2010-03-27: Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock, SPL

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• Neil Lennon's first match as temporary manager
• Tony Mowbray was sacked only two days before.

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Robbie Keane scored twice as Neil Lennon started his reign as interim Celtic manager with an emphatic victory over Kilmarnock in Glasgow.

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Celtic 3 – 1 Kilmarnock

BBC
Georgios Samaras and Neil Lennon celebrate with goalscorer Robbie Keane
Keane scored the first goal of Lennon's tenure at Celtic Park

By Clive Lindsay

Robbie Keane scored twice as Neil Lennon started his reign as interim Celtic manager with an emphatic victory over Kilmarnock in Glasgow.

Adventurous Killie survived an early battering until Keane brilliantly weaved his way into the penalty box to chip the goalkeeper after 37 minutes.

Keane blasted in a 62nd-minute second and Scott Brown slotted a third goal four minutes later for rampant Celtic.

Craig Bryson's deflected cross deceived Artur Boruc for a 73rd-minute reply.

After leaders Rangers' 4-1 morning victory, it simply re-established a 10-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League, but the win was a first, successful step in Lennon's bid to win the job long-term.

Lennon had immediately made his mark with five changes to the side that suffered the 4-0 midweek humiliation by St Mirren that subsequently ended Tony Mowbray's reign.

Artur Boruc, Andreas Hinkel, Lee Naylor, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Brown, back from suspension, replaced Lukasz Zaluska, Mark Wilson, Edson Braafheid, Ki Sung Yueng and Paul McGowan.

Lennon's Celtic started at breakneck speed and came close to opening the several times within the first couple of minutes as the ball seemed drawn like a magnet to the Killie six-yard box.

Fortune squandered the best of them, heading over from all of four yards following a Georgios Samaras chip.

Kilmarnock, bolstered by the return from suspension of defender Frazer Wright, weathered the early storm without causing Boruc any problems.

The Polish goalkeeper's opposite number, Cammy Bell, remained the man under pressure and was forced into a fine save to turn a bobbling Samaras drive wide for a corner.

It seemed only a matter of time before Celtic's probing produced a goal, with Killie thankful for some fine reading of the game by Bell as the keeper saved twice at the feet of Keane.

Visiting manager Jimmy Calderwood had perhaps banked on Celtic being as fragile at the back as they were in Paisley, but naming four strikers on his team-sheet – Kevin Kyle, Allan Russell, Chris Maguire and Mark Burchill – was looking like a suicide note.

And Calderwood had seen enough by the 20th minute for him to withdraw Burchill and replace the former Celtic man with midfielder James Fowler.

Killie's less adventurous formation was limiting Celtic to long-range efforts until a moment of magic by Keane broke the deadlock.

The on-loan Tottenham striker gathered a pass from Brown with his back to goal, slipped the ball through the legs of Simon Ford and Scott Severin then deftly chipped the ball over the advancing Bell.

Aiden McGeady came close to extending the lead on the stroke of half-time with a low, 16-yard drive that struck the inside of the post and ricocheted across the face of goal before being gathered by Bell.

Killie looked more dangerous after the break, but any thoughts of spoiling Lennon's big day were ended when Keane picked up the ball wide on the right and blasted the ball into the far corner from an acute angle.

Celtic quickly added to their tally when McGeady's ****** shot was side-footed home by Brown from 12 yards.

Bryson gave Killie some hope when his cross deflected off the back of Naylor before looping over Boruc.

However, the traffic was mainly towards the Killie goal, with Wright clearing a close-range Samaras header off the line.

Russell sent a drive against the top of the Celtic crossbar, a feat matched by McGeady at the other end, as an exciting game drew to a close and Lennon claimed his first three points.

