2014-10-26: Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2014 – 2015 | 2014-15 Pictures

Trivia

• Back to the league after European Action.
• A little bit of stoosh caused by this game after the kick-off was changed to 1pm from 3pm. Didn't go down well with some, and reflected in sparse crowd.
• Celtic players wearing armbands in honour of ex-Celt James Sharkey who has sadly passed away this week.
• Scotland v Ireland: Gordon Strachan and Martin O’Neill will go head-to-head at Celtic Park as the home of the Hoops has been chosen for Scotland’s crucial Group D UEFA Euro 2016 qualification match on Friday, November 14.
• Scotland v England: Just four days later, Celtic keeper, Fraser Forster could re-enact Martin O’Neill’s visit to the away dressing room at Celtic Park when England visit to play Scotland in a Vauxhall International Challenge Match.

Review

(Columbo of KDS forum)
Miserable day to watch football – not made any more comfortable by our performance.

Going nowhere until their red card.

Both strikers scored – which is great – Guidetti looks the part and Scepovic showed a few nice touches.

Biggest Kilmarnock support at CP for years – they must have fancied their chances.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Stats

Celtic Kilmarnock
Possession
43% 57%
90mins
Shots
20 3
On target
10 0
Corners
6 3
Fouls
14 8

Articles

Celtic ease to victory over 10-man Kilmarnock
Updated: Sunday, 26 Oct 2014 15:13 | 0 Comments

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/scottish/2014/1026/655020-celtic-ease-to-victory-over-10-man-kilmarnock/
Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock

Celtic leapfrogged Kilmarnock into fourth place in the Premiership with a 2-0 win over the 10-man Ayrshire side at Parkhead.

Swedish striker John Guidetti scored his fifth goal in seven games in the 35th minute with a 25-yard free-kick awarded when Killie skipper Manuel Pascali's 'last man' foul on Stefan Scepovic earned him a red card from referee Willie Collum.

It was the turning point in a match in which hitherto Killie had been the equal of their hosts.

Rugby Park manager Alan Johnston immediately sacrificed his mercurial midfielder Alexei Eremenko for defender Lee Ashcroft and thereafter the Ayrshire men concentrated their efforts on keeping the champions at bay.

Hoever, Scepovic scored the second with a shot in the 63rd minute and the Hoops ran out easy winners although the extra man advantage they enjoyed for a large part of the game makes proper analysis tricky.

Much of the attention on the match, from a Parkhead perspective, was on Celtic's two-man strikeforce given that manager Ronny Deila has preferred one attacking midfielder off the main striker.

Guidetti, ineligible for the 2-1 Europa League game against Astra at Celtic Park on Thursday night as he was not registered in time following his loan move from Manchester City, returned to partner Scepovic who scored his first goal for the Hoops against the Romanian side since signing from Sporting Gijon in the summer.

Right-back Adam Matthews and winger Mubarak Wakaso were also drafted in as Mikael Lustig and Charlie Mulgrew started on the bench and Anthony Stokes dropped out altogether.

The Rugby Park men, who had won their last three games despite being involved in a bonus dispute with club's board, started positively.

Eremenko took out the whole Hoops defence in the fifth minute with a fine pass but wide-man Tope Obadeyi lost his race with Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon and the home side eventually cleared their lines.

Before Scepovic headed a Stefan Johansen corner into the side-netting in the 24th minute, Celtic had not seriously threatened Conor Brennan, although moments later the Killie keeper made a decent save from Wakaso's header from Callum McGregor's deep cross.

At the other end Gordon did well to parry away a powerful drive from Eremenko but as it transpired that was the Finn's last contribution.

Pascali's battle with Guidetti had been an interesting sub-plot but it was when he prevented Scepovic going clean through on goal from a McGregor pass that Collum reached for the red card.

Eremenko was not best pleased at being replaced by Ashcroft and he had hardly taken his place in the dugout when Guidetti, from 25 yards, curled a wonderful free-kick into the far corner of the net.

Losing arguably their best player, their captain and a goal in the same incident turned the game firmly in the Parkhead side's favour and they tried to bury Killie before the break.

Scepovic's curling shot from 16 yards in the 39th minute beat Brennan but was headed clear off the line by Mark Connolly before the increasingly busy keeper made a fine save from Guidetti's shot on the turn from the edge of the box moments later.

Ominously for Killie, Scepovic forced Brennan into another block with a drive on the turn before a minute of the second half had elapsed.

On a blustery day in the east end of Glasgow there was no let-up in the wind, rain or the Celtic pressure.

Guidetti smashed a drive off the post in the 56th minute before making Brennan save another shot seconds later but the Killie defence was exposed again when Wakaso's deep cross to the back post found Scepovic who knocked his volley back across the Killie keeper and into the net

Minutes later, the Serb pounced on a slack Sammy Clingan pass back but his lob from the edge of the box could not beat Brennan.
The Hoops striker was immediately replaced by Leigh Griffiths, as Mulgrew came on for Johansen and the procession towards the Killie goal continued.

Amid several near misses for the home side, Ashcroft's lunging block prevented Matthews' drive getting through on goal but the game petered out in the final stages.

BBC
Guidetti and Scepovic give Celtic win
Kilmarnock's Pascali red-carded
Celtic move to within three points of Hamilton

Kilmarnock paid heavily for the first-half sending-off of their captain Manuel Pascali as Celtic jumped to fourth in the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win.

John Guidetti drove home the free-kick that followed Pascali's professional foul on Stefan Scepovic.

