2015-01-05: Kilmarnock 0-2 Celtic, SP

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

Trivia

• Monday night match. 8pm kick off
• First game of the new calendar year.
• Henderson gets a start and wows everyone. Guidetti dumped to the bench after a goal drought. Commons has tons of shots but just couldn’t score (mostly unlucky)
• Actual first game (Partick on 1st Jan) was cancelled due to waterlogged pitch.
• Celtic to play in a winter get-away tournament in Gran Canaries.
• Willie McStay has confirmed to me he will be returning as Head of Academy Recruitment.
• Transfer window opens:
  • Berget not to be retained on loan, few complain.
  • Rumours of Commons to Bolton (Lennon is the manager there).

Review

(quiet assasin of KDS)
Very good performance. The kind of comfortable win we really needed.

That said our failings were evident. Not clinical in front of goal and the traditional moment of madness at the back when the game isn’t sewn up yet.

Henderson is the player that McGregor wishes he was.

Bitton needs to man up.

Matthews looked better than he has.

Scepovic offered nothing before his goal but looked energised afterwards.

The ref was a complete wink.

(sweetleftfoot of KDS)
Comfortable win against a below average Killie side who organised themselves to stop us scoring and maybe nick one on the breakaway. We could have scored more than two-woodwork hit three times.Izzy was terrific and if he could cross the ball accurately would be verging on top drawer.

Commons had a good game and deserved a goal-imo he has the best “football brain” in the team.

If he had a bit of pace,he wouldn’t be playing for us……..(in a couple of weeks,he probably won’t be).

Virgil and Effe were extremely relaxed as Killie offered virtually nothing although CG had to look lively on a couple of occasions.Young Henderson didn’t look out of place and seems a decent prospect.Jury still out on Scepovic–he may be a decent player as he becomes more used to playing against packed defences.

We still look a bit “soft”.

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Stats

Kilmarnock Celtic
Possession
63% 37%
90mins
Shots
6 19
On target
2 5
Corners
4 9
Fouls
8 7

Articles

Kilmarnock 0-2 Celtic: Scepovic seals win after Izaguirre opener
STV
5 January 2015 21:06 GMT
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/kilmarnock/305484-kilmarnock-0-2-celtic-scepovic-seals-win-after-izaguirre-opener/

Celtic closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen to one point with a convincing 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The returning Kris Commons hit the bar twice in the first-half before left-back Emilio Izaguirre drove the dominant visitors ahead in the 36th minute.

Striker Stefan Scepovic, also handed a rare start by boss Ronny Deila, made it 2-0 from close range in the 71st minute but that goal did not come close to reflecting the grip the champions had on a one-sided affair.

While having a game in hand over the Dons, Deila takes his side off to a winter break in Gran Canaria on Tuesday morning — they will play PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Prague — with next week’s game against St Johnstone cancelled.

However, following such an impressive victory in Ayrshire they will return to resume the title battle full of confidence.

Deila, though, had clearly lost patience with on-loan Manchester City striker John Guidetti who had failed to hit the net in five appearances, the Swede’s place taken by Scepovic who had only scored three times since his £2.3m move from Sporting Gijon in the summer.

Commons and Liam Henderson were also brought in as Leigh Griffiths dropped to the bench alongside Guidetti with Anthony Stokes out injured.

Killie midfielder Craig Slater was suspended following his red card against St Mirren on New Year’s Day and Lee Miller was also missing with Jamie Hamill and Chris Johnston handed starting places.

Celtic had reportedly been refused permission to train on Killie’s artificial pitch ahead of the match.

However, the visitors did not appear to have any problems in adapting to the surface as they controlled the early stages with attacking midfielder Stefan Johansen and Henderson having efforts blocked.

A disjointed Killie side offered little aside from stubborn resistance and the Hoops kept probing.

In the 16th minute the sprightly Commons assumed control of an Izaguirre pass 25 yards out and promptly smacked the bar with a vicious left-footed drive, the former Derby player then having even less success with two further drives.

Another drive from Commons in the 25th minute, this time from closer range, also struck the bar before flying over.

Kilmarnock threatened for the first time three minutes later when midfielder Alexei Eremenko curled in a free-kick from wide on the left where Josh Magennis’s header drew a fine save from Hoops keeper Craig Gordon.

Robbie Muirhead replaced Johnston after 34 minutes, with Magennis moving back to midfield.

But the home side were soon behind when Johansen knocked the ball into the supporting Izaguirre who lashed a shot high past helpless Killie keeper Craig Samson, who had to make a good save from Commons before half-time to prevent the visitors doubling their lead and the second-half looked ominous for Killie.

In another Rugby Park reshuffle Magennis was moved back into attack for the start of the second period but the Parkhead side remained in control, albeit there was a fright in the 52nd minute when Hamill’s low drive from 25 yards sped just past the post.

Commons continued his vendetta on the Killie goal with another drive, this time deflected past for a corner which came to nothing.

Just after the hour mark, in one of Killie’s sporadic attacks, Gordon made a decent save from Muirhead’s drive which appeared to be heading into the top corner.

Still, Celtic controlled proceedings and they sealed the victory from a Johansen corner which was headed towards goal by Hoops stopper Efe Ambrose, leaving Scepovic to poke it over the line from a yard out.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Killie.

There was an unsuccessful appeal for a Celtic penalty when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Killie skipper Mark Connolly before substitute Callum McGregor, on for Henderson, saw a shot deflected on to the post.

