a combination of Stephen O’Donnell tracking back and Laurentiu Branescu rushing out smothered the chance.

Forrest continued to threaten throughout the first-half and forced a good save from the keeper with a dipping effort across goal before trying again with his opposite foot moments later.

Angelo Alessio’s side had been under relentless pressure from Celtic but they took the one and only chance that fell to them to snatch the lead against the run of play. Brophy got the break of the ball in the last third, darted towards goal and managed to squeeze a shot off which took a deflection and looped over Fraser Forster.

Celtic responded in typical fashion and maintained the pressure on Kilmarnock to level the scoring 12 minutes later.

Forrest was the provider with an excellent cross into the box. Edouard was in position and rose above Stuart Findlay to head home from close range.

His compatriot Olivier Ntcham nearly put Celtic ahead early in the second period only to be denied by another good save from Branescu. The French midfielder’s curling shot from 20-yards was heading for the top corner before the keeper flew across goal to make an excellent save.

Celtic’s maintained the pressure on Kilmarnock, ensuring the visitors saw little of the ball and enjoyed no further chances in front of goal.

Mortiz Bauer impressed in his first start for Celtic with a good defensive performance alongside his new team-mates. The Austrian full-back weighed in with a handful of good crosses into the box and set up Edouard for Celtic’s second goal with a cleaver through ball which Edouard slid under the keeper from a tight angle.

Having fought back to take a deserved lead Celtic continued to systematically prod at the Killie defence in search of more goals.

It wasn’t long before the champions extended their lead. Five minutes later Bolingoli swung a cross into the six-yard box and Forrest was denied a rare headed goal with a good reaction save from the keeper. Christie was on hand though and knocked the loose ball in from the goal-line.

The Celtic defence ensured their opponents had few opportunities in front of goal but Brophy was productive with the limited chances he had. Fraser Forster had little to do but he made an exceptional save to deny the Scotland international when he tipped over his powerful half-volley from the edge of the box.

The Celtic keeper came to Celtic’s rescue late in the game after Kilmarnock were awarded a penalty. Alan Power stepped up and Forster dived low to his right to push the spot-kick around the post.

The Hoops looked determined to increase their lead right up until the final whistle and Forrest almost scored a fourth as he tore into the box and shot across goal. Findlay’s sliding tackle partially blocked the shot and the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar.

CELTIC: Fraser, Bauer (Elhamed 79), Ajer, Jullien (Rogic 84), Bolingoli; Brown, McGregor, Ntcham (Hayes 74) , Christie, Forrest; Edouard
Subs: Gordon, Taylor, Elyounoussi, Bayo

KILMARNOCK: Branescu; O’Donnell, Power, McKenzie (Thomas 82), Dicker, Brophy (Sow 79), Miller (St Clair 71), Hamalainen, El Markrini, Findlay, Del Fabro
Subs: Koprivec, Bruce, Johnson, Burke

Website Man of the Match: Odsonne Edouard

Celtic make it six league wins in six with victory over Kilmarnock