Key points
- Celtic leave Stuart Kettlewell 'frustrated' View post
- Bitter Derek McInnes bizarrely moans about Celtic View post
- Martin O'Neill has had the time of his life as Celtic boss View post
- Celtic player ratings vs Kilmarnock View post
- GOAL!!!! Celtic 3 v 0 Kilmarnock View post
- Sub - Yang and Engels replace Tounekti and Kenny View post
- SUB - Benjamin Nygren replaces Luke McCowan View post
- SUB - Simpson-Pusey is replaced by Anthony Ralston View post
- GOAL!!!!! - Celtic 2 v 0 Kilmarnock View post
- Hearts drop points - Dundee United have THREE goals disallowed View post
- HALF TIME: Celtic 1 v 0 Kilmarnock View post
- Close!!! - Johnny Kenny View post
- SAVE!! - Kasper Schmeichel View post
- Off the bar, Kilmarnock! View post
- Close! View post
- Kieran Tierney replaces Saracchi View post
- Saracchi down! View post
- Off the post! View post
- Close! View post
- Kick off! View post
- Celtic's starting XI to face Kilmarnock View post
- Celtic players arrive for Kilmarnock clash View post
Celtic beat Kilmarnock 4-0 as Martin O’Neill closes the gap on Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic knew that three points were a must as they headed into the Kilmarnock game nine points behind Hearts at the Scottish Premiership table.
Goals from Johnny Kenny, Kieran Tierney, Daizen Maeda and an Arne Engels penalty sealed the win to consign Kilmarnock to their fifth defeat in a row.
Martin O’Neill heads into the international break with Celtic in a far healthier place than when he inhertited them with just seven points separating the Hoops from Hearts.
Celtic have a game in hand and face Hearts next month as the pressure of a title race mounts on the Tynecastle club.
So catch up with all the action below in 67 Hail Hail’s live blog as Celtic hammer Kilmarnock.
That’s all from us! Good night!
We hope you enjoyed the coverage, until next time, enjoy the international break, if you can!
[Link]Bitter Derek McInnes bizarrely moans about Celtic
What a weird comment to make. The pressure of the title race is clearly getting to the Hearts boss! 🤣🤣🤣
Martin O’Neill has had the time of his life as Celtic boss
O’Neill drops hint on Celtic manager hunt as the international break kicks in.
Auston Trusty was Celtic’s man of the match
The American put in a sterling performance for the Hoops.
[Link]
GOAL!!!! Celtic 3 v 0 Kilmarnock
Daizen Maeda seals the win with Celtic’s third goal with a strangely muted celebration.
[Link]Action dying down
The pace of the game dips as Celtic look to close out the 2-0 scoreline. Corner to Kilmarnock.
[Link]🎥 Penalty shout???
Celtic fans shout for a spot kick as Ralston takes a tumble in the Kilmarnock penalty box! VAR appears to say no!
[Link]Sub – Yang and Engels replace Tounekti and Kenny
Goal hero Johnny Kenny gets a standing ovation as Celtic fans cheer off the man who has scored four goals in four games for Martin O’Neill.
[Link]
🟨 Booking – Callum McGregor
The Celtic captain sees his name taken by Don Robertson after a late challenge.
[Link]Chance Kilmarnock
Killie almost pull one back at a corner as a loose ball lands two yards in front of the Celtic goal before it is safely scooped away by the Hoops defence.
[Link]SUB – Benjamin Nygren replaces Luke McCowan
McCowan has had a decent game as he’s replaced by the Swedish midfielder.
[Link]SUB – Simpson-Pusey is replaced by Anthony Ralston
Young Simpson-Pusey can be proud of his debut as he settled into the game after nervy start.
[Link]Tierney and Tounekti combine
Celtic’s tails are up as Tierney and Tounekti look to create Celtic’s third but the attack fizzles out.
[Link]Trusty going prime Messi on the Celtic right wing!
The big American leaving three Kilmarnock players in has wake as he went on a mazy attacking run!
Rush of blood to the head for the Celtic defender.
[Link]Saracchi looking gutted
Saracchi looks dejected as he leaves the park after being taken off injured. Hopefully, we will have an update from Martin O’Neill at full time.
GOAL!!!!! – Celtic 2 v 0 Kilmarnock
Kieran Tierney calms Celtic’s nerves with a fine strike from 25 yards out! Great strike!
[Link]
Hearts drop points – Dundee United have THREE goals disallowed
Hearts drew 1-1 with Dundee United to drop two points to give Celtic an incentive to see the rest of the game out. Incredibly, Dundee United had three goals chalked off!
[Link]Possession kings, but no end product
Celtic have had 76.3% possession but failed to find that elusive second goal even though the Bhoys have had 14 shots on goal.
[Link]Bernardo at Celtic training as mystery deepens
Paulo Bernardo looks happy at training as the Celtic midfielder is posted missing on matchday.
HALF TIME: Celtic 1 v 0 Kilmarnock
A ninth-minute Johnny Kenny goal separates the sides with Celtic dominating much of the first half. Kilmarnock have threatened the Celtic goal twice, hitting the bar on one occasion.
Martin O’Neill will be keen to get his side in at the break to hammer home the importance of a second goal.
[Link]Three minutes added
Luke McCowan fires a shot miles over the bar as the fourth official announces three minutes of added time at the end of the first-half.
[Link]5 minutes of the first-half left at Celtic Park
40 minutes gone and Celtic fail to build on their early goal. O’Neill will need to have a few choice words at half time.
[Link]Close!!! – Johnny Kenny
Kieran Tierney with a dangerous cross from deep as Kenny just misses out with a header from close range.
