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Trivia
- O'Neill delighted to land points.
Review
Kilmarnock started brightly and, with five minutes gone, Craig Dargo was allowed to run onto Freddie Dindeleux's hopeful punt downfield but the striker pulled his long-range lob past the upright. Celtic were finding it difficult to create anything early on but showed signs they were raising their game with Camara pulling the ball across the face of goal and John Hartson chipping the ball just wide. After half an hour Neil Lennon's long-range shot fell to Hartson, who spun and fired in a low shot but Graeme Smith did well to turn it around the post. The rookie goalkeeper was again busy when Thompson picked up the ball near the corner of the penalty area and unleashed a rocket which Smith had to tip over the bar. Hartson headed Thompson's free-kick over the top from eight yards. Celtic were now on top and Varga got ahead of his marker to get on the end of Thompson's corner but his header bounced off the crossbar. Thompson tried his luck with a stinging drive from 25 yards which Smith could only parry and Camara blasted the rebound well wide. Camara could have settled Celtic nerves on the hour when Varga broke down the right and pulled the ball into his path but he sidefooted the ball well wide.
But the on-loan striker won Celtic a penalty in the 63rd minute when he toppled dramatically after Simon Ford appeared to take the ball. Thompson stepped up to send Smith the wrong way.
McGeady came to Celtic's rescue when he curled a right-foot free-kick over the defensive wall and past the despairing dive of Smith.
Kilmarnock's industry was rewarded in the 89th minute when Nish powered home a shot from 18 yards after good work from substitute Steven Naismith.
Teams
Celtic:-
Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Valgaeren, McNamara, McGeady (Wallace 90), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Camara (Beattie 79).
Subs Not Used:- Douglas, Sylla, Juninho Paulista, Pearson.
Goals:- McGeady 44, Thompson 64 pen.
Kilmarnock:-
Smith, Lilley, Greer, Dindeleux, Ford, Johnston (Naismith 87), Nish, McDonald, Leven, Dargo (Locke 73), Invincibile (Fowler 45).
Subs Not Used:- Samson, Hay, Joly, Murray.
Goal:- Nish 89.
Att:- 57,348
Ref:- S Conroy
Articles
- Match Report (BBC)
- Manager Interview (BBC) – O'Neill delighted to land points.
Pictures
Articles
Celtic 2-1 Kilmarnock
Celtic needed a contentious penalty to see off the stubborn challenge of Kilmarnock at Parkhead.
Aiden McGeady fired Celtic in front on the stroke of half-time when he curled in a wonderful free kick from 20 yards.
The home team were awarded a soft penalty early in the second period when Henri Camara went down and Alan Thompson slammed home the spot-kick.
Kilmarnock made life difficult for the champions and Colin Nish's shot reduced the deficit in the closing stages.
Kilmarnock started brightly and, with five minutes gone, Craig Dargo was allowed to run onto Freddie Dindeleux's hopeful punt downfield but the striker pulled his long-range lob past the upright.
The nerves of the home fans were tested soon after when David Marshall needed to make three important saves.
The young keeper pushed Colin Nish's header behind before doing well to stop two awkward efforts from the ex-Swindon man in quick succession.
Celtic were finding it difficult to create anything early on but showed signs they were raising their game with Camara pulling the ball across the face of goal and John Hartson chipping the ball just wide.
After half an hour Neil Lennon's long-range shot fell to Hartson, who spun and fired in a low shot but Graeme Smith did well to turn it around the post.
The rookie goalkeeper was again busy moments later when Thompson picked up the ball near the corner of the penalty area and unleashed a rocket which Smith had to tip over the bar.
Hartson then headed Thompson's free-kick over the top from eight yards.
Celtic were now on top and Varga got ahead of his marker to get on the end of Thompson's corner but his header bounced off the crossbar.
John Hartson bundles through the Kilmarnock defence
Celtic struggled to breal down Kilmarnock
Thompson tried his luck with a stinging drive from 25 yards which Smith could only parry and Camara blasted the rebound well wide.
But McGeady came to Celtic's rescue when he curled a right-foot free-kick over the defensive wall and past the despairing dive of Smith.
Killie threatened in the 52nd minute when Gordon Greer threaded the ball through to Nish, who drove low and hard, but Marshall got down well to gather.
Camara could have settled Celtic nerves on the hour when Varga broke down the right and pulled the ball into his path but he sidefooted the ball well wide.
But the on-loan striker won his side a penalty in the 63rd minute when he toppled dramatically after Simon Ford appeared to take the ball.
Thompson stepped up to send Smith the wrong way.
Furious Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies had to be restrained moments later when referee Steve Conroy ignored penalty shouts after Gary McDonald had gone down under Dider Agathe's challenge.
Kilmarnock's industry was rewarded in the 89th minute when Nish powered home a shot from 18 yards after good work from substitute Steven Naismith.
Celtic: Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Valgaeren, McNamara, McGeady (Wallace 90), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Hartson, Camara (Beattie 79). Subs Not Used: Douglas, Sylla, Juninho Paulista, Pearson.
Goals: McGeady 44, Thompson 64 pen.
Kilmarnock: Smith, Lilley, Greer, Dindeleux, Ford, Johnston (Naismith 87), Nish, McDonald, Leven, Dargo (Locke 73), Invincibile (Fowler 45). Subs Not Used: Samson, Hay, Joly, Murray.
Goals: Nish 89.
Att: 57,348
Ref: S Conroy
O'Neill delighted to land points
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill
Celtic 2-1 Kilmarnock
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was pleased to see his side pick up maximum points against Kilmarnock.
"We didn't play well but we saw it through," O'Neill told BBC Sport. "And I'm thrilled that we won."
"Our league form has been tremendous this season but this was one of those dogged victories.
"Kilmarnock had the better of the early exchanges and David Marshall made a wonderful save to keep us in it before (Aiden) McGeady's great goal."