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Trivia
- Celtic stay on the heels of league leaders Rangers after seeing off the challenge of Kilmarnock.
Ex Celt Gordon Marshall was in goal for Kilmarnock.
Review
Kilmarnock were on the back foot for most of the game and at no point threatened to cause an upset. Alan Thompson fired just wide from 18 yards with a powerful right-foot shot from Larsson's pass in the eighth minute. The midfielder again went close three minutes later when his left-foot effort from the edge of the box was pushed over the bar by Killie keeper Gordon Marshall.
Celtic Celtic were looking to build on their advantage and Chris Innes deflected Petrov's goal-bound effort from inside the box over before Hartson flicked Thompson's cross just past the post.
Larsson was then just inches away from making it two when Marshall had parried Didier Agathe's volley into the six-yard box.
Agathe fired over from nine yards after Bobo Balde had got on the end of Petrov's corner.
Celtic went ahead in the 20th minute courtesy of Larsson's 38th goal of the season. John Hartson controlled Thompson's cross-field pass and centred for the Swede to fire into the net from 17 yards with Marshall well out of his goal.
Close to the half-time break Hartson was clean through on goal but delayed his shot and Marshall saved with Larsson on his own in the centre.
Celtic were looking to kill the game off in the second period, but Marshall saved Larsson's awkward shot from Agathe's cross before the Swede fired over moments later. Thompson went close in the 65th minute when his left-foot shot went inches past the post before Hartson blazed wide moments later.
The points were finally wrapped up in the 73rd minute when Larsson cleverly back-heeled a Lambert pass to Petrov and the young Bulgarian drilled a low shot home from the edge of the penalty area.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe (Smith 84), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (Maloney 84), Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs not used:- Broto, McNamara, Crainey.
Goals:- Larsson 20, Petrov 73.
Booked:- Lennon.
Kilmarnock:-
Marshall, Locke, Shields, Innes, Canero, Fowler, Mahood, Fulton, McLaren, McSwegan, McDonald.
Subs:- Stewart, McLaughlin, Dindeleux, Hay, Boyd.
Att:- 56,966
Ref:- A Freeland.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic too good for Kilmarnock
BBC
Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock Celtic stay on the heels of league leaders Rangers after seeing off the challenge of Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Henrik Larsson opened the scoring at Celtic Park and Stilian Petrov added a second on a day when Kilmarnock goalkeeper Gordon marshall was kept very busy.
The veteran custodian made a few good stops and the home side were guilty of squandering a number of good chances.
The visitors were on the back foot for most of the game and at no point threatened to cause an upset.
Alan Thompson fired just wide from 18 yards with a powerful right-foot shot from Larsson's pass in the eighth minute.
The midfielder again went close three minutes later when his left-foot effort from the edge of the box was pushed over the bar by Killie keeper Gordon Marshall.
But despite their lack of possession, Kilmarnock gave the home side a warning in the 14th minute when Gary McDonald fired over after good work from Peter Canero.
The home side went ahead in the 20th minute courtesy of Larsson's 38th goal of the season.
John Hartson controlled Thompson's cross-field pass and centred for the Swede to fire into the net from 17 yards with Marshall well out of his goal.
Celtic were looking to build on their advantage and Chris Innes deflected Petrov's goal-bound effort from inside the box over before Hartson flicked Thompson's cross just past the post.
Larsson was then just inches away from making it two when Marshall had parried Didier Agathe's volley into the six-yard box.
Agathe fired over from nine yards after Bobo Balde had got on the end of Petrov's corner.
Kilmarnock were hanging on and Greg Shields knocked Larsson's effort wide before Marshall made a good save from Hartson's header.
Petrov was on hand to score Celtic's second goal
Close to the half-time break Hartson was clean through on goal but delayed his shot and Marshall saved with Larsson on his own in the centre.
Celtic were looking to kill the game off in the second period, but Marshall saved Larsson's awkward shot from Agathe's cross before the Swede fired over moments later.
The home side came close to doubling their lead when Neil Lennon played a great ball down the flank to Paul Lambert and the Scotland international crossed to Larsson, whose shot flew just past the upright.
Thompson went equally close in the 65th minute when his left-foot shot went inches past the post before Hartson blazed wide moments later.
The points were finally wrapped up in the 73rd minute when Larsson cleverly back-heeled a Lambert pass to Petrov and the young Bulgarian drilled a low shot home from the edge of the penalty area.
Joos Valgaeren could have increased Celtic's advantage three minutes later after exchanging passes with Larsson inside the box, but his shot was saved by Marshall before the striker headed the rebound over the crossbar.
Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson. Subs: Broto, McNamara, Maloney, Smith, Crainey.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, Locke, Shields, Innes, Canero, Fowler, Mahood, Fulton, McLaren, McSwegan, McDonald. Subs: Stewart, McLaughlin, Dindeleux, Hay, Boyd.
Referee: A Freeland
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