• 90:00+2:01 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
• 90:00+0:33 Scott Severin concedes a free kick for a foul on Morten Rasmussen. Landry N'Guemo restarts play with the free kick.
• 86:47 Inswinging corner taken by Lee Naylor from the right by-line, save by Cameron Bell.
• 86:26 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Brown from the right by-line, clearance made by Daniele Invincibile.
• 85:53 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Tim Clancy gets a block in.
• 84:00 Aiden McGeady takes a shot.
• 82:57 Substitution Morten Rasmussen replaces Marc-Antoine Fortune.
• 82:41 Allan Russell takes a shot.
• 81:28 Scott Brown takes a outswinging corner.
• 80:26 Outswinging corner taken by Craig Bryson from the right by-line, clearance made by Scott Brown.
• 79:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Tim Clancy. Georgios Samaras takes the free kick.
• 78:54 The referee blows for offside against Kevin Kyle. Free kick taken by Darren O'Dea.
• 78:38 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Cameron Bell makes a save.
• 76:59 Free kick taken by Scott Severin.
• 76:59 Booking Booking for Landry N'Guemo for unsporting behaviour.
• 76:52 Landry N'Guemo concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Bryson.
• 75:32 The ball is swung over by Lee Naylor, Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Cameron Bell gets a block in.
• 75:32 Booking Booking for Jamie Hamill for unsporting behaviour.
• 75:19 Unfair challenge on Lee Naylor by Jamie Hamill results in a free kick.
• 74:41 Outswinging corner taken by Lee Naylor, Simon Ford manages to make a clearance.
• 74:33 The ball is swung over by Aiden McGeady, clearance made by Simon Ford.
• 72:27 Assist by Jamie Hamill.
• 72:27 GOAL – Craig Bryson:Celtic 3 – 1 Kilmarnock Craig Bryson fires in a goal from outside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock.
• 71:55 Josh Thompson challenges Kevin Kyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
• 71:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andreas Hinkel by Daniele Invincibile. Direct free kick taken by Artur Boruc.
• 70:18 Substitution (Kilmarnock) makes a substitution, with Jamie Hamill coming on for Liam Kelly.
• 69:25 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Bryson played to the near post, Georgios Samaras manages to make a clearance.
• 68:20 Strike comes in from Lee Naylor from the free kick, save by Cameron Bell.
• 68:20 Booking Daniele Invincibile goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
• 68:12 Daniele Invincibile gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune.
• 67:19 Lee Naylor takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
• 66:36 Short corner worked by Lee Naylor.
• 65:05 Aiden McGeady provided the assist for the goal.
• 65:05 GOAL – Scott Brown:Celtic 3 – 0 Kilmarnock A goal is scored by Scott Brown from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 3-0 Kilmarnock.
• 64:28 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Craig Bryson, clearance made by Marc-Antoine Fortune.
• 63:30 A cross is delivered by Aiden McGeady, Header from close in by Marc-Antoine Fortune misses to the left of the target.
• 63:00 Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by James Fowler results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Lee Naylor from left wing.
• 61:09 Assist on the goal came from Scott Brown.
• 61:09 GOAL – Robbie Keane:Celtic 2 – 0 Kilmarnock Robbie Keane finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock.
• 60:09 Foul by Darren O'Dea on Craig Bryson, free kick awarded. Scott Severin takes the direct free kick.
• 59:28 Daniele Invincibile gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. Free kick taken by Andreas Hinkel.
• 58:52 Direct free kick taken by Darren O'Dea.
• 58:52 Booking Liam Kelly goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
• 58:19 Darren O'Dea fouled by Liam Kelly, the ref awards a free kick.
• 56:48 Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Allan Russell results in a free kick. Georgios Samaras takes the free kick.
• 54:23 Lee Naylor produces a cross.
• 53:40 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tim Clancy on Aiden McGeady. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Lee Naylor from right wing.
• 52:44 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren O'Dea by Kevin Kyle. Free kick taken by Darren O'Dea.
• 50:18 Unfair challenge on Andreas Hinkel by Daniele Invincibile results in a free kick. Josh Thompson takes the direct free kick.
• 47:34 Landry N'Guemo concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Bryson. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Scott Severin, save made by Artur Boruc.
• 46:09 Craig Bryson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Darren O'Dea manages to make a clearance.
• 45:06 Substitution Christopher Maguire leaves the field to be replaced by Daniele Invincibile.
• 45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
• Half Time
• 45:00+1:07 The ref blows to end the first period.
• 45:00+0:13 Inswinging corner taken by Lee Naylor from the right by-line, save by Cameron Bell.
• 43:30 Aiden McGeady takes a shot from close range that hits the post.
• 39:40 Marc-Antoine Fortune fouled by Craig Bryson, the ref awards a free kick. Aiden McGeady takes the free kick.
• 38:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Josh Thompson on Kevin Kyle. Scott Severin takes the free kick.
• 37:30 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren O'Dea on Christopher Maguire. Christopher Maguire takes the direct free kick.
• 36:08 The assist for the goal came from Scott Brown.
• 36:08 GOAL – Robbie Keane:Celtic 1 – 0 Kilmarnock Robbie Keane gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Kilmarnock.
• 34:07 Tim Clancy crosses the ball, clearance by Josh Thompson.
• 33:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Kyle by Andreas Hinkel. Direct free kick taken by Tim Clancy.
• 32:34 A cross is delivered by Lee Naylor, Craig Bryson manages to make a clearance.
• 31:16 A cross is delivered by Lee Naylor, Marc-Antoine Fortune produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
• 31:09 The ball is swung over by Landry N'Guemo, clearance by Craig Bryson.
• 29:47 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Landry N'Guemo misses to the left of the target.
• 29:14 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor from the left by-line, clearance by Craig Bryson.
• 29:10 The ball is swung over by Robbie Keane, Simon Ford makes a clearance.
• 27:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Josh Thompson on Kevin Kyle. Scott Severin takes the direct free kick.
• 26:15 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
• 19:19 Cameron Bell takes the free kick.
• 19:19 Substitution James Fowler on for Mark Burchill.
• 19:19 Robbie Keane is caught offside.
• 18:02 Corner taken by Lee Naylor from the left by-line, save made by Cameron Bell.
• 17:40 Robbie Keane takes a shot. Cameron Bell gets a block in.
• 14:43 Shot by Lee Naylor from just outside the area goes over the net.
• 13:41 Robbie Keane has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
• 12:19 The ball is crossed by Aiden McGeady, clearance made by Simon Ford.
• 11:19 The ball is delivered by Aiden McGeady.
• 10:36 Lee Naylor takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Kevin Kyle manages to make a clearance.
• 10:25 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Blocked by Cameron Bell.
• 9:48 A cross is delivered by Lee Naylor, Allan Russell manages to make a clearance.
• 9:25 Short corner taken by Lee Naylor.
• 9:18 The ball is swung over by Andreas Hinkel, Frazer Wright gets a block in.
• 9:08 The ball is swung over by Scott Brown, Tim Clancy manages to make a clearance.
• 8:24 Short corner worked by Christopher Maguire.
• 7:33 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Blocked by Tim Clancy.
• 4:00 The ball is crossed by Lee Naylor, Cameron Bell makes a save.
• 3:12 Shot from outside the penalty box by Georgios Samaras goes wide right of the goal.
• 2:21 Robbie Keane takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
• 1:47 Andreas Hinkel produces a cross, clearance made by Tim Clancy.
• 0:36 Georgios Samaras produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
• 0:00 The game begins.