2016-11-18: Kilmarnock 0-1 Celtic, SP

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Review

(Torque… of KDS)
Pish-poor pitch, pish-poor performance, good result. Terrible substitution from Brendan, bringing Rogic on for Roberts. The big guy's first three touches coughed up the ball and led to Kilmarnock breaks.

Good goal but awful game. That the SPFL allows a playing surface like that shows how out of touch and incompetent the people who run the game are — as if we didn't know.

Ah well, 13 points ahead and I'm bitching. Changed days.

(The Gorbals U)
Too many off their game tonight Brown, Sinclair ,Dembele,
Roberts and McGregor wher all poor so a win was a great
result . Ps the fog was fair coming down on the motorway
on the way back hope everyone gets home safe.

(vlad of KDS)
Thirteen clear before it's been established who's naughty or nice.
Makeshift defence keeps clean sheet in dodgy surface.
Good finish for the goal.
Not our best performance in the second half, but with a tremendous support on a freezing night, we can get the good suits out for the coming weeks adventures

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Kilmarnock Celtic
Possession
Home39%
Away61%

Shots
Home9
Away16

Shots on Target
Home2
Away6

Corners
Home3
Away5

Fouls
Home12
Away12

Articles

Kilmarnock 0 – 1 Celtic: Armstrong extends lead at the top

Celtic's Stuart Armstrong celebrates his goal. Picture: SNS
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/kilmarnock-0-1-celtic-armstrong-extends-lead-at-the-top-1-4293926

Stephen Halliday

It is unlikely to occupy much footage on Celtic’s end-of-season DVD marking what already looks certain to be a sixth consecutive title triumph but Brendan Rodgers’ men did just enough to stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership table to 13 points.
Click here for the latest results, fixtures and stats>>>
Stuart Armstrong’s strike a minute before half-time secured victory against a spirited and often enterprising Kilmarnock side.
It was far from the most cohesive or eye-catching display Celtic have produced under Rodgers but a seventh consecutive domestic clean sheet would provide him with considerable satisfaction.
The Scottish champions are already disappearing over the horizon in what, even at this stage of the season, can scarcely be described as a title race any longer.
Armstrong’s goal was a reward for persistence rather than sustained excellence from Celtic at the end of a first half in which their dominance of possession was not translated into too many clear-cut chances.
There was some adapting for Rodgers’ side to do on the night, both to the artificial playing surface at Rugby Park and the re-jigged formation which saw Dedryck Boyata come in from the cold to join Mikael Lustig and Erik Sviatchenko in a three-man defence.
It was Boyata’s first competitive appearance for Celtic since his less than auspicious contribution in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers towards the end of last season.
The Belgian was preferred to Kolo Toure, who was among the substitutes, perhaps with Wednesday night’s Champions League assignment against Barcelona in mind.
Celtic opened up on the front foot with top scorer Moussa Dembele getting his first sniff of goal in the sixth minute when, under pressure from Kilmarnock defender Will Boyle, he screwed a close range shot wide from James Forrest’s cutback.
Scott Sinclair saw a 20-yard effort deflected wide as the visitors continued to probe for an early breakthrough, the winger delivering the resulting corner from which Sviatchenko headed just wide.
Kilmarnock, whose manager Lee Clark was determined would be far less open than when they were humbled 6-1 at Celtic Park in September, gradually edged their way into the contest with Irish midfielder Gary Dicker an intelligent lynchpin in their solid 4-1-4-1 set-up.
But they were indebted to goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald who made a fine one-handed save, diving to his right, to keep out a rising shot from Forrest.
In response, Killie produced their most threatening moment yet when Greg Taylor found space on the left for a cross which on-loan Huddersfield Town striker Flo Bojaj headed wide at the near post.
Celtic had the ball in the net through Dembele but the French striker’s typically emphatic finish was in vain on this occasion as his captain Scott Brown was in an offside position.
Sinclair, a player hardly renowned for the physicality of his work, was exceptionally unfortunate to receive the first booking of the night when referee Don Robertson penalised him for a ball-winning challenge on Luke Hendrie.
Just as it appeared Kilmarnock would succeed in frustrating Celtic going into the interval, they were caught out by the 44th-minute sucker punch. Dembele collected the ball from Forrest on the right and played a piercing pass through the home side’s backline, who failed to pick up Armstrong’s run into the penalty area. The midfielder was composure personified as he slotted his right-foot shot past the exposed MacDonald.
Celtic looked to press home their advantage immediately after the restart with MacDonald making a smart save with an outstretched boot to deny Callum McGregor, who had burst clear down the left.
The Killie goalkeeper then had to react swiftly to keep out an inventive chipped effort from Patrick Roberts.
It was a rare moment of impact from the otherwise subdued on-loan Manchester City winger who was replaced by Tom Rogic when Rodgers made his first change of the night.
Clark’s introduction of Nathan Tyson for Bojaj revitalised Kilmarnock in attack with the former Nottingham Forest striker’s physical presence unsettling the Celtic defence. Craig Gordon was forced into a rare save when he got down well to turn the ball wide after Adam Frizzell’s cross had been deflected towards goal off Armstrong.
The game became increasingly stretched as Killie committed more players to their pursuit of an equaliser and Celtic tried to take advantage on the counter-attack. Scott Boyd cleared a Forrest effort off the line at one end before Frizzell’s was comfortably held by Gordon after excellent hold-up play from Tyson.
Lustig almost settled late nerves for Celtic when his 20-yard shot struck MacDonald’s left-hand post but the visitors survived some frantic late pressure from Kilmarnock to head back up the M77 with all three points.

