2014-03-14: Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures

Trivia

• Friday night football.
• Debut for Liam Henderson; hat trick for Commons.
• First match since 20th anniversary of Celtic takeover (Mar 4).
• Back from International games last week (and Scottish Cup games). Scotland beat Poland one nil with winner by Brown. Bad news Nir Biton taken off in his match for Israel with suspected ankle damage.
• CEO Peter Lawwell elected to join major international ECA Executive Board at General Assembly in Barcelona. (European Club Association).
• Celtic release statement attacking the Scottish Govt's on Offensive Behaviour Act at Football, which has been a shambles. Good on the board. Deserve respect.
• Anthony Stokes has appeared in Court charged with assaulting an Elvis impersonator. Not a joke.
• Celtic have beaten Liverpool and Everton to the signing of 13-year-old Hamilton Accies goalie Josh Rae. He's only young, so pressure should be left off of him and expectations set at zilch.
• Tony Watt (on loan) loses place in his Lierse side and does an interview castigating his current manager, not a bright boy. Was doing well, likely expected back in the summer to Celtic.
• Celtic confirm that we will play at Murrayfield for the Champions League qualifiers.
• Ireland win the six nations rugby tournament. Legend Brian O'Driscoll retires from international on a high.
• Ricky Burns (Celtic fan) loses his WBO boxing title in defeat in Glasgow.

Review

(Columbo of KDS forum)
Our midfield totally ran the show in the second half.

Johanson looked really good.
Broony and Henderson both came on to good games.

Spent the first half moaning about Commons being clumsy and slow and the second half praising his touch , movement off the ball and clinical finishing.

Kris Boyd has looked impressive in the highlights of games over the last few months – strength , fitness , touch all seemed to have improved.
Service to him was poor last night but there was still around a dozen challenges with Charlie Mulgrew over the course of the game and Charlie come out on top every time.

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Stats

Kilmarnock Celtic
Possession
54% 46%
90mins

Shots
2 14

On target
0 9

Corners
1 6

Fouls
8 6

Articles

Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic: Kris Commons hits hat-trick in Ayrshire

STV 14 March 2014 21:59 GMT
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Celtic star Kris Commons (left) opens the scoring for the visitors Celtic star Kris Commons (left) opens the scoring for the visitors.SNS Group

A Kris Commons hat-trick gave Celtic a 3-0 win at Kilmarnock and edged the Hoops to within seven points of their third successive Scottish Premiership title.

Kilmarnock had started well against the champions-elect at Rugby Park but paid the price for switching off twice inside 90 seconds.

Commons combined well with Leigh Griffiths after 57 minutes to give the visitors the lead and make it 47 games since Celtic last failed to score a league goal.

The hosts failed to learn their lesson and allowed the former Scotland international to dart into the box unmarked to poke home from Adam Matthews' cross just moments later.

He then planted a left-footed strike beyond Craig Samson four minutes from time to claim the match ball.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon handed teenager Liam Henderson his first start for the club as the 17-year-old came in for injured winger James Forrest.

Commons also returned for the Parkhead side alongside Stefan Johansen after they both missed the 5-0 drubbing of Inverness a fortnight ago, replacing the suspended Virgil van Dijk and injured Israeli Nir Biton.

Kilmarnock boss Allan Johnston, meanwhile, named the team which beat Hearts 4-2 last Saturday as he pinned his hopes on former Rangers striker Kris Boyd grabbing just his second goal in 13 years against the Hoops.

But it was Commons who made the difference and Celtic now lead the top flight by 24 points with nine games remaining.

The Glasgow giants can pencil in their Parkhead clash with Ross County on March 29 for a title party, should nearest challengers Aberdeen avoid defeat before then.

Celtic looked like they had made the perfect start as they netted inside 60 seconds when Anthony Stokes finished off a Griffiths cross but the Irishman's strike was ruled out for offside.

Boyd looked eager to find the net against the Hoops for the first time since his days as a Rangers player back in 2007 but he just missed out as Sean Clohessy fizzed a dangerous cross to the back post early on.

It was then the Scotland striker's lay-off which allowed Michael Gardyne to fire at goal, albeit just wide, after seven minutes.

At the other end, Commons tested Craig Samson but the goalkeeper dealt well with an effort straight down his throat.

Boyd had a penalty claim rejected by referee Willie Collum after 22 minutes as Efe Ambrose appeared to give him a shove in the box.

It was a promising first half-hour for the home side against the runaway league leaders as they found space in between the Celtic midfield and their back four.

Lennon's men slipped up a gear, however, as the match edged towards the break and almost found the opener after 39 minutes.

Matthews made good progress down the right before firing in a low cross which skipped up off Kilmarnock defender Lee Ashcroft's shin and shot towards his own net.

But the ball fell into Samson's grateful grasp just as the goalkeeper looked like he might be wrong-footed.

The teams were still level at half-time and Johansen saw an early chance at the start of the second period beaten away as Samson reacted well to his 25-yard drive.

But Kilmarnock's resistance was finally broken when Commons collected Charlie Mulgrew's ball forward, playing a slick one-two with Griffiths before angling a finish past Samson.

And with the hosts still reeling from that blow, the Hoops took advantage of their stunned state to grab a second as Commons found Matthews on the right of the box before beating his marker into the six-yard box to apply the finishing touch.

