December 24, 2024

The Hoops hero was in the Sky Sports studio as Brendan Rodgers took his table toppers to Rugby Park for the lunchtime kick-off. Derek McInnes’ men picked up a second win on their home turf over the champions.

Celtic lost to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park for the second time this season as hosts comeback from goal down to win 2-1 in Ayrshire
Celtic lost to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park for the second time this season as hosts comeback from goal down to win 2-1 in Ayrshire

Chris Sutton has branded Celtic’s defeat to Kilmarnock ‘one of the worst I’ve seen’.

The Hoops hero was in the Sky Sports studio as Brendan Rodgers took his table toppers to Rugby Park on the back of 16 league games without defeat. They went into the game five points ahead of Rangers after Philippe Clement’s men dumped Dundee at Ibrox 24 hours earlier as they look to restore the eight point advantage they had at the summit.

Matt O’Riley had the visitors ahead at the break after he fired home on the rebound after Callum McGregor’s initial effort was well saved. Derek McInnes’ men had chances of their own in that first 45 minutes as well as the champions with one effort hitting the inside of the post while Alistair Johnston blocked on the line to deny the hosts.

It was a different story in the second period as the hosts upped the ante and their performance levels. They eventually got the reward they wanted with 15 to play when Nat Phillips turned a cross beyond Joe Hart. Rather than sit in the men from Ayrshire kept pushing for that winner and Matty Kennedy delivered with just two minutes to play after Danny Armstrong played in his team-mate to slip the ball under the former England No1 to spark wild scenes on the bench and in the stands.

It’s the second time Kilmarnock have defeated the Hoops on their own turf this season after ending their domestic Treble hopes at the first hurdle by knocking them out of the Viaplay Cup at the last 16 stage of the competition. It’s a first league defeat for Celtic who stay five clear of Rangers – but have played a game more.

He wrote online: “That second half performance was one of the worst I’ve seen from a Celtic team. You can be outplayed but you can’t be outfought and outrun. Well played Kilmarnock.”

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