| Match Pictures | Matches: 1999 – 2000 | 1999-2000 Pictures |
Trivia
- Following the loss against Motherwell in the previous game and the boos that went up at the end, Barnes made a rallying call to the fans to get behind the team and support them fully.
- In an interview with the Sunday Herald on the day of the game Craig Burley admitted that there had been no forward movements on re-contracting (despite having two years left on his contract) and that in that light, and despite wanting to stay at Celtic, and given the withdrawn role that Barnes was asking him to play, it looked like that he would likely be leaving the club.
- Former masseur and long standing employee Jimmy Steel passed away on Saturday 30/10/9.
- McNamara was fully fit and started the game. Mjallby was again dropped to the bench. Blinker came in and Petta was dropped. Ian Wright made his debut and Burchill dropped to the bench.
Review
After the loss in the last game the team appeared to rally round for this one and a 5 goal victory resulted – helped to a degree by the straight red for Baker – which included a debut goal for Ian Wright. It took a headed goal against Celtic, however to get the team going and there was a lingering feeling that all was not well within the team.
Teams
Celtic:
Gould, Stubbs, Tebily, Riseth, McNamara, Burley, Moravcik (Wieghorst 71), Lambert, Blinker (Petrov 62), Wright, Viduka (Burchill 66).
Non Used Subs: Kharine, Mjallby.
Goals: Viduka 51, 54, 56, Wright 77, Burley 84.
Bookings: Moravcik. (Celtic)
Kilmarnock:
Watt, MacPherson, Lauchlan, Dindeleux, Baker, Cocard (Vareille 82), Durrant, Reilly, Mahood,Jeffrey (Hay 57), Mitchell.
Non Used Subs: Meldrum, Hessey, Davidson.
Goals: Cocard 36
Sent Off: Baker (53). (Kilmarnock)
Bookings: Durrant, Mahood (Kilmarnock)
Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).
Attendance: 59,720
Highlights
Goals
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Stats
| Celtic | Kilmarnock | |
| Bookings | 1 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 1 |
| Fouls | 10 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 10 | 3 |
| Corners | 9 | 5 |
| Offside | 11 | 1 |
Articles
Celtic 5-1 Kilmarnock Ian Wright marked his Celtic debut with a goal at Parkhead – but the former England international's efforts were overshadowed by the performance of his strike partner, Mark Viduka. The Australian forward scored one of the fastest hat-tricks on record as the Hoops got their title campaign back on track. All three of his goals came inside four minutes in the second half of a remarkable match in Glasgow. Wright has made a habit of scoring on his first appearance for his clubs, having done so with Arsenal, West Ham and most recently Nottingham Forest. And he did so again, to the delight of the Bhoys faithful, who gave him a hero's welcome following his midweek move.
Surprise opener The one thing the script had not predicted was that Kilmarnock would take the lead. But go ahead they did, through Christoph Cocard, who headed home Michael Jeffrey's hanging cross at the far post after 38 minutes. The goal came as a shock to Celtic, who suffered a shock defeat to Motherwell on their own patch on Wednesday. Five minutes before the break, Wright thought he had opened his account north of the border He pounced to knock the ball into the corner after Killie keeper Michael Watt had spilled a shot from Craig Burley – but referee Mike McCurry ruled for an infringement to the astonishment of the home crowd. Despite taking the advantage, the Ayrshire club never recovered after Martin Baker was sent off in the second half.
Parkhead mayhem But Celtic needed only eight minutes of the second half to get the equaliser – and that goal then sparked an amazing chain of events. Burley picked out Wright, who delivered a cushion header into the path of Viduka and he drove the ball under Watt's body. A minute later Kilmarnock were reduced to 10 men when Martin Baker was sent off after a tussle with Lubomir Moravcik – and that incident effectively settled the contest. Celtic immediately took advantage as Viduka headed home following a superb 55th minute ball from Moravcik. Before Kilmarnock could rouse themselves, Viduka had completed his treble in the 57th minute. With the Kilmarnock defence again exposed in the air, the Australian converted a fine cross from Jackie McNamara. It looked like it would not be Wright's day when his 73rd minute header hit the bar. But, to the delight of the home fans, he eventually got his reward five minutes later when he headed in a cross from Mark Burchill at the far post. Burley completed the scoring five minutes from time for an emphatic victory after Wright and Burchill had played their part in the build-up.
Teams:
Celtic:
Gould, Stubbs, Tebily, Riseth, McNamara, Burley, Moravcik (Wieghorst 71), Lambert, Blinker (Petrov 62), Wright, Viduka (Burchill 66).
Substitutes: Kharine, Mjallby.
Celtic Scorers: Viduka 51, 54, 56, Wright 77, Burley 84.
Booked: Moravcik.
Kilmarnock:
Watt, MacPherson, Lauchlan, Dindeleux, Baker, Cocard (Vareille 82), Durrant, Reilly, Mahood,Jeffrey (Hay 57), Mitchell.