But it was academic as the Hoops saw out the win, reminding Aberdeen and the rest of Scottish football just why they are champions.

BBC
By Andy Burke BBC Scotland

Celtic moved to within a point of league leaders Aberdeen as goals from Emilo Izaguirre and Stefan Scepovic gave them victory at Rugby Park.

Ronny Deila’s side dominated from the start, with Izaguirre’s strike the least they deserved from the opening period.

Kris Commons was a constant threat, hitting the crossbar twice.

Killie offered greater resistance after the break but Scepovic’s close-range finish sealed the points for Celtic.

Celtic created the first opening when Liam Henderson combined with Stefan Scepovic but Mark Connolly blocked Henderson’s goal-bound effort.

Alexei Eremenko played a pass through to Josh Magennis, and when Efe Ambrose lost his footing the striker had a sight of goal, but he dragged his shot well wide.

Commons came within inches of opening the scoring when his fierce strike from the edge of the area hit the bar.

On 20 minutes, Stefan Johansen fed the onrushing Commons in the penalty box and, although his first touch was good, the former Derby man blazed over the bar.

Celtic were applying all the pressure, and Commons was again denied by the bar after being teed up by Henderson.
Emilio Izaguirre scored his second goal of the season against Kilmarnock.

Emilio Izaguirre scored his second goal of the season against Kilmarnock

Craig Gordon was called into action when Magennis rose highest to meet Eremenko’s free-kick, but the Celtic keeper got down well to save.

Deila’s men finally took the lead 10 minutes before the interval, from an unlikely source.

Johansen lobbed a clever pass into the path of Izaguirre and the Honduran lashed an emphatic volley past Craig Samson to make it 1-0.

Henderson was at the heart of most of Celtic’s attacking play, and his clever back-heel put Commons in on goal, but Samson got a strong hand in the way of his powerful shot.

Kilmarnock emerged with renewed vigour after the break and almost levelled things early in the half. An Eremenko corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Jamie Hamill arrived to fire in a drive which flew just past the post.

Commons took an Adam Matthews pass in the penalty box, turned and fired a shot at goal that looked to be heading in until Connolly’s magnificent defensive header diverted the ball over the bar.
Ronny Deila was delighted with his side’s display at Rugby Park

Ronny Deila was delighted with his side’s display at Rugby Park

Robbie Muirhead tried his luck from 20 yards out at the corner of the area, forcing Gordon into a smart save as the ball arrowed towards the top corner.

For all their intricate build-up play, it was from a set-piece that Celtic doubled their advantage.

Johansen whipped in a corner and when Ambrose nodded the ball goalwards, Scepovic was lurking to turn the ball home from close range.

Lee Ashcroft’s mistake allowed Commons another attempt on goal, but again Samson saved well to deny him.

Mark O’Hara took a pass from Eremenko and let fly from outside the box, his effort sailing harmlessly over.

Substitute Callum McGregor’s deflected strike hit the outside of the post as Celtic eased towards the final whistle.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 2.
90:00 +3:02 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 2.
90:00 +1:57

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
90:00 +1:48

Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88:23

Attempt missed. Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is close, but misses to the left.
86:33

Attempt blocked. John Guidetti (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
84:47

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
84:47

Lee Ashcroft (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84:26 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces Liam Henderson because of an injury.
82:43

Liam Henderson (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
82:43

Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
81:01 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. John Guidetti replaces Stefan Scepovic.
80:04

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
79:14 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Manuel Pascali replaces Jamie Hamill because of an injury.
79:00

Chris Chantler (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
78:59

Foul by Liam Henderson (Celtic).
76:09

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
76:09

Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75:41

Attempt missed. Robbie Muirhead (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
74:16 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Darnell Fisher replaces Adam Matthews.
72:24

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
71:54 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 2. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) with an attempt from very close range to the centre of the goal.
70:46

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
70:31

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
68:17

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
67:38

Delay in match Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) because of an injury.
67:19

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
65:08 Booking

Booking Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card.
65:04

Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65:04

Foul by Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock).
63:02

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
61:46

Attempt saved. Robbie Muirhead (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
58:46

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
58:27

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
54:58

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
52:03

Attempt missed. Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
51:31

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Kris Commons.
49:22

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
49:22

Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).
45:18

Hand ball by Mark Connolly (Kilmarnock).
45:00

Second Half begins Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.
45:00 +1:29 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.
45:00 +0:52

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
45:00 +0:23 Booking

Booking Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
45:00 +0:19

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
45:00 +0:19

Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
44:25

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
41:58

Attempt missed. Stefan Scepovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
35:44 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
34:23 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Robbie Muirhead replaces Chris Johnston.
27:48

Attempt saved. Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
27:32

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
27:32

Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
25:47

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).
25:47

Mark O’Hara (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
25:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Chris Johnston.
24:29

Kris Commons (Celtic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box.
21:12

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
20:39

Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
20:39

Foul by Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock).
19:23

Foul by Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock).
19:23

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
17:26 Booking

Booking Kris Commons (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
17:23

Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
17:23

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
17:05

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
16:39

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
15:34

Kris Commons (Celtic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box.
14:12

Attempt missed. Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
10:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Barbour.
10:01

Attempt blocked. Liam Henderson (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
8:56

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamill.
8:48

Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.
6:47 Booking

Booking Mark Connolly (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card.
6:43

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
5:51

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
5:07

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamill.
4:39

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Barbour.
4:16

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:16

Foul by Jamie Hamill (Kilmarnock).
2:26

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
2:26

Foul by Lee Ashcroft (Kilmarnock).
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.