2017-10-28: Celtic 1-1 Kilmarnock, SP

Trivia

• Brendan Rodgers' Celtic team equal a century-old record set by Willie Maley's side by voiding defeat against Kilmarnock this weekend.
• Longest Unbeaten Runs in British Football History
  ✅ 1916/1917 = 62 Games
  ✅ 2016/2017 = 62 Games
  
• Bayern at home in the Champions League next week.
• Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Patrick Roberts will miss Celtic’s Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich due to injury.
• Youngster Michael Johnston gets a start.
• 5 or our starters yesterday were 21 or under
  
• Sevco sacked their manager, Pedro Caixinha. No surprise, but response has been laughable going by that they should have a British manager etc.
• 118,626 attended #Premiership games today, That's the highest EVER aggregated attendance in Scotland in a 12 team top flight. Bolstered by Hearts playing temporarily in Murrayfield.

Review

(littlegmbhoy of KDS)
One of the coldest days I've had at CP…the wind would cut you in half.

Kilmarnock defended resiliently and deserved their draw. Gaffer obviously had eyes on Tuesday but the changes didn't work.
Midfield was poor and after Roberts went off writing was on wall.

Hate to see so many changes.

(Haitch of KDS)
We were decent in the first half, playing some decent stuff and taking a deserved lead in the process. Second half was completely different though, especially after they scored. The same lack of urgency and creativity that showed in the St Johnstone, Hibs and Dundee games crept back in. Our home performances this season in general have been poor.

Sinclair was woeful, probably the worst he’s played for us. Looked completely lost and scared to take on his man. Rogic wasn’t great either.

Killie were set up well and will improve under Clarke.

Despite the above, the performances of Ajer and Kouassi were encouraging and the biggest positives from the match.

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Celtic 1 – 1 Kilmarnock: Celtic equal their unbeaten British record
Celtic's Leigh Griffiths slots home the opener against Kilmarnock. Picture: SNS/Rob Casey
Celtic's Leigh Griffiths slots home the opener against Kilmarnock. Picture: SNS/Rob Casey
Alan Pattullo
Published: 17:09 Saturday 28 October 2017
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/celtic-1-1-kilmarnock-celtic-equal-their-unbeaten-british-record-1-4599046
Hail, hail the history men. Celtic’s dominance has now reached the stage where we must dip as far back as the early part of the last century to relate tales of corresponding greatness.

They have now made it to 62 domestic games unbeaten, equalling Willie Maley’s side’s achievements of 1915-17. However, there was little sense of celebration. Remarkably, Kilmarnock, with just one win here since 1955 and who actually ended Celtic’s run in 1917, contemplated pulling off a historic feat of their own with avictory.

They didn’t quite do it, unlike 100 years ago, but Steve Clarke’s side took a point as well as tremendous satisfaction from the afternoon.

It certainly didn’t feel as if Celtic were on the brink of something special as they struggled in vain to secure a winner. Grumbles filled a stadium that was by then half-full. Many underwhelmed fans had decided to get their evening under way early.

“Congratulations to Brendan Rodgers and his Invincibles in equalling another piece of history,” interjected the Tannoy announcer moments after full-time. However, it was the Kilmarnock fans who were heard more loudly applauding their heroes after a second point gained in Glasgow in a matter of days.

Jordan Jones’ superbly worked goal on the hour mark meant Killie killed the atmosphere in the vast majority of the stadium. If not exactly party poopers, the Ayrshire side ensured there was little triumphalism from the Celtic fans at the end. Celtic have now failed to win three of their six home league games – they drew only four games in the entire last league campaign.

Leigh Griffiths’ 43rd minute goal suggested Celtic were on course to equal a century-old record in style, with a win. Instead the leaders let another two points slip, with Jones, impressive throughout, showing admirable persistence combined with talent to equalise in the 60th minute.

The fact remains in black and white – Celtic are unbeaten in 62 domestic games. Statues outside the ground recognise men who have brought glory to the club, and Brendan Rodgers would still defer to them. Still, this latest feat, even given the circumstances yesterday, deserves to be recognised.

“The players deserve all the credit,” said Rodgers, who had been reluctant to talk about the potential achievement before the game. “Whatever happens in their careers here their names go into the record books.”

They have the chance to set their own marker of excellence on Saturday against St Johnstone. First up, however, is a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. Little here suggested they might spring a surprise against the Germans but then Rodgers made wholesale changes, as he tends to do before such appointments.

He will regret not resting Partrick Roberts, who sustained a hamstring injury in the first-half and could now be out for several weeks.

