| Match Pictures | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic returned to the top of the SPL with a narrow but comfortable win.
Review
Celtic almost opened the scoring with only a couple of minutes on the clock and it was Bobo Balde who went close. An Ulrik Laursen cross reached him at the back post and his header beat Combe but landed on top of the crossbar. Killie had the ball in the net after 11 minutes through Steven Naismith, but the assistant referee correctly indicated that it had gone over the goal-line before Gary McDonald cut it back to his team-mate. Sutton saw a shot from the edge of the box comfortably held by Combe and the striker also had a glancing header deflected wide.
But the striker put his side ahead seven minutes before half-time after an inexplicable handball in the box by Invincibile as he challenged Hartson in the air. Sutton expertly guided the ball past Combe from the penalty spot.
The game as a whole had been scrappy and that continued to be the case after the break. Hartson was denied a goal when he pushed Invincibile in the back before heading into the net.
Substitute Henri Camara had a powerful shot well held by Combe with eight minutes left before Hartson somehow hit the bar from six yards with only the keeper to beat.
Teams
Kilmarnock:-
Combe, Lilley, Ford, Fontaine, Hay, Naismith (Johnston 67), Leven, Locke, McDonald, Boyd (Nish 57), Invincibile (Wales 80).
Subs Not Used:- Smith, Fowler, Murray, Dodds.
Booked:- McDonald, Locke, Hay.
Celtic:-
Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Camara 70), Sutton, Hartson.
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Juninho Paulista, Lambert, Wallace, Lawson, McManus.
Goal:- Sutton 38 pen.
Booked:- Petrov, Hartson, Lennon.
Att:- 9,723
Ref:- I Brines.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Kilmarnock 0-1 Celtic
BBC
Celtic returned to the top of the SPL with a narrow but comfortable win over Kilmarnock in a pretty uninspiring game at Rugby Park.
The only goal of the game from the penalty spot after 38 minutes.
Danny Invincibile challenged John Hartson for a high ball but for some reason threw his hand at the ball.
The referee was in no doubt about the award and Chris Sutton calmly stepped up to steer the ball beyond Alan Combe and into the net.
Celtic almost opened the scoring with only a couple of minutes on the clock and, ironically, it was Bobo Balde, potentially playing his last game for the club, who went close.
An Ulrik Laursen cross reached him at the back post and his header beat Combe but landed on top of the crossbar.
Killie had the ball in the net after 11 minutes through Steven Naismith, but the assistant referee correctly indicated that it had gone over the goal-line before Gary McDonald cut it back to his team-mate.
Sutton saw a shot from the edge of the box comfortably held by Combe and the striker also had a glancing header deflected wide.
But the striker put his side ahead seven minutes before half-time after an inexplicable handball in the box by Invincibile as he challenged Hartson in the air.
Sutton expertly guided the ball past Combe from the penalty spot.
The game as a whole had been scrappy and that continued to be the case after the break, with neither side creating much in the way of goalscoring opportunities.
Peter Leven tested Douglas from about 30 yards but the keeper held his low drive well on the hour mark.
Hartson was denied a goal when he pushed Invincibile in the back before heading into the net.
Substitute Henri Camara had a powerful shot well held by Combe with eight minutes left before Hartson somehow hit the bar from six yards with only the keeper to beat.
Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Ford, Fontaine, Hay, Naismith (Johnston 67), Leven, Locke, McDonald, Boyd (Nish 57), Invincibile (Wales 80).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Fowler, Murray, Dodds.
Booked: McDonald, Locke, Hay.
Celtic: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Camara 70), Sutton, Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Juninho Paulista, Lambert, Wallace, Lawson, McManus.
Booked: Petrov, Hartson, Lennon.
Goal: Sutton 38 pen.
Att: 9,723
Ref: I Brines
O'Neill happy with narrow victory
BBC
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill praised his players after the win over Kilmarnock, though he admitted a second goal would have been nice.
"The goal was deserved but we were never able to get that elusive second to make the game more comfortable," said O'Neill.
"Our approach work was excellent and we only needed a touch on a couple of occasions to convert our chances.
"But we've tightened up at the back and the games have got a lot tighter."