[Link]Celtic playing with fire
Kilmarnock have been rank-rotten but are starting to grow in confidence as the game goes on. Two chances missed for the Ayrshire side.
[Link]SAVE!! – Kasper Schmeichel
Watson powers forward as Schmeichel saves a decent shot from a Kilmarnock striker, Scott Tiffoney.
[Link]Kilmarnock corner
Don Robertson clears up some problems between the Celtic defenders and Killie attackers. But the corner comes to nothing as Schmeichel plucks it from the air.
[Link]Off the bar, Kilmarnock!
Bruce Anderson latches on to a hopeful long ball and crashes the ball off Kasper Schmeichel’s crossbar! Celtic need to get this second goal.
[Link]Close!
A shot from Tounekti falls just in front of a gaping Kilmarnock goal and it appears to catch Maeda off guard as the ball is cleared away. Celtic piling on the pressure!
[Link]Saracchi claps the Celtic fans
Hopefully the injury is not too badd as Saracchi gives the Celtic fans a round of applause as he disappears down the tunnel.
[Link]Kieran Tierney replaces Saracchi
Sarrachi walks off the pitch as Kieran Tierney wams up to come on. 🙄
[Link]Kenny almost adds a second!
Tounekti showing his guile again as he plays a ball across the face of the goal as Kenny gers it nicked from his toe.
[Link]Corner Kilmarnock
Sarrachi does well to block the cross as Kilmarnock are awarded a corner. Simpson-Pusey heads it clear.
[Link]GOAL!!! Celtic 1 v 0 Kilmarnock
Johnny Kenny showing a real poachers insinct as Tounekti unlocks the Killie defence as Hatate’s effort is saved and the rebound is tucked away by the young Celtic striker!
[Link]Off the post!
Kenny heads the ball off the bar as he leaves the Kilmarnock keeper rooted to the spot!
[Link]Celtic fans send a message to the Parkhead board
A rendition of ‘Sack the Board’ rings around Celtic Park as the fans send the board a strong message.
[Link]Close!
Tounekti showing his trickery as he plays the ball to Daizen Maeda who fires just over the bar!
[Link]Jahmai Simpson-Pusey starts at right-back for Celtic
The Man City youngster starts in the right-back position and has already looked a wee bit nervy.
[Link]Stuart Kettlewell wary of ‘exceptional’ Celtic
The Kilmarnock boss is not having any talk of Celtic’s bubble bursting as Kettlewell shares how he is still wary of the Scottish champions.
Kettlewell said, “I’ll always be clear of my full respect for what Celtic have done over a long period of time with their levels and success.
“When they lose a game of football, we all understand that it becomes a huge drama and everyone is dissecting why.
“I don’t think that they’re vulnerable, I think they’ve got exceptional, international footballers for our level. They’ve got really high value in the market and they’ve got guys who have been over the course and distance in being successful by winning trophies.
“When the chips are down, that’s generally when these guys fight back. So we have to be prepared for that.”
[Link]Celtic youngster Tobi Oluwayemi sits out for Kilmarnock
On loan Celtic youngster Tobi Oluwayemi sits out today’s clash at Parkhead as his loan deal makes him ineligble to play for Stuart Kettlwell’s side.
[Link]Where is Paulo Bernardo?
Not even named on the Celtic bench, Paulo Bernardo appears to have disappeared from sight as the Portuguese midfielder fails to make the matchday squad.
Could he be injured?
[Link]Pat Bonner questions if the Martin O’Neill Celtic effect is gone
Speaking ahead of the 4pm kick off, Pat Bonner has questioned whether or not the Martin O’Neill bubble has burst after Celtic’s defeat to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
Bonner said on BBC Sport Scotland, “I think the Martin O’Neill effect is slightly gone at this moment in time after Thursday night.
“It didn’t last too long did it? Midtjylland exposed some of their frailties, there’s no question and the defending the other night was very poor.”
[Link]The last time Celtic faced Kilmarnock…
The last time the two teams faced each other, Celtic beat Kilmarnock 2-1 with a last minute Kelechi Iheanacho penalty.
Whilst all that matters is the three points today, the vast majority of Celtic supporters will be hoping that it won’t take a last-minute spot-kick to beat the Ayrshire side this afternoon.
[Link]Kettlewell slams criticism of Celtic boss Martin O’Neill
Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell will face Martin O’Neill for the first time at Celtic Park and he can’t believe the criticism he’s hearing about the Hoops hero.
Kettlewell said, “I’ve not had any dealings with Martin before. We all listen to various radio shows and he has always been someone I’ve had lots of respect for.
“He captures an audience. I’ve heard a lot of references to his age since coming back but I think that’s a bit unfair.
“You can see the enthusiasm and vast knowledge he has of the game.”
[Link]Celtic vs Kilmarnock referee and VAR
With all the controversy surrounding Celtic and VAR this week, it’s a big day for the match officials.
Don Robertson is the referee appointed for the game on Sunday afternoon.
Calum Spence and Sean Carr are the two linesmen present, while working on VAR will be Greg Aitken and his assistant Ross Hardie.
[Link]Where to watch Celtic vs Kilmarnock
With no mainstream television coverage, Celtic fans outside the UK and Ireland can watch the big game on Celtic TV with coverage starting from 3pm. A full match replay will be available at 10pm.
Fans can listen the first-half live commentary on the BBC website.
[Link]67 Hail Hail’s Celtic predicted XI vs Kilmarnock
With the gap at the top of the league widening this week, three points are all that matters. Here is how we think Martin O’Neill will line up Celtic vs Kilmarnock:
Celtic starting XI: Kasper Schmeichel, Colby Donovan, Marcelo Saracchi, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor (c), Benjamin Nygren, Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, Johnny Kenny
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