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Killie’s season came to an end on Sunday in front of a sell-out of 16,722 at Rugby Park against defending SPL champions Celtic. Killie fans will in all likely hood remember this match not for the score, but for the handling of the ticket sales to Celtic fans. Hundreds of their fans were allowed entry (colours and all) into "home" sections of Rugby Park.

Jim Jefferies was forced to field a make-sift team as Greg Shields & Andy McLaren were both suspended. Also Chris Innes was recovering from a hernia operation. Gordon Marshall playing in his final game for Killie was named captain, and appeared on the cover of the match programme. (Nice touch by Killie don't you think!). He has since been subject to abuse from Celtic fans for his alleged time wasting etc.

The holders of the trophy bounced back from their UEFA Cup final defeat by FC Porto in midweek, with a Chris Sutton double, and Alan Thompson penalty and a Stilian Petrov strike.

Celtic’s fan cheers were replaced by tears as Thompson missed a crucial spot-kick before hearing Rangers had beaten Dunfermline 6-1 at Ibrox to win the SPL championship with a superior goal difference.

Martin O'Neill was forced to make a change in the 14th minute when Shaun Maloney hobbled off to be replaced by Paul Lambert but they took the lead two minutes later.

Thompson swung in an inviting corner and Sutton timed his run to perfection to head past Gordon Marshall's despairing dive from close range.

Sutton doubled Celtic's lead three minutes before half-time when Thompson's cross hit him and fell luckily for him to prod the ball past Marshall from close range.

Celtic were awarded a very soft penalty in the 53rd minute when Shaun Dillon was adjudged to have brought down Sutton in the box after a persistent run. TV replays show Dillion has yet to “touch” Sutton. Good job to the big Englishman on learning from FC Porto during their mid week diving demonstration. Thompson stepped up to fire emphatically past Gordon Marshall.

Larsson came within inches of making it four in the 62nd minute when he steered Sutton's pass past the advancing Marshall, but watched as it came back off the post.

Celtic paid the price moments later as news of another Rangers goal silenced the traveling contingent. Killie fans could now be heard singing …..”Your gonna win f*ck all!”

Celtic were given yet another lifeline in the 80th minute when Marshall brought down. Thompson in the box, after an eternity a second penalty was awarded, (but no yellow card given to Gordon Marshall?) Justice was then served when Thompson blasted the spot-kick high over the bar, and the ball was reported landing near Fenwick. (right).

Petrov picked his team-mates off the floor again with eight minutes remaining when he fired past the Kilmarnock goalkeeper from Henrik Larsson's inch-perfect through ball.

Killie should have pulled one back after a surging move from sub Paul Di Giacomo forced an errant “pass-back” to keeper Broto that Killie failed to capitalise on with the resulting freekick from the 6 yard line.

Marshall then saved a volley from substitute Jamie Smith moments later as Celtic again piled on the pressure knowing another goal could tip the title their way again.

In the closing stages it was Broto again that saved Celtic’s shut out with a great stop from a Gary McDonald shot, after a neat passing play started in Killie’s own half

Classless Sutton, who was sent off in the tunnel after the match, (two red cards as turned out!) will be asked to explain his conduct & Pars “lying-down” (to Rangers) comments in writing but is sure to be called before the committee at some stage.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Fowler, Dindeleux, McLaughlin, Dillon, Locke (McDonald 45), Mahood, Fulton (Hay 81), Canero, Boyd (Di Giacomo 60), McSwegan.
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Murray.

Attendance: 16,722.

Dunfermline chairman, John Yorkston, on Sutton’s Comments….."We've only heard second-hand what has been said. We will be back on Friday and we'll decide what steps to take then, but there will be no legal action taken. Anything that happens will be dealt with through football and we'll be consulting with the SFA on our return. These types of comments are not what we would expect of a representative of another Premier League club and are very disappointing but I don't want to say anything more."

Gordon Marshall Post Match Comments…."There are some Celtic players who I have no sympathy for. I was annoyed and outraged by some of the stuff that went on. I don't know what the Celtic players were hoping for and I will take whatever was said about my performance as a back- handed compliment. I was Kilmarnock's captain and I wanted to keep a clean sheet if possible. I knew I wouldn't get a pat on the back whatever happened during the game but whatever was said about me is water off a duck's back. My emotions still haven't settled down and I don't expect to get back to normal for a few days yet. But I am very disappointed with the attitude shown to me by certain Celtic players."

On Being Jeered at the End…."I wasn't aware of the jeering because I was applauding the Kilmarnock fans as I was leaving them for the last time."

Ball-Boy’s …the controversy? A Kilmarnock source has revealed:…"At the start of the week Celtic requested that we put on extra ball boys and have balls placed around the pitch because Rangers were doing something similar at Ibrox. We told them we had enough and didn't need any more but Celtic then wanted to bring their own ball boys down with them. We told them they could do that if they wanted although we made it clear there was no way they would be getting anywhere near the pitch. I don't think their manager was too happy, however this was our home game, not theirs."

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