Kilmarnock keeper Conor Brennan limited the damage with a string of saves for the Ayrshire side.

But he could not prevent Scepovic knocking in a second after the break.
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Deila says Celtic are improving

Pascali's dismissal changed the nature of the match. Before his red card on 34 minutes for pulling Scepovic back as he bore down on goal, the teams had been evenly matched.

Both sides had shown flashes of skill – a Guidetti flick here, an Alexei Eremenko dummy there – but the goalkeepers had been under-employed.

Tope Obadeyi advanced from midfield to offer some threat to Craig Gordon's goal on occasion but was stymied by the alertness of the Scotland keeper or the positioning of Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer in the home defence.

Van Dijk headed a corner a fraction wide and Celtic captain Scott Brown broke off from his midfield tussles with Jamie Hamill and Sammy Clingan to fire a few shots at Brennan's goal but they were bravely blocked by defenders.

And Mubarak Wakaso thumped a header straight into Brennan's arms from the corner of the six-yard box.

Gordon's only real save of the first half was to parry a 25-yard pile-driver by Eremenko.
Celtic finding their form…

Ronny Deila's side have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions having won only one of their previous seven

Pascali, who had been the key figure in organising the Killie defence, was lucky when referee Willie Collum awarded him rather than Guidetti a free-kick after making a mess of ushering the ball out for a goal kick with the Swede snapping at his heels.

But the Italian offered little complaint when Collum flashed him a straight red for his panicked challenge on Scepovic.

Killie boss Allan Johnston immediately withdrew Eremenko and sent on Lee Ashcroft to partner Mark Connolly in defence but within seconds Guidetti had stroked his free-kick past the despairing Brennan.

Celtic had Killie on the back foot and the visitors had a close shave when Connolly headed an effort off the line and Brennan saved well from a Stefan Johansen crack from 18 yards.

As the Rugby Park men struggled to play in Celtic's half, so the chances came for the hosts.

Brennan palmed away an angled shot by Scepovic, relied on his post to keep out a Guidetti effort from 12 yards and was well placed, again, to block the centre-forward's effort 10 seconds later.

But the Serbia international would get the last laugh over Brennan, who was in for the injured Craig Samson.

Moments after side-footing horribly wide from 18 yards as Wakaso found space on the left, Scepovic was rewarded for his persistence when he met the winger's cross to hit the ball across Brennan and into the net.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila replaced the scorer with Leigh Griffiths and sent on Charlie Mulgrew for Johansen – but the match was over as a meaningful contest and Celtic were able to follow up Thursday's Europa League win over Astra by moving up to fourth in the Scottish Premiership, overtaking Kilmarnock in the process.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
90:00 +2:35 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
90:00 +1:05

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
90:00 +1:05

Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88:10

Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
88:10

Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85:23

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Conor Brennan.
85:13

Attempt saved. Adam Matthews (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
83:07

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
80:23

Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
80:23

Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79:04

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
79:04

Mark Connolly (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78:55 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Aleksandar Tonev replaces Mubarak Wakaso.
78:27

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
74:18

Foul by Adam Matthews (Celtic).
74:18

Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
70:33

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
70:33

Foul by Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock).
70:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Michael Ngoo replaces Josh Magennis.
69:42

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
69:18

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Barbour.
66:59 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Charlie Mulgrew replaces Stefan Johansen.
66:24 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Stefan Scepovic.
66:06

Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
65:40

Attempt saved. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
65:13

Attempt saved. Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
63:07 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mubarak Wakaso.
61:21

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
59:46

Jason Denayer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:43

Foul by Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock).
57:39

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Ashcroft.
57:23

John Guidetti (Celtic) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
56:28

Attempt missed. Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is just a bit too high.
53:25 Booking

Booking Ross Barbour (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card.
53:21

Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
53:21

Foul by Ross Barbour (Kilmarnock).
52:41 Booking

Booking Stefan Johansen (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
52:33

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
52:33

Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
52:25

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
52:25

Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
50:54

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
50:54

Tope Obadeyi (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
50:41

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
49:02

Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
49:02

Foul by Mark Connolly (Kilmarnock).
45:53

Attempt saved. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 1, Kilmarnock 0.
45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 1, Kilmarnock 0.
45:00 +0:57

Attempt missed. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
44:28

Attempt missed. Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
39:47

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Conor Brennan.
39:35

Attempt saved. John Guidetti (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
39:05

Attempt saved. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
34:55 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Kilmarnock 0. John Guidetti (Celtic) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
34:16 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Lee Ashcroft replaces Alexei Eremenko.
33:18 Dismissal

Dismissal Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) is shown the red card for a bad foul.
33:13

Foul by Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock).
33:13

Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32:34

Attempt blocked. Sammy Clingan (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
29:03

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
26:31

Ross Barbour (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26:31

Foul by John Guidetti (Celtic).
26:01

Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
26:01

Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
25:29

Attempt saved. Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.
23:32

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
23:03

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Chris Chantler.
19:02

Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
19:02

Foul by John Guidetti (Celtic).
17:28

Foul by Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock).
17:28

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
16:46

Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
16:46

Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic).
15:24

Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
15:24

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
13:49

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
12:39

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Jason Denayer.
11:12

Attempt missed. Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
8:48

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
7:29

Foul by John Guidetti (Celtic).
7:29

Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7:14

Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
5:49

Foul by John Guidetti (Celtic).
5:49

Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
3:42

John Guidetti (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
3:42

Foul by Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock).
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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