Substitutes: Meldrum, Hessey, Davidson.
Kilmarnock Scorer: Cocard 36.
Sent Off: Baker (53).
Booked: Durrant, Mahood.
Att: 59,720
Referee: Michael McCurry (Scotland)
Match Report:
Celtic 5 Kilmarnock 1 By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport
Mark Viduka scored one of the fastest hat-tricks on record today on a day of celebration and rejuvenation for Celtic.
The Australian striker's goals came inside four minutes in the second half of a remarkable match at Celtic Park.
Former England striker Ian Wright marked his debut as he has done throughout his career by finding the net.
Wright has made a habit of doing this kind of thing during his time with Arsenal, West Ham and most recently Nottingham Forest, where he had been on loan before arriving at Parkhead in midweek.
Kilmarnock took the lead through Christoph Cocard but never recovered after Martin Baker was sent off in the second half.
Wright almost got a goal inside the first minute after being given a rousing reception by the Celtic supporters.
Viduka delivered a fine ball to the back post and the former Arsenal star was only marginally off target with his effort.
Celtic, beaten by Motherwell on their own patch in midweek, strode forward and Viduka made space in the penalty area. However he was crowded out by Jim Lauchlan and Frederic Dindeleux.
Craig Burley then played the ball into Wright's path but he screwed his shot wide of the target.
Kilmarnock were being forced to back-pedal and Jackie McNamara tried to find Wright at the back post. The ball evaded him, however, and a header from Alan Stubbs was easily taken by keeper Michael Watt.
Wright played a nice ball through to Viduka with the outside of his boot, only for Gus McPherson to make a saving tackle.
Kilmarnock were beginning to settle into the game and Ian Durrant tried a speculative shot from 35 yards that sailed past the post.
The Ayrshire club took the lead after 38 minutes with a simple goal that asked serious questions about the home defence.
Michael Jeffrey delivered a high, hanging cross to the back post and Cocard was able to head home unmarked.
Celtic keeper Jonathan Gould then superbly tipped away a shot from Mark Reilly before Wright was left deeply frustrated five minutes before half time.
He pounced to knock the ball into the corner after Watt had spilled a shot from Burley. Referee Mike McCurry ruled for an infringement to the astonishment of the home crowd.
Wright then had a good claim for a penalty waved away by referee McCurry after being bundled over by Dindeleux.
The former England striker's frustration boiled over and he was lucky not to be booked a minute later for a challenge on Alan Mahood.
Celtic needed only eight minutes of the second half to get and equaliser and that goal sparked an amazing chain of events.
Burley picked out Wright and delivered a cushion header into the path of Viduka, who drove a shot under Watt's body.
A minute later Kilmarnock were reduced to ten men when Martin Baker was sent off after a tussle with Lubomir Moravcik, which saw the Slovakian given a yellow card.
Celtic immediately took advantage with Viduka heading into the corner following a delightful ball from Moravcik in the 55th minute.
Viduka completed his trick in the 57th minute with Kilmarnock again being exposed in the air with the Australian getting on the end of a fine delivery from Jackie McNamara.
Wright was out of luck in the 73rd minute when a thumping header came back off the bar following a cross from sub Stilian Petrov.
But he eventually got his reward five minutes later when he headed in a cross from Mark Burchill at the far post..
Wright couldn't contain his delight and neither could the Celtic fans, who have immediately taken him to their hearts.
Burley completed the scoring five minutes from time for an emphatic victory after Wright and Burchill had cleverly linked up.
Teams:
Celtic: Gould, Stubbs, Tebily, Riseth, McNamara, Burley, Moravcik (Wieghorst 71), Lambert, Blinker (Petrov 62), Wright, Viduka (Burchill 66).
Subs Not Used: Kharine, Mjallby.
Booked: Moravcik.
Goals: Viduka 51, 54, 56, Wright 77, Burley 84.
Kilmarnock: Watt, MacPherson, Lauchlan, Dindeleux, Baker, Cocard (Vareille 82), Durrant, Reilly, Mahood,Jeffrey (Hay 57), Mitchell.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Hessey, Davidson.
Sent Off: Baker (53).
Booked: Durrant, Mahood.
Goals: Cocard 36.Att: 59,720
Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).
Five-minute wonder
Scotland on Sunday 31/10/1999
By Graham Spiers at Celtic Park
Celtic5 Kilmarnock1
IN HIS days in Glasgow, Mark Viduka hasn't always been the life and soul of the times, but yesterday at Parkhead he was adamant that Ian Wright's arrival shouldn't diminish him. In the middle of turbulent times for Celtic, including injuries to players and some fitful performances on the park, the striker arrived to prod home a hat-trick and raise the roof in this arena once more. Wright scored as well, to be sure, and was involved in some corny moments.
