Kilmarnock comeback ends Celtic's unbeaten start

Published on: 10 December 2023

Matty Kennedy scored the winner for Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock came from a goal behind to secure a second home win in a row over Celtic as Matty Kennedy's late strike handed the visitors their first league defeat of the Scottish Premiership season.

Derek McInnes' side knocked the Glasgow side out of the Viaplay Cup 1-0 in August and this time inflicted Brendan Rodgers' first league defeat since his return as manager.

It means Celtic's lead over Rangers, who beat Dundee 3-1 on Saturday, remains five points having played a game more than their city rivals.

Kilmarnock fell behind when Matt O'Riley's first-half close-range finish rewarded the visitors' vibrant start.

But Kilmarnock came roaring back after the break and levelled when Celtic centre-half Nat Phillips knocked a Brad Lyons cross past goalkeeper Joe Hart.

An action-packed encounter reached a climax on a slick, rain-soaked artificial surface when Danny Armstrong set up Kennedy to clip home the winner and send his side up to fifth in the table.

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Celtic laid siege on the home defence from kick-off as they showed the intensity missing in some recent performances.

Goalkeeper Will Dennis was forced into front-post saves to deny O'Riley and Oh Hyeon-gyu and also diverted clear a low Callum McGregor cross heading for Mikey Johnston.

Oh was in the thick of it as he looked to justify his selection again ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi.

The South Korea striker had a cross beaten away by Dennis, lashed a good chance over then just failed to get a touch on a low Johnston ball across the face of goal before Luis Palma followed up to fire against the far post.

Kilmarnock weathered the storm and looked to have stolen the lead when Kennedy's cross found fellow winger Armstrong only for the back-post half-volley to bounce clear off the far upright.

Celtic waltzed up the other end and broke the deadlock. McGregor teased on the edge of the penalty box and, when Dennis could only push the ball into the path of O'Riley, the midfielder provided the clinical finish for his ninth goal of the season.

Kilmarnock were still in the game and, when Armstrong's low cross-come-shot came off Hart's fingers, Corrie Ndaba thought he had equalised only for the defender's effort to strike the back of Alistair Johnston as the unwitting Celtic right-back stumbled to the ground.

That encouraged the hosts to be more aggressive after the break and Stuart Findlay and Robbie Deas both headed wide, while fellow defender Ndaba was denied by Hart.

O'Riley fired a low drive wide of the far post, but it Kilmarnock who were now in control.

Substitute Lyons' cross was knocked in to his own net by Phillips, who had been handed a start in place of the injured Cameron Carter-Phillips, and Kennedy and Armstrong combined for what turned out to be the winner.

Kyogo came on to force Dennis into a late save, but it would be Kilmarnock's day - and deservedly so.

Player of the match - Matty Kennedy (Kilmarnock)Matty Kennedy just about shaded it from Danny Armstrong for his winning goal after they both troubled Celtic down the flanks

More to follow.

What's next?

Celtic host Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday (20:00) before entertaining Heart of Midlothian on Saturday (15:00) as Kilmarnock visit Livingston.

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Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsKilmarnock

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Dennis5Mayo6Deas17Findlay3Ndaba22Donnelly8Lyons11Armstrong31Polworth10Kennedy9Vassell

Booked at 69mins

Booked at 41mins

Booked at 79mins

Substitutes

7McKenzie14Sanders15Murray19Davies20O'Hara21Dallas23Watkins25Warnock39Mackay-Steven

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

1Hart2Johnston6Phillips5Scales3Taylor33O'Riley24Iwata42McGregor90Johnston19Oh7Palma

Booked at 83mins

Substitutes

8Furuhashi13Yang14Turnbull17Nawrocki25Bernabéi28Gonçalves Bernardo29Bain49Forrest56Ralston

Referee:David MunroMatch StatsHome TeamKilmarnockAway TeamCelticPossessionHome32%Away68%ShotsHome13Away16Shots on TargetHome6Away7CornersHome5Away9FoulsHome14Away12Live Text Post update

Match ends, Kilmarnock 2, Celtic 1.

90'+11'Full Time

Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 2, Celtic 1.

90'+11'Substitution

Substitution, Kilmarnock. Gary Mackay-Steven replaces Daniel Armstrong.

90'+11'Substitution

Substitution, Kilmarnock. Fraser Murray replaces Matthew Kennedy.

90'+10'Post update

Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).

90'+10'Post update

Daniel Armstrong (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+9'Post update

Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+9'Post update

Foul by Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock).

90'+5'Post update

Liam Scales (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+5'Post update

Foul by Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock).

90'+4'Substitution

Substitution, Kilmarnock. Rory McKenzie replaces Kyle Vassell.

90'+3'Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

90'+2'Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic).

90'Post update

Offside, Celtic. Oh Hyeon-Gyu is caught offside.

89'Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Will Dennis.

89'Post update

Attempt saved. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Forrest with a through ball.

87'goalGoal!

Goal! Kilmarnock 2, Celtic 1. Matthew Kennedy (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Armstrong following a fast break.

86'Post update

Foul by Nathaniel Phillips (Celtic).

86'Post update

Marley Watkins (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.

84'Post update

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Kyogo Furuhashi.

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Player of the match

MayoLewis Mayo

with an average of 8.46

KilmarnockKilmarnockKilmarnockCelticCelticCeltic

KilmarnockAvgSquad number5Player nameMayoAverage rating

8.46

Squad number1Player nameDennisAverage rating

8.46

Squad number11Player nameArmstrongAverage rating

8.43

Squad number10Player nameKennedyAverage rating

8.41

Squad number9Player nameVassellAverage rating

8.14

Squad number23Player nameWatkinsAverage rating

8.08

Squad number6Player nameDeasAverage rating

8.04

Squad number3Player nameNdabaAverage rating

8.01

Squad number22Player nameDonnellyAverage rating

7.97

Squad number17Player nameFindlayAverage rating

7.96

Squad number8Player nameLyonsAverage rating

7.91

Squad number31Player namePolworthAverage rating

7.88

Squad number7Player nameMcKenzieAverage rating

7.61

Squad number15Player nameMurrayAverage rating

7.53

Squad number39Player nameMackay-StevenAverage rating

7.21

CelticAvgSquad number1Player nameHartAverage rating

3.84

Squad number33Player nameO'RileyAverage rating

3.77

Squad number42Player nameMcGregorAverage rating

3.56

Squad number2Player nameJohnstonAverage rating

3.50

Squad number5Player nameScalesAverage rating

3.36

Squad number19Player nameOh Hyeon-GyuAverage rating

3.28

Squad number24Player nameIwataAverage rating

3.22

Squad number90Player nameJohnstonAverage rating

3.13

Squad number7Player namePalmaAverage rating

2.98

Squad number3Player nameTaylorAverage rating

2.91

Squad number6Player namePhillipsAverage rating

2.80

Squad number8Player nameFuruhashiAverage rating

2.39

Squad number13Player nameYang Hyun-JunAverage rating

2.22

Squad number49Player nameForrestAverage rating

2.17

Source: bbc.com

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