Celts go top of SPL despite early scare
By Thomas Connolly August 18 2004
Celtic topped the SPL this week despite an early scare at Rugby Park when the Hoops went behind twice against an aggressive Kilmarnock side who lost the plot and the game before half-time in front of a noisy crowd.
By Thomas Connolly August 18 2004
Celtic topped the SPL this week despite an early scare at Rugby Park when the Hoops went behind twice against an aggressive Kilmarnock side who lost the plot and the game before half-time in front of a noisy crowd.
A defensive shambles enabled Killie to strike twice in the early stages of the game. As makeshift centre back line Stan Varga and Joos Valgaeren struggled to cope with Killie's pace, Mcdonald score first with a near-post header from a corner.
John Hartson equalised within a minute, using his strength to pick up a long pass and steer it past the Killie keeper.
No sooner had Celtic equalised than they came under more pressure. Only Marshall's acrobatics stopped a couple of chances, before Wales took advantage of a Hoops defence which was posted missing to put Killie ahead for the second time.
By now it looked like this would be a bad day at the office for the toiling Hoops. But they fought back quickly in search of another equaliser.
Celtic soon levelled, Thompson picking up a cute lobbed pass from Sutton to round keeper Alan Combe and pick his spot in the home side's net.
Then disaster struck for Killie. Celtic were piling on pressure as half-time approached when Lilley, faced with a long pass to the ever-dangerous Sutton, inexplicably raised both hands to stop the ball reaching the Celtic striker, who would have had an excellent chance to score.
Killie had little argument. The last man handled and received a red card. It got worse for the home side when Alan Thompson's resulting free kick was struck low, the defensive wall fell apart, and Combe failed to get more than a hand to the ball as it sped into the Kilmarnock net.
Half-time 3-2, with Celtic finally on top. The second half became a formality as Celtic strung together dozens of passes while trying to get past a determined 10-man Killie, who understandably opted to defend in depth.
The seal was put on the result by a fine header from Hartson. McGeady had been fouled near the box and Thompson floated over a perfect free kick for the Welsh striker to bullet past Combe.
A flurry of subsitutions followed, with Camara and Beattie taking over upfront and chris Sutton reverting to midfield, after Jackie McNamara left the field with an ankle injury resulting from his falling awkwardly while making a clearance.
McNamara's injury was serious enough to cause his withdrawal from the Scotland squad facing Hungary in a midweek friendly, and he will be a major doubt for Celtic's visit to Pittodrie where they meet Inverness Caley Thistle next Sunday (22nd)
Martin O'Neill revealed after the match that Celtic defender Bobo Balde is suffering from a mild form of malaria, contracted while travelling in southern Africa with his national squad, Guinea, in July.
Balde's prognosis is apparently good and Celtic hope he will be back in time for the derby clash with Rangers on aug 29th.
Website man of the match: Alan Thompson.
John Hartson equalised within a minute, using his strength to pick up a long pass and steer it past the Killie keeper.
No sooner had Celtic equalised than they came under more pressure. Only Marshall's acrobatics stopped a couple of chances, before Wales took advantage of a Hoops defence which was posted missing to put Killie ahead for the second time.
By now it looked like this would be a bad day at the office for the toiling Hoops. But they fought back quickly in search of another equaliser.
Celtic soon levelled, Thompson picking up a cute lobbed pass from Sutton to round keeper Alan Combe and pick his spot in the home side's net.
Then disaster struck for Killie. Celtic were piling on pressure as half-time approached when Lilley, faced with a long pass to the ever-dangerous Sutton, inexplicably raised both hands to stop the ball reaching the Celtic striker, who would have had an excellent chance to score.
Killie had little argument. The last man handled and received a red card. It got worse for the home side when Alan Thompson's resulting free kick was struck low, the defensive wall fell apart, and Combe failed to get more than a hand to the ball as it sped into the Kilmarnock net.
Half-time 3-2, with Celtic finally on top. The second half became a formality as Celtic strung together dozens of passes while trying to get past a determined 10-man Killie, who understandably opted to defend in depth.
The seal was put on the result by a fine header from Hartson. McGeady had been fouled near the box and Thompson floated over a perfect free kick for the Welsh striker to bullet past Combe.
A flurry of subsitutions followed, with Camara and Beattie taking over upfront and chris Sutton reverting to midfield, after Jackie McNamara left the field with an ankle injury resulting from his falling awkwardly while making a clearance.
McNamara's injury was serious enough to cause his withdrawal from the Scotland squad facing Hungary in a midweek friendly, and he will be a major doubt for Celtic's visit to Pittodrie where they meet Inverness Caley Thistle next Sunday (22nd)
Martin O'Neill revealed after the match that Celtic defender Bobo Balde is suffering from a mild form of malaria, contracted while travelling in southern Africa with his national squad, Guinea, in July.
Balde's prognosis is apparently good and Celtic hope he will be back in time for the derby clash with Rangers on aug 29th.
Website man of the match: Alan Thompson.
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