So much has been said about the disrepair to Henrik Larsson, but on days like this, Viduka is also a potent talisman for Celtic. This player's lumbering gait occasionally suggests disenchantment and black moods, but he is a strong, stealthy striker who makes barging runs at precious moments. Within the space of five minutes in this game he strangled Kilmarnock in such manner, taking up late residence in the penalty box to blow two headers and a shot beyond Michael Watt.
The game was necessarily distorted by Mike McCurry's harsh sending-off of Martin Baker after 55 minutes, but John Barnes, a Celtic coach feeling increasingly embattled these days from snipers, will nonetheless take comfort from the outcome. In truth this Celtic team, as opposed to their stuff recently, played in a shape more easily recognisable to the human eye, but tactical changes or not, the confidence will gush through the team.
There was a period however when Kilmarnock were allowed to savour the sickness of Celtic in recent weeks, when the home team were blunt about their passing and aggression, and the visitors sensed their unease and sprang upfield to score. Christophe Cocard's headed goal from Michael Jeffrey's cross in the 36th minute followed a botched piece of defending from Oliver Tebily, and was immediately followed by some familiar growls from the stands. Celtic, though, were to thrive through Viduka's sudden eruption – a hat-trick scored in a five-minute burst starting in the 51st minute.
Bobby Williamson, the Kilmarnock manager, accepted this punishment with typical humour, though he did use colourful images when bemoaning the departure from the fray of Baker. The Kilmarnock defender had been the victim of a crude, late challenge from Lubomir Moravcik, and was duly red-carded when he gave the Czech a retaliatory tap to say as much.
"It was handbags stuff," said Williamson afterwards. "Referees should really not be sending off guys for something like this. Certainly, I think haymakers and head-butts should receive a red card, but not something as mild as that."
Wright was certainly in the thick of everything, suffering a disallowed goal, a controversial moment when he seemed to be upended in the box, and somehow cantering offside on at least a dozen occasions, something Arsenal fans had learnt to tolerate -amid much else worth savouring – over the years. Nor could this match have been an Ian Wright affair without some sparks flying from the player, and they came in the 44th minute when he blatantly hacked down Alan Mahood, the result of a passage of play when the Englishman's patience had been prodded to bursting point.
Days off 36 years old, Wright certainly looked agile, the knees maybe characteristically knobbly and the feet splaying out, but still with all that ungainly athleticism that has been his trademark down the years. A few crabbit merchants around Celtic Park have voiced criticism of his signing, but, after scoring 231 league goals in 449 outings in England, and having preserved his keen fitness, Wright's short-term approval from John Barnes seems eminently sensible. Barnes, in any case, needed no more worries piling up for the present.
Celtic's performances have been sprints and limps under the formation of play which their coach has demanded, and yesterday, when Kilmarnock stole ahead through Cocard, that disturbed unease once more descended on Parkhead. The problem Barnes has, however much he wants to stick with his coaching ideas, is that a frustrated Celtic crowd will soon undermine the confidence of home players. This match was teetering on the verge of all this before Viduka banged open his own private floodgates.
In five heated minutes, just when the home crowd's menacing mood was on the point of starting to simmer, Viduka rendered Kilmarnock's 10-man resistance futile. His equaliser after 51 minutes was a slammed shot past Watt following Wright's deft flick, and two minutes later he received Moravcik's cross to defeat the goalkeeper again with a looping header. Poor Watt, the subject of a few scary moments throughout, wasn't to be spared. Viduka's third, following a cross from Jackie McNamara, once more sailed past him as Kilmarnock began to crumple.
Wright himself had been whipping up the crowd using windmill motions with his arms, and the only thing missing from the talk-show host's display, amid his off-sides, debates with officials and that one crunching tackle, was a debut goal. Mark Burchill helped to fix this in the 77th minute, haring off down the left and dispatching a cross which the new striker met with a full-length dive to head into the net. After that one, there was much of Wright's imperious waving to the stands.
Craig Burley smothered his own busy display with his first and Celtic's fifth, meeting Burchill's header to chest the ball down and ram it past Watt. Icing on the cake or not, there was almost a disconsolate note about the way Burley celebrated this – as if he instinctively knew he could be doing it more often.
- BBC Match Report
- Manager Interview
John Barnes post match:
"Wright lifted everyone, players and fans, but overall we were much sharper today than we were on Wednesday. The delivery of crosses was much better and in fact the whole approach by the players was better.
"Possibly we would not have scored five goals if the Kilmarnock player had not been sent off, but I think we would have won all right.
"We know how excitable he is, but I think it is worth it because of what he will give us. There is always a possibility of a situation arising, of course, but I am sure he will go out of his way to make sure that doesn't happen.
"I have spoken to him about it generally, but not about the Old Firm game specifically. His coming up here is obviously a high-profile situation. Players will try to get to him, but I am sure he is mature enough to keep out of trouble. There would not be much sense in talking to him about that for the Old Firm game and then see him get sent off against someone else."