Celtic produced a stirring response to Thursday’s Danish disappointment at Parkhead yesterday with a convincing 4–0 win over Kilmarnock, a result that trimmed Hearts’ lead at the top to seven points (having played a game more) and, perhaps more importantly, reminded everyone that the Hoops still have a say in this title race, despite the narrative of late.
Johnny Kenny continued his remarkable run of domestic form with his fourth goal in as many games, Kieran Tierney smashed home his first since returning to the club, Daizen had a Daizen day, and substitute Arne Engels turned in a cameo that oozed quality and conviction. It was far from flawless, but it was ruthless, and it came at just the right time.
The breakthrough came from the in-form Kenny, who’s starting to play like a real number nine. After striking the post early on, his sharpness and composure inside the box gave Celtic the lead their play deserved, with an assist from Reo Hatate, who had his best game since what feels like forever.
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The second goal was moment that lit up the afternoon, Kieran Tierney’s thunderous finish from distance. His celebration was a cocktail of delight, defiance, and maybe a little frustration. Whether it was aimed at the critics, his boss, the doubters, or simply the frustration of recent weeks, it didn’t much matter. It was a strike that belonged to the Kieran Tierney of old, power, purpose, and pride. And yes, Liam Scales can absolutely claim the assist.
Luke McCowan came close to delivering a goal-of-the-season contender, meeting a looping ball with a spectacular acrobatic effort that was arrowing toward the net before being deflected wide. It was an audacious moment that deserved more, and summed up Celtic’s confidence going forward.
Daizen Maeda, meanwhile, managed to miss one of the easiest chances of his or anyone’s career in the first half, a genuine “what the hell happened there?” moment. But football offers second chances, even third and fourth in Daizen’s case. And when Arne Engels bent a perfectly timed and weighted pass from the right hand side, into his path after the break, Maeda buried it emphatically. Power, precision, and redemption all rolled into one for a player who could easily have had a hat-trick.
Engels’ introduction changed the tone of a second half that was drifting. Calm in possession, brave in distribution, and deadly from dead balls, he looked every bit the midfield dynamo Celtic spent a record fee on. There is often a debate with Engels. Does the fee weigh heavy, or does the shirt? Who knows, but consistency has been hard to find for the young Belgian. O’Neill however has freed him. He seems relaxed under this manager, and the fact he’s such a reliable type from dead balls means he has to be a starter.
When Yang, returning from the cold as a second half sub, won a late penalty after being hauled down in the box, Engels stepped up and dispatched it with authority. If this was an audition for most impactful sub in Scottish football, this weekend, he passed it in style. On in the 78th minute. A goal and an assist. Job done. He’s often looked a player shaped by both talent and temperament, maybe now that’s a mix of Martin O’Neill’s steel and Shaun Maloney’s subtlety. Either way, there’s certainly more to come.
Kilmarnock had their moments, hitting the bar, forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a fine save, but offered little beyond effort and organisation, or let’s call it what it was, huff and puff and little else. It was also very kind of Stuart Kettlewell to play the work-experience kid in goal.
The booking for Daizen Maeda is classic Don Robertson. Refereeing what he thinks he has seen rather than reality. Incredible decision. 😂 pic.twitter.com/jBikv6LVqo
— CaI (@caim67) November 9, 2025
Meanwhile, Brad Lyons’ “tackle” on Maeda was the kind of moment that makes you wonder if refereeing in Scotland is performance art and Celtic is their stage. The sort of neck high challenge that would even have seen red at Murrayfield the day before, yet Don Robertson reached for yellow. Perhaps he left the red card at home, or maybe he was just having a stinker. Either way, it was a howler, and he’ll be avoiding his notifications for a while yet, or maybe not. In a sea of Scottish refereeing plankton, Robertson somehow remains the most buoyant floater of all.
Auston Trusty deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award, calm, composed, and commanding throughout. But the real surprise came before a ball was even kicked. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey handed his Celtic debut, and at right-back, no less. It was a bold call for a player who’s never featured in that role professionally, yet he handled it admirably. He played it safe, and that was the smart move.