Teenager Michael Johnston made his full first-team debut and he was one of their bright spots before being replaced by Moussa Dembele. His quick feet and touch were a feature of the first-half. It is heartening to know that an 18-year-old played his part on a historic afternoon.

Clarke is experienced enough to at least know how to make Kilmarnock hard to beat. Celtic struggled to break down visitors who had Kilmarnock arrived at Celtic Park in confident mood after Wednesday’s last-gasp draw with Rangers.

Patience was the key that night, as it was here. They lost a goal at one of the worst times to do so – just before half-time. But Kilmarnock are becoming masters of the counter attack under Clarke.

It was of those games where fans tried to make their own entertainment. It was the first home game since Celtic’s Fifa award for best fans’ moment. The Green Brigade were not going to let the absence of on-field excitement get in the way of revelling in this official commendation – not that they seek such establishment approval.

They continued to sing throughout a first half that was one-way traffic. There was some respite for Killie when Roberts was forced off with a hamstring injury after just half an hour. The winger had been tormenting the visitors’ left back Stuart Findlay, a former Celtic player, at one stage nutmegging him on the way to setting up another chance.

But this, like several others, was not taken. Celtic had only Griffiths’ goal, good though it was, to show for their efforts in the end. He managed to get a toe to Eboue Kousassi’s dinked ball over the defence from deep midfield and before goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald could intervene.

But it was not the best goal of the afternoon. That belonged to Jones, who showed great desire to fetch the ball after his own right-foot shot had bashed back off the base of Craig Gordon’s right hand post. The Killie player retrieved the rebound, exchanged passes with Rory McKenzie on the edge of the box, and then tucked the ball neatly beyond Gordon with his left foot.

Brendan Rodgers hails his record-equalling Celtic side
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at full time. Picture: SNS/Ross Parker
David Gunn
Published: 18:38 Saturday 28 October 2017
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/brendan-rodgers-hails-his-record-equalling-celtic-side-1-4599178Boss Brendan Rodgers is looking for Celtic to become record-breakers after equalling the club’s unbeaten domestic run of 62 games with a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock.
• READ MORE: Celtic 1 – 1 Kilmarnock: Celtic equal their unbeaten British record
The Northern Irishman rested a clutch of star players with a view to the Champions League game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night and struggled until Leigh Griffiths struck in the 43rd minute.
Killie midfielder Jordan Jones levelled on the hour and the Rugby Park side held out for a point, with left the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders ranked alongside Willie Maley’s Celtic side of 1917.
Rodgers, who confirmed winger Patrick Roberts will miss the visit of the German giants after sustaining a hamstring injury, said: “The players deserve all the credit they get.
“It is 100 years, and to achieve that over the course of the 62 games, and to win around 56 of them, is an absolutely incredible achievement by the players.
“It is a great testament to their work over the last 17 months and they get the chance next week to go out on their own in the league to get to 63.
“So they deserve all the credit and whatever happens in their time here their name goes into the record books.”
Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke watched his side grab a last-gasp leveller away to Rangers on Wednesday night in his first game in charge.
After watching his side battle for another point against the other half of the Old Firm, to keep them off the bottom ahead of Dundee, he stressed the need for belief among his players.
The former West Brom manager said of the two points garnered this week: “It is probably a little bit less than I would have hoped for to be honest.
“I was hoping we could win one of them.
“I have been in the game a long time, I have been involved in so many matches I would be embarrassed to count.
“I have never gone to a game thinking we were going to lose. Never. There is always a way.
“If you don’t have that belief within you there is no point in going and that has been the message to the players in the last couple of games.
“It is okay to speak and say you will get a result but if you don’t believe it inside it is harder to get and in both games the players have shown they do believe.”

BBC

By Jonathan Sutherland

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

3 hours ago From the section Football

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths scores
Leigh Griffiths gave Celtic the lead

Celtic equalled their own 100-year-old British record of 62 domestic games unbeaten but laboured to a draw at home to Steve Clarke's Kilmarnock.

Manager Brendan Rodgers made six changes ahead of Tuesday's Champions League visit by Bayern Munich.

They were held at bay by a rigid defence until Leigh Griffiths pounced to fire past goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald shortly before the break.

Jordan Jones equalised after following up his own shot against the post.

It means Clarke has started his spell as Kilmarnock boss with back-to-back draws away to both sides of the Old Firm after their midweek meeting with Rangers.

Celtic's previous record run ended on 21 April 1917 after a 2-0 defeat by Kilmarnock and the Ayrshire team threatened to spoil the party again.

