Celtic took all three points with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock this afternoon.

Liam Scales scored the all-important goal, steering home a Camilo Duran cross in the 25th minute, and despite missing a second-half penalty, Martin O’Neill’s side maintained their clean sheet to get the win and restore their four-point lead going into the international break.

Speaking to CelticPlayer after the game, the Celtic manager said: “I’m delighted to have won the game after Thursday night's exertions.

“I thought that we were not at our very, very best today although, actually having said that, we created a number of good chances in the game and Sam Johnstone made a double save for us in the first 90 seconds of the game.”

And the manager praised the match-winner for his goal and overall performance throughout the 90 minutes.

“Scales has been absolutely wonderful,” the manager said. “I don't know what he's been like at the club before that – I'm sure he's a really fine player – but in my year in the game he’s been sensational for us.

“He's a centre-half, but sometimes I'm expecting him to play the ball like an inside forward or something like that, but overall he's been really terrific.

“He's come up with some big, big goals, but he's also come up with big, big moments defensively for us during my time.”

Manager delighted to get important win over Kilmarnock