Celtic have done it again.
Martin O’Neill’s men have let yet another game drag until the dying embers, with Julian Araujo the hero on this occasion.
After a dismal first period, the Hoops went into the interval at 2-0 down. It looked like a point at best.
But this team just doesn’t stop until the final whistle. The full-time celebrations tell you everything about what it means.
It was far from the best performance, though, as the player ratings show…
This TalkingPoints user is fuming with that first-half performance from Celtic 😡
What would you change to turn things around?
Celtic player ratings vs Kilmarnock
Kasper Schmeichel – 2
Schmeichel has made some important saves for Celtic in recent weeks, easing talk of him having a poor season – but he had an absolute nightmare today.
If his positioning for Kilmarnock’s opener was questionable, his positioning for Hugill’s second was all over the place.
To make matters worse, his distribution was as bad as it has been this season. Schmeichel’s attempts to release the ball quickly resulted in a handful of needless losses of possession.
Julian Araujo – 8
In the first half, there wasn’t a lot to write home about from the Mexican right-back, with very little positive play coming from Celtic’s right side.
In the second, Araujo’s excellent long throw led to Benjamin Nygren’s equaliser. An asset we could see more of, perhaps?
But speaking of moments to write home about, Araujo’s last-minute winner is yet another decisive moment in a truly whirlwind season. Get in there.
READ MORE: Major Arne Engels blow as Celtic timeline confirmed by Martin O’Neill
Auston Trusty – 3
An unstable performance in and out of possession.
The shakiness that led to Trusty being dropped by Brendan Rodgers has been more and more evident in recent weeks.
Liam Scales – 5
Scales has never been Celtic’s most important player in possession, but in the first-half, his lack of urgency spread throughout the team.
The days of Scales and Trusty being a consistent and reliable partnership now seem to be behind us.
Kieran Tierney – 7
Tierney’s performance was similar to his showing against Dundee last weekend, in that he seemed to contribute more positive wide play than the wingers who started the game.
He could do with showing a bit more composure in his own final third, though.
Callum McGregor – 6
As so many teams have this season, McCann’s side successfully nullified McGregor from being the heartbeat of Celtic’s play.
He most certainly isn’t helped by the lack of movement around him, or the lack of bravery shown by his centre-backs.
Reo Hatate – 3
Hatate was deservedly hooked at half-time after the latest in a long line of disappointing performances from the midfielder this season.
Call it a lack of desire, concentration or just simply loss of form, he will need to up his game if Celtic are to deal with the injury to Arne Engels.
Benjamin Nygren – 6
A goal doesn’t distract from the fact that Nygren wasn’t at his best today, operating more on the right side of attacks, rather than the left where he has been effective over the last month.
Another example of the midfield struggling without Engels.
Your instant reaction to that late win!
Julian Araujo got the winner, but who was your man of the match? Tell us below
Yang Hyun-Jun – 4
There are no excuses for the poor showing Yang put up today.
Rested on Wednesday after being moved to the left wing against Dundee, he proved hopelessly ineffective before being hooked at the break.
Junior Adamu – 5
As has become a trend for Celtic strikers in recent weeks, Adamu wasn’t involved a great deal.
When he did, he showed decent link-up, but made an absolute mess of a great chance before the break -taking a complete swing and miss at the ball. Not encouraging.
Daizen Maeda – 4
Another start for Daizen Maeda, and another disappointing performance.
Last year’s Celtic player of the year is far from at the top of his game at the minute.
Substitutes
Sebastian Tounekti – 8
Yet another massively impactful substitute appearance for the Tunisian winger, who marked it with a sensational goal to halve the deficit.
When he gets in his groove, the ball seems to gravitate towards him. His ability to commit defenders is so effective against deep defences.
Tomas Cvancara – 5
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7
James Forrest – 5
Marcelo Saracchi – 6
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