The champions suffered a second half to forget and Derek McInnes’ gutsy side were on hand to punish them again.
Matty Kennedy celebrates
Champions Celtic suffered a second half collapse as Kilmarnock roared back to defeat their Premiership rivals 2-1 at a rain-soaked Rugby Park.
Matt O’Riley had them ahead at the break but the real story was still to unfold as Kilmarnock produced a rousing display as Matty Kennedy won it after Nat Phillips’ own goal sclaff got the hosts level. Derek McInnes’ side deserved their triumph and had Celtic suffering shock and awe over the dominance exerted by Kilmarnock after the interval. The win has Celtic facing a genuine title race with Rangers earning a monumental boost and now sit five behind with a game in hand.
Brendan Rodgers admitted in the build-up he was praying for rain and the slick stuff from his side was soon on show. Man of the moment Matt O’Riley gave Will Dennis the eyes but the Bournemouth loanee kept his wits to turn the reverse out for a corner. The weather was unforgiving and the hosts were also dealing with a deluge of pressure from the champions as the chances mounted for Celtic as O’Riley was denied again by Dennis and the keeper palmed Callum McGregor’s teasing low cross away to safety. The heat was on Killie but McInnes’ side dislodged themselves from the vice-like grip which consumed them over the first 15 minutes.
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But Celtic were still on top and the chance of the game to that point went begging in the 23rd minute when Mikey Johnston’s darting run split the hosts open and his touch landed at Oh’s feet, however, the free-scoring striker leaned back and fired into the Chadwick Stand rather than the net. The South Korea international would suffer the same fate shortly after but was spared this time by an offside flag.
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It was soon a hat-trick of horrors for Oh he contrived not to turn Johnston’s perfect cross into the net and Luis Palma cracked the post. Another escape for Kilmarnock but they rattled the woodwork themselves shortly after as Danny Armstrong ghosted in at the back post and his controlled effort hit the bar and bounced clear.
That sparked Celtic back into life and O’Riley was on hand to react first to Dennis’ stop to deny McGregor. That’s nine league goals for the Dynamic Dane in a season to remember. But Kilmarnock refused to buckle and it was only Alistair Johnston throwing himself at a shot to deny Corrie Ndaba after more great play from Armstrong. Sparse shouts for a penalty on the Canada international didn’t result in VAR taking action.
McInnes was het-up at the end of the first half which earned him a yellow card off referee David Munro and Kilmarnock looked angry too. They pinned Celtic as Rodgers’ side survived a slew of crosses, pot shots and penalty claims at the start of the second half.
But the half chances soon became golden opportunities to level and Hart to deny Armstrong and Robbie Deas in quick succession. Celtic earned a breather and almost turned that into a second as Matt O’Riley duke a half-yard of space and fired wide of Dennis’ goal
That attempt was merely an act of resistance amid the Kilmarnock push for a leveller as chances continued and the champions finally relented when Phillips fired into his own net. The host were galvanised and they were the side pushing for a winner. You rarely see Celtic hanging on in such a fashion but it felt desperate and so it proved when assist king Armstrong dealt in Kennedy to tuck under Hart.
Celtic were miles off it and probably the most galling element for Rodgers as he peeked out from beyond his hood was the limp response by his team after falling behind. The champions are not functioning correctly but it’s the opposite story for Kilmarnock who operated in-sync to once again deck Celtic.
It feels too easy to poke holes in Phillips’ display but it was miles off long before he turned into his own net. Looping passes to team-mates five yards away set the tone long before Marley Watkins and Vassell started getting the Liverpool loanee turned. Phillips’ best form often comes when penned in but that wasn’t forthcoming as he and his Celtic mates were dunked into the Kilmarnock pressure tank in the second half. Phillips hasn’t looked the part so far and the slapstick moments from the defender reached double figures by the final whistle.
Killie have killer instinct
McInnes has been quick to point out this is a new Kilmarnock team and the stats back him up. They have had the most shots in the league bar Celtic and Rangers and Killie were fancying of leapfrogging Celtic in that with 16 strikes in the second half – a stunning number that underlined their dominance after the break and they richly deserved their goals which won the game. McInnes has urged Kilmarnock to act like a top six team and look that at least, if not. higher.
Brendan has work to do
Put all the current Celtic issues in one big pot and go from there. It’s not one thing but multiple as this Celtic team feel like a pale imitation of the side which romped to the Treble next season playing Angeball. Players, tactics and the plan moving forward – this result felt inevitable amid several misfires this season. And Rangers if they win their games in hand it’s only two points between the teams as they head to Celtic Park later this month.
