‘9IAR, 9IAR, Hello, Hello,’ now roll on Thursday Night – Niall J

Who else started today asking where exactly Jozo Simunovic kept his brains and ended it asking when we’ll sign the big man up on an extended contract? Just me? I doubt that.

The big Croatian started the game initially trying to punch the ball on his own six yard line, thankfully missing the target before being skinned at the edge of his own box and giving away a penalty. To be fair Killie started brightly and rather than sit in throughout the opening stages, they got up the pitch. That wasn’t to last.

Killie came close from a couple of corners but got the vital breakthrough largely down to that rash decision by Jozo. The big man dived and didn’t manage to take the ball cleanly and in trying to atone ended up conceding a penalty. Eamonn Brophy dispatched that confidently. Fair play to the Killie striker, he appeared in no way intimidated by reputation when faced with The Wall

Almost simultaneously, news of a St Johnstone’s equaliser reached the crowd and we then had the strange contradiction of Jozo getting an earful, while at the same time the support welcoming a Stevie May equaliser as St Johnstone drew level at McDiarmid Park.

Moments later Leigh Griffiths went clear breaking the Killie offside trap, but Kilmarnock goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu stood up well to his left-foot shot. It was a good response from the Hoops

And in 28 mins Celtic were rewarded for a period of incessant pressure as Kristoffer Ajer reacted quickest to corner kick at the back post and knocked the ball in front close range. Two goals in a week from Celtic’s prolific centre half.

A minute later Simunovic took aim from distance, it was net bound but a slight block en route from a Killie defender stopped Jozo from making amends for the opening concession.

Retribution arrived in 33 minutes with Kilmarnock defending deeper and deeper and when Jozo started a move before getting on the end of a cross to the back post and sending it across the face of goal, Branescu makes a bit of a Horlicks of collecting at the feet of Edouard and Eddy podded home off what looked suspiciously like Kirk Broadfoot. You gotta just love football sometimes.

It’s a shame for Killie the game was a sell-out otherwise their defence could have taken up position in the Lisbon Lion stand such was there regression in positioning as the half wore on.

Broadfoot of course gave his goalkeeper an earful as Eddy and the Celts headed off in celebration. Absolve yourself of blame for now Kirk, Sportscene is still to come.

That half an hour today could well have decided the title race.

Before then, Kilmarnock had just taken the lead against Celtic while Rangers were leading 2-1 at McDiarmid Park. Stevie May then equalised for St Johnstone and Celtic moved into the lead through Ajer and Edouard. Lenny’s Bhoys were now on their way to ending the day with a 12-point lead when it could have been seven. What was that about the beautiful game?

First half Kilmarnock started the game off brilliantly and were on the front foot when they got the penalty. But, as the game has went on, everybody from the away side had been behind the ball. Kilmarnock had given the initiative to Celtic and the Hoops had followed the scent.

Five minutes into the second half and Celtic were turning the screw.

Griffiths shot on the turn 12 yards out and fired through a defender’s legs. But it was straight at goalkeeper Branescu and it was closely followed Ryan Christie finding Eddy on the edge of the penalty box, but the striker could only direct wide of the far post. Eddy then had another clear opportunity just two minutes later but missed from 10 yards.

Killie were soon down to 10 men when Alan Power, already having been booked was shown a second yellow card after a late challenge on Frimpong. I bet just a little bit of wee Jeremie enjoyed that after his injury at Rugby Park after a foul by the same player.

With 63 minutes gone the encounter alongside the league title race was ended via the boot of Leigh Griffiths. The striker’s eighth goal of the season all but certainly put the game beyond 10-man Kilmarnock and the league title beyond -12 ‘the’ Rangers. Too soon?

Ryan Christie made a fine run to the by-line and his cut-back gives the Griffiths a tap-in from a couple of yards out. Game set, match and title?

Referee Clancy let out his immediate frustration at having to attend his lodge (apologies-Local) on the back of such a result, by booking Callum McGregor for a foul on Stephen O’Donnell. A simply ridiculous decision, even Broadfoot looked embarrassed at that one.

Leigh Griffiths thought he’d grabbed his second of the day as he volleyed home from a Greg Taylor cut-back, but the former Kilmarnock left-back was ruled offside. Again it appeared a dubious decision.

There were a couple of late chances for substitute striker Vakoun Bayo both delivered on a plate by Jeremie Frimpong, but that can be put down to rustiness and thankfully the opportunities weren’t needed.

Neil Lennon appeared to indicate the concession of an early goal had galvanised his team and I’d agree with his assessment.

Lennon admitted he “wasn’t happy” with Kilmarnock’s goal, scored from the penalty spot by Eamonn Brophy.

“I thought Eamonn was offside,” he says. “But our reaction to that was fantastic. It was a real magnificent performance. I thought we were outstanding.

“To be fair to Alex Dyer, he went with two strikers. But we dealt with that very well.

“I said to the players ‘don’t think it’s easy what you’re doing’. It’s important we keep the momentum going.”

And the momentum can now be carried into the second leg of the Europa League last 32 encounter with FC Copenhagen on Thursday night at Celtic Park.

Now the title is won, Celtic can fully focus on getting to Hampden for a Scottish Cup final and getting to Gdansk for a first European Final since 2003. Too soon again? Maybe…maybe not.

There’s something in the air at Celtic Park. The sweet smell of success and it’s not just domestic.

Callum McGregor, today’s and likely future captain, got the sponsor’s man of the match but considering his awful start to the game was fully exorcised by a simply brilliant performance thereafter, I’m giving it to big Jozo-alongside that new contract offer-What a Bhoy.

Roll on Thursday night.

Niall J

Help raise money for Celtic Youth Development by joining the £1 weekly lottery and you could win up to £25,000 – just click on the photograph below to join. Lots of our readers have already done so and they’re now doing their bit to help fund Celtic Youth Development that can deliver the stars of tomorrow and beyond. And you might even win a few bob too!

About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

Comments are closed.