BBC

By Chris McLaughlin

BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

Stuart Armstrong scores the only goal as Celtic beat Kilmarnock 1-0 at Rugby Park.

Stuart Armstrong's first-half goal was enough to guide Celtic past Kilmarnock and stretch their lead to 13 points at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Armstrong powered onto Moussa Dembele's through-ball and slotted past Jamie MacDonald a minute before the interval.

Mikael Lustig's drive struck the outside of Jamie MacDonald's post after the break, with Lee Clark's industrious hosts struggling to carve out clear-cut opportunities.

Killie remain seventh in the table.
All change

Celtic's green and white hoops made way for third-strip pink on a freezing cold night in Ayrshire and there were plenty of personnel changes too for both sides.

The last man to score domestically against Celtic, Souleymane Coulibaly, started on the bench as Kilmarnock boss Clark decided to take a more "pragmatic" approach to his team selection.

The 6-1 thumping they suffered the last time the two sides met perhaps helping to focus the mind. The Albanian striker, Flo Bojaj, was tasked with leading the line.

Two of Celtic's changes were at the back, where Dedryck Boyata made his first start under Brendan Rodgers. Callum McGregor provided the left-back cover in the absence of Kieran Tierney and Emilio Izaguirre.

The most notable absentee was up-front, however, with striker Leigh Griffiths suffering from "tightness in his hamstring" after Scotland's 3-0 defeat to England last Friday.
First-half fight

The visitors started by knocking the ball around with the swagger of an unbeaten side well clear of their domestic rivals.

However, Kilmarnock started to find their feet and looked increasingly threatening down the left, where Greg Taylor was enjoying plenty of possession.

As ever, though, when Celtic poured forward, they looked dangerous. Erik Sviatchenko watched his diving header drift just over the bar and MacDonald provided a spectacular save when James Forrest's curling effort looked destined for the top corner.

As chances came and went, the home side grew in confidence, but as they headed towards the break with their tails firmly in the air, Armstrong got the break of the ball from Dembele's stab through and provided the sucker-punch with a close-range shot that flew past McDonald.
Celtic defensive record
Injury time notwithstanding, Celtic have gone almost 700 minutes without conceding a domestic goal
Second-half tight

When McGregor had an early chance saved in the second half, it looked as if Celtic might well find another gear and put the game to bed, but Kilmarnock were having none of it.

The home side gave everything and pushed a sloppy Celtic all the way.

Boyata was forced to clear off the line and Adam Frizzell also came close.

As the clock ticked, Celtic pushed. Lustig hit the post, but the momentum was with Kilmarnock. They sensed an equaliser, but it didn't come and Celtic march on with yet another clean sheet.

Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark: : "I'm disappointed for the players – I thought they were terrific.

"I thought the game plan was really strong, defensively we've done great – one lapse and Celtic have scored.

"We grew into the game as an attacking force and second half we played a lot more on the front foot and created our own chances.

"If my players deliver that type of performance in the seven games in 28 days in December, we'll give ourselves a great opportunity to put ourselves in a good position in the league.

"Overall, my emotion is pride in my players' performance, because we were depleted."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I thought first half we played very well. Our patience and quality on a difficult surface was good. We created some chances; it took us a bit of time until we got the goal, and it was a great finish from Stuart (Armstrong).

"At 1-0, you have to ensure you're defensively strong and we were.

"We gave away a couple of needless free kicks, and need to manage that side a bit better, but in the main it was a great victory for us on the back of an international break, on astroturf, in what is a difficult place."

Match ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.
Full Time
90'+4'

Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.
90'+3'

Foul by Nathan Tyson (Kilmarnock).
90'+3'

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Rory McKenzie.
Booking
90'

Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'

Greg Taylor (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Substitution
89'

Substitution, Kilmarnock. Callum McFadzean replaces Gary Dicker.
88'

Attempt saved. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
87'

Foul by Adam Frizzell (Kilmarnock).
87'

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'

Nathan Tyson (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'

Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic).
Substitution
85'

Substitution, Celtic. Nir Bitton replaces James Forrest.
83'

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Dedryck Boyata.
83'

Attempt blocked. Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
82'

Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
82'

Souleymane Coulibaly (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
80'

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
80'

William Boyle (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80'

Foul by Moussa Dembele (Celtic).
79'

Attempt missed. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
79'

Adam Frizzell (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Substitution
78'

Substitution, Kilmarnock. Souleymane Coulibaly replaces Jordan Jones.
78'

Attempt blocked. Adam Frizzell (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
76'

Attempt saved. Adam Frizzell (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
76'

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Booking
75'

Steven Smith (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
75'

Foul by Steven Smith (Kilmarnock).
75'

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74'

Nathan Tyson (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74'

Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic).
Booking
72'

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
72'

Nathan Tyson (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72'

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
70'

Attempt saved. Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
70'

Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
70'

Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
68'

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
Substitution
66'

Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Patrick Roberts.
Booking
63'

Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
63'

Foul by Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock).
63'

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
61'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
61'

Luke Hendrie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
58'

Substitution, Kilmarnock. Nathan Tyson replaces Florent Bojaj.
55'

Attempt missed. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
55'

Attempt blocked. Luke Hendrie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
53'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
53'

Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
52'

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
52'

Foul by Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock).
51'

Attempt missed. Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
51'

Patrick Roberts (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
51'

Foul by Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock).
46'

Attempt missed. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
46'

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Second Half

Second Half begins Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.
Half Time
45'+1'

First Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.
Goal!
44'

Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Moussa Dembele.
43'

Attempt blocked. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
42'

Foul by Adam Frizzell (Kilmarnock).
42'

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
41'

Scott Sinclair (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
40'

Luke Hendrie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.
40'

Foul by Scott Sinclair (Celtic).
40'

Attempt blocked. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
36'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Luke Hendrie.
32'

Foul by Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock).
32'

Patrick Roberts (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30'

Foul by Scott Boyd (Kilmarnock).
30'

Scott Sinclair (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28'

Attempt missed. Florent Bojaj (Kilmarnock) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses the top left corner.
27'

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
26'

Attempt blocked. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
25'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
25'

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
21'

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by James Forrest.
19'

Foul by Steven Smith (Kilmarnock).
19'

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
16'

Foul by Florent Bojaj (Kilmarnock).
16'

Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
14'

Attempt missed. Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
14'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by William Boyle.
14'

Attempt blocked. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
11'

Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
11'

Foul by Scott Sinclair (Celtic).
9'

Attempt blocked. Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
6'

Attempt missed. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is high and wide to the left.
3'

Foul by Adam Frizzell (Kilmarnock).
3'

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Kick Off

First Half begins.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.