Scottish Premiership
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 3
(Ajer 29, Edouard 33, Griffiths 62)

KILMARNOCK… 1
(Brophy 5 pen)

CELTIC overcame Kilmarnock at Paradise this afternoon (Sunday) with a 3-1 win that sees them climb 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. The visitors went ahead from the spot via Eamonn Brophy on five minutes, before Kris Ajer and Odsonne Edouard put the Hoops in front before half-time. Leigh Griffiths extended their lead in the second.

Kilmarnock pressed the game well from the outset, winning themselves two corners in quick succession after as many minutes. Celtic, in turn, built from midfield as they sought to unpick the visitors’ backline. However, it was the Rugby Park side who broke the deadlock from the spot via Eamonn Brophy.

The Scottish champions responded by pushing Alex Dyer’s men deep into their own half in search of an equaliser. To their credit, a well-organised Kilmarnock defended resolutely, restricting much of Celtic’s play to the edge of the penalty area.

On 14 minutes, this caused to Tom Rogic to fire a powerful left-foot from distance, which forced a strong hand from Laurentiu Branescu, who managed to smother it at the second attempt despite the advances of Odsonne Edouard.

Four minutes later, a wonderful piece of link-up play between Rogic, Edouard and Leigh Griffiths saw the latter slipped through on goal, but again Branescu kept the visitors in front with a fine block.

Celtic continued to press high up the pitch, and their next opportunity came on 27 minutes. After stepping out from the back, Jozo Simunovic tried his luck from 30 yards and a slight deflection sent his effort just over the bar. The ensuing corner was sent deep, before Christopher Jullien recycled the loose ball with a byline cutback, that was coolly converted by Kris Ajer from six yards.

Buoyed by their goal, the Hoops continued to play in Kilmarnock’s final third in their search for number two. On 33 minutes, Edouard did just that when Greg Taylor’s long searching pass from the left was kept in by Simunovic on the far byline, and ultimately bundled home in front of goal by the Frenchman.

Leading at the break, Neil Lennon’s men returned with the same high-intensity press, passing from the back and enjoying possession all over the pitch. On 50 minutes, Taylor again sent a fine ball towards the back post, but Griffiths bicycle kick was collected by the goalkeeper.

Moments later, Christie and Edouard combined well on the counter, before the former fed the latter inside the opposition area. The 22-year-old bore down on goal, before sending his effort round the post. On 54 minutes, Griffiths slipped Edouard in to the right of goal, but the Frenchman’s effort was again dragged wide of the mark.

Three minutes later, and Kilmarnock went down to 10 men. Already booked, Alan Power's late challenge on Jeremie Frimpong saw him pick up a second yellow, rightly receiving his marching orders.

Two minutes past the hour, and things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Griffiths made it 3-1. Once more, a sublime piece of build-up play between Edouard and Christie saw the latter burst down the inside-left channel, cut back from the byline into the path of Griffiths, who duly fired home a few yards from goal. On 72 minutes, Griffiths had the ball in the net once more, but his conversion from a fine Taylor cross was ruled offside.

As the match entered its final quarter-hour, Kilmarnock’s numerical disadvantage became increasingly clear – as did Celtic’s superior fitness levels. Griffiths was again unfortunate not to make it four with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, when he connected with an out-swinging Christie cross from the right, and denied by the heroics of Branescu in goal.

In the closing stages, Neil Lennon introduced Mohamed Elyounoussi, Bayo and Nir Bitton which gave his side a number of new attacking options. Kilmarnock, however. sat deep and proved difficult to break down.

Nevertheless, the Scottish champions saw out the match deserved winners, now with a 12-point lead at the top of the Premiership, all of which sets them up well for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League last 32 second leg encounter with FC Copenhagen at Paradise.

CELTIC: Forster; Simunovic, Jullien, Ajer; McGregor, Frimpong, Rogic (Elyounoussi 74), Christie, Taylor; Griffiths (Bitton 82), Edouard (Bayo 74)
Subs not used: Bain, Bayo, Klimala, Bauer, Bolingoli, Elyounoussi

KILMARNOCK: Branescu, O’Donnell, Power, Dicker, Brophy (Kiltie 66), Hamalainen, El Makrini (Burke 46), Findlay, Broadfoot, Del Fabro (Taylor 70), Kabamba
Subs not used: Koprivec, Johnson, Millen, Connell

Website Man of the Match: Callum McGregor

Celtic go 12 points clear with confident win over Killie