Celtic recorded their first win of 2023 with a 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock to extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points.

The goals came in either half – a late first-half strike from Jota and an early second-half own goal from Ash Taylor.

And Ange Postecoglou was pleased with his side’s showing after the break, following what he described as ‘a sticky first-half.’

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic manager said: “We couldn’t really get any rhythm in the game.

“We had a lot of the ball but there was a lot of stop-starting, and we made some poor choices in the final third, but the pleasing thing was that we stayed disciplined and got a good goal just before half-time.

'In the second-half, I thought we were really good.'

!We took the game to them and scored a nice goal and it’s fair to say that we should have had three or four more, but I thought our football was much better.

“Every opponent comes with a plan and you’ve got to respect that. They made things difficult but I thought we made things difficult for ourselves for a lot of it, just by making some poor choices.

“However, they stuck to their task but, as I said, I thought in the second-half we took control of the game and it was a good performance.”

Celtic were characteristically hard-working throughout the 90 minutes, dominating in terms of possession, and they created numerous chances in the second-half, hitting the bar twice and the post twice, while Kilmarnock goalkeeper, Sam Walker, produced a number of good saves.

“Everything we do is underpinned by hard work so that’s the challenge for opponents as well,” said the Hoops boss.

“We work hard and we’re a fit team. Apart from our quality we’re also a hard-working, fit team and you see that.

“With Daizen, it doesn’t matter how many times he goes down the line, and whether it’s successful or not, you know he’s going to go again and again, and I thought all the boys in the second-half put in a solid shift.”

Manager: Our performance improved in the course of the 90 minutes