Patrick Roberts to miss Bayern Munich visit and up to six weeks
Celtic's record mark 'phenomenal' – Rodgers

But the home side equalled that after extending their run of games without defeat against Killie to 17 games.

The match began in typical fashion for a Celtic home fixture in the Premiership, with the visiting team virtually hemmed into their own final third as the champions probed for an opening.

Griffiths sent a header over the bar, shots whistled wide from Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham, Patrick Roberts fired a low shot that was easily gathered by MacDonald.

It would be one of the last contributions from Roberts, who appeared to pull his hamstring and was replaced with Scott Sinclair, presumably ruling the on-loan Manchester City winger out of the Champions League match with Bayern Munich. A big blow for Celtic.
Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones celebrates
Jordan Jones equalised for Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock offered virtually nothing as an attacking threat for the first half hour as they tried to make themselves compact and hard to break down. It almost got them to 0-0 at half time – but not quite.

Eboue Kouassi flighted an aerial diagonal pass to the edge of the penalty area and there was Griffiths to supply the perfect first-time finish to fire the ball through the legs of MacDonald.

Kilmarnock did offer more of an attacking threat in the second half and Jones' free-kick flew over the bar from 20 yards. Much better was to come from the Northern Ireland winger.

After a great run, he cracked in a shot that came back off the post. Jones then gathered the ball and, after a clever one-two, fired off another shot, this time low past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Celtic were suddenly struggling to create clear-cut chances. A scuffed effort from Kieran Tierney toward goal almost fell to Griffiths three yards out, but the striker was unable to direct the ball on target.

Moussa Dembele came on to add more firepower for Celtic as the stubborn Kilmarnock resistance continued.

However, the away side continued to carry an attacking threat and Chris Burke forced a save from Gordon.

MacDonald had to make a flying save to stop a drive from Griffiths, the ball fell to Dembele in the box, but the Frenchman flashed his shot wide.

It means Celtic's lead is cut to one point by Aberdeen and wins for Hamilton Academical and Partick Thistle leave Kilmarnock still second bottom of the table, only ahead of Dundee on goal difference.

Celtic's unbeaten British record 'phenomenal', says Brendan Rodgers

57 minutes ago From the section Football

Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic players salute the fans
Brendan Rodgers and his players had mixed feelings after equalling their own unbeaten record while dropping two points

Brendan Rodgers described the equalling of Celtic's own British record of 62 domestic games without defeat as a "phenomenal achievement".

But the manager admitted that some of the shine was taken off it by being held to a draw at home to Kilmarnock.

"The players will probably feel disappointed, like we all are, having only drawn the game," Rodgers said of equalling the 100-year-old record.

"It doesn't feel so good now, but the players go into history today."

Rodgers' side have matched the achievement of the Celtic side led by Willie Maley.

"They have an opportunity next week in the league to go out on their own," he enthused.

"If you take it over the piece, over 17 months, to get to 62 games and I think win 56 those, it is a phenomenal achievement and shows the level the players play at."

Match report: Celtic 1-1 Kilmarnock
Celtic's Roberts to miss Bayern visit
I'd be nothing without my parents – Rodgers

Celtic took the lead through Leigh Griffiths two minutes before the break, but Jordan Jones equalised on the hour.

"It was a disappointing result for the amount of ball that we had and taking the ball to really good areas of the field," continued Rodgers.

"It doesn't happen too many times, but our quality in the final third was probably not as precise as we would normally have.

"It was frustrating. That was partly us, but it was partly Kilmarnock as well because they defended very well with lots of bodies in that final third of the field and we just struggled to break it down.

"Kilmarnock had very obviously come to get those 11 guys behind the ball and then to maybe get some joy on the counter attack."
Jordan Jones levels for Kilmarnock at Celtic Park
Jordan Jones levels for Kilmarnock at Celtic Park

Rodgers praised the finish by Jones, who followed up his own shot.

"Their goal comes after the boy Jones hits the post and he reacted quickest and had a nice little combination," said Rodgers. "It was probably the best attacking moment of the game.

"We threw everything into the game but just couldn't quite make the breakthrough."

Kilmarnock's point at Celtic Park followed a midweek draw against Rangers.

The Ayrshiremen's new manager Steve Clarke told BBC Scotland: "We had to defend very well all game. We were organised and worked hard to limit Celtic.

"We spoke about not threatening enough at half time and obviously you have to come out a bit more when you go a goal behind.

"We showed a bit of quality to get us up the pitch and get the goal which, on the balance of the second half, we deserved.

"If we continue to work hard and stay organised, the players can show the talent that they've got and we can slowly start to climb the table."