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With Celtic’s right flank a constant source of tactical tinkering, perhaps having a centre-half type behind whoever plays ahead of him isn’t such a bad idea. Time will tell, but for now, the young City kid can be proud of a quietly impressive debut.
Post-match, Martin O’Neill confirmed what’s fast becoming Celtic’s biggest worry, the injury list keeps growing. Marcelo Saracchi joined the walking wounded with another Celtic hamstring injury, while both Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand will now require surgery on theirs. If it wasn’t for bad luck and all that.
With Jota already a long-term absentee and Cameron Carter-Vickers sidelined following Achilles surgery, the only glimmer of good news is the potential return of Kel Iheanacho after the international break.
It’s a much-needed win after the midweek European disappointment, and it cuts the gap to seven points with a game in hand, to a team whose manager is already decrying the lack of stoppage time, despite only managing two shots on target over the previous 90 minutes. He’ll break folks, you can take that to the bank.
Celtic will hope to carry that momentum into the next league outing under the lights in Paisley against St Mirren on Saturday, 22 November. The league won’t be decided then, but the weeks to follow will shape it, and this was the kind of afternoon that keeps Celtic’s title hopes burning.
A day for goals, grit, and a wee bit of guile too. And maybe, just maybe, the continuation of something steadier under O’Neill’s watch, if he hangs around of course.
Niall J
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There is a saying within football, of only one game at a time, and it’s very relevant to ourselves at present. Even at that, a response from a setback is required, and that was very relevant to ourselves yesterday, but more importantly was delivered.
The result gained, was always going to take preference over the performance levels individually of our players imo.
What possibly won’t get highlighted, is just how strong our mentality, has been restored within our players now, despite the obstacles we have to overcome in games, especially with a cheating mib trying to destroy the likes for ourselves, along with the enjoyment factor of watching games within the SPFL.
Also needs to be highlighted, that 5 players which were thought of being automatic choices, within a 20man SPFL match day squad, within the planning process of the season. Weren’t even involved yesterday, and hardly helped by yet another setback with Saracchi joining the ever growing list, of unavailable players. Unthinkable of, within the planning process of squad building, during the summer.
So as a club we find ourselves in the unusual position, of players having to try and stay focused, on the one game at a time approach, while playing catch up football, despite such a horrendous injury list in operation. All the while, there is some major planning decisions to be taken, with such a relentless footballing programme in place after the break, before a January window even opens. And all the while, we still haven’t got a manager in place, for taking responsibility for all the footballing matters involved for ourselves?
The growing injury list, is potentially going to impact our business in January now. Even moreso if we have a number of players wanting to leave, but can’t because of an injury list as it currently is imo?
Already seen the MoN and Maloney partnership using the squad depth, to get a better indication upon players, and where they are actually at.
Suggests to myself, that MoN and Maloney have already started the planning process, for the remainder of this season already, with the use of some unexpected players used over the last few games imo.
Despite all of the unexpected, upheaval, and anger involved within our planning process for this season, we still find ourselves in a decent enough position on all fronts, despite the amount of chaos that has been involved, during our start to the campaign imo?
Yet the planning process involved for the remainder of this season, is far from resolved, and complicated even moreso with an injury list currently in position for ourselves.
So hopefully over the next 2 weeks, the planning process is still very active for ourselves, with massive footballing decisions to be taken. That will involve trying to find out where the mindset of a number of players are at, and if they can be relied upon for the amount of challenges involved?
As a club, we can’t afford to carry passengers until January, but will have to be addressed over this break. Especially with such an injury list in place for ourselves.
So with all things considered, I still believe that the MoN and Maloney partnership is the best option available for ourselves, to overcome the obstacles involved imo?
Of course that won’t be the long term solution, but don’t think as a club, we are in a position to look at long term as things currently stand within our squad.
And not forgetting that an African cup of nations is thrown in to complicate matters even moreso for ourselves, within the planning process?
Big task now for any manager to be making such decisions, especially with the amount of complications involved, along with the unknown factors, overcoming the obstacles cheating officials provide, and yet the demands of our club remains intact still?
Favourite to face everything involved would be the MoN and Maloney partnership for ourselves imo?
The unknown answer remains as to whether they actually feel comfortable with taking on the amount of challenges involved?
Hope so myself anyway?