Kilmarnock substitute Chris Johnston flashed a shot just wide as the home team looked for a way back into the game after 69 minutes, while Commons was made to wait for his hat-trick with a quarter of an hour left when another offside flag cancelled out his finish from Emilio Izaguirre's centre.

Lennon then gave midfielder Beram Kayal his first run-out since injuring an ankle against AC Milan back in November as the fit-again Israeli replaced Henderson with eight minutes left.

Commons wrapped up his treble after 86 minutes with a low shot which bounced past Samson's despairing reach on its way into the bottom corner.

Copyright of Press Association 2014.

BBC

By Andrew Southwick BBC Scotland

Celtic took a step closer to the Scottish Premiership title as a Kris Commons hat-trick swept aside Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The champions initially struggled to get into any sort of rhythm in a windy opening 45 minutes in Ayrshire.

However, after the break talisman Commons netted twice in as many minutes to get the visitors off and running.

The midfielder then ensured he took home the match ball when he confidently struck a long drive into the net.

The champions move 24 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen, and just seven more points will clinch a third consecutive championship.

Kilmarnock missed the chance to move closer to nearest rivals Hibernian, and remain within four points off the relegation play-off position having played two more games than the three teams chasing them.

Celtic had the ball in the net after just 48 seconds when Anthony Stokes rolled Commons' knockdown under the legs of Craig Samson, but the Irishman was ruled offside.

It was a bright opening from the visitors and they followed that up with another sweeping move involving Stefan Johansen, Stokes and Leigh Griffiths, but the goalkeeper had little trouble getting his body behind the striker's shot.

A mix-up at the back almost allowed Kilmarnock the chance to open the scoring. Charlie Mulgrew and Adam Matthews both miskicked, but the loose ball evaded Kris Boyd just yards from goal.
Kris Commons celebrates one of his three goals against Kilmarnock

Commons took his tally for the season to 26 goals

Kilmarnock thought they had a strong claim for a penalty when Boyd fell in the box after a joust with Efe Ambrose, but referee Willie Collum was unimpressed.

That was the best of the action from a scrappy first half, but Celtic came out with renewed vigour after the restart.

Samson had to tip over Johansen's powerful shot, then a clever one-two between Stokes and Scott Brown opened up the Kilmarnock rearguard but there were no takers for the Celtic captain's ball across goal.

The home side looked to have weathered the storm, but two goals quick-fire goals from Celtic blew their game plan apart.

Mulgrew swept forward on the counter-attack and fed Commons, who played a neat one-two with Griffiths before poking the ball into the corner.

Commons scored again two minutes later, first finding Adam Matthews on the right wing then racing into the middle to meet his cross into the six-yard box.

Stokes curled a shot beyond the far post as Celtic threatened to run away with the game, but the introduction of Alexei Eremenko and Chris Johnston helped give the hosts a kick-start, and it was the teenager who latched on to Boyd's pass and drilled a shot just wide.

It could have been an earlier hat-trick for Commons when he nudged Emilio Izaguirre's cross into the net, but the assistant referee's flag cut short the celebrations.

However, it only delayed the inevitable, and Commons grabbed his third when he was given ample space in the middle of the park. After collecting Beram Kayal's pass, he took his tally to 26 goals for the season with a long drive into the far corner.

Stokes looked to have earned a late penalty when Jeroen Tesselaar bundled him over in the box, but his pleas were ignored.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 3.
90:00 +2:04 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 3.
87:57

Attempt missed. Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
86:59 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Derk Boerrigter replaces Stefan Johansen.
86:13 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Robbie Muirhead replaces Rory McKenzie.
85:38 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 3. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
81:16 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Beram Kayal replaces Liam Henderson.
79:38

Foul by Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock).
79:38

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
79:09

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Charlie Mulgrew.
78:36

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.
74:19 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Teemu Pukki replaces Leigh Griffiths.
72:01

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
71:13

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
69:46

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
68:54

Attempt missed. Chris Johnston (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the left.
68:04

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Manuel Pascali.
65:15 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Chris Johnston replaces David Moberg-Karlsson.
64:46

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
64:00

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Slater.
62:54

Foul by Liam Henderson (Celtic).
62:54

Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
62:24

Foul by Liam Henderson (Celtic).
62:24

Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
61:36 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Alexei Eremenko replaces Michael Gardyne.
58:21 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 2. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Matthews.
56:48 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
55:09

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jeroen Tesselaar.
52:36

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Manuel Pascali.
49:08

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Sean Clohessy.
47:29

Adam Matthews (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
47:29

Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
46:31

Attempt missed. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
46:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Samson.
46:04

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
45:00

Second Half begins Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 0.
45:00 +0:02 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 0.
42:06

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
42:06

Foul by Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock).
41:19

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
41:19

Michael Gardyne (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
37:08

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
37:08

Michael Gardyne (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
35:29

Attempt saved. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
34:53

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
34:53

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar (Kilmarnock).
26:54

Liam Henderson (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26:54

Foul by Mark O'Hara (Kilmarnock).
22:42

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
22:42

Foul by Sean Clohessy (Kilmarnock).
20:50 Booking

Booking Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card.
20:40

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:40

Foul by Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock).
18:23

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
18:23

Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
14:25

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
14:25

Michael Gardyne (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:49

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
12:26

Liam Henderson (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:26

Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
11:40

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
6:42

Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
3:02

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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