Celtic clinched their third Scottish title in four years thanks to
a single strike by Stilian Petrov at Rugby Park.
But it only came after Kris Boyd had what Kilmarnock
felt was a legitimate opening goal chopped off for a foul.
Killie had threatened as much as Celtic until Petrov pounced on a
Henrik Larsson flick to slot home.
And Celtic held on to wrest the title from Rangers on the same ground
on which they lost it last season.
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill gave goalkeeper Rab Douglas, defender
Johan Mjallby and midfielder Paul Lambert the chance to celebrate with
starts that have been rare in recent weeks for the experienced trio.
David Marshall, Liam Miller and Joos Valgaeren were the men to drop
out after the midweek Uefa Cup defeat by Villarreal.
Danny Invincibile replaced Craig Dargo up front for Kilmarnock.
Celtic almost took an early lead when a mis-hit shot from Jackie
McNamara fell to Stanislav Varga and the defender poked the ball on to
the post from eight yards.
Kilmarnock were determined to spoil Celtic's party and were unlucky
not to go ahead themselves.
Kilmarnock had not turned up to lie down,
particularly little Stevie Murray who opened up full of trickery and
invention.
In 15 minutes, his clever pass unlocked
Celtic's defence and,had it not been for ref Mike McCurry's dubious
decision, Kris Boyd would have slammed Killie in front.
After being released by Murray, Boyd really
ought to have picked out strikemate Eric Skora with an early cutback but
hesitated at the vital moment and when he did attempt to pick out the
Frenchman he found Bobo Balde had got back to block.
But the man mountain defender stumbled and,
with Skora nipping at his ankles, succeeded only in batting the ball
straight back at Boyd who lashed a low shot beyond Douglas.
McCurry, though, had spotted something amiss
and blew for a foul by Skora on Balde.
Even Celtic's players seemed unsure how they
had managed to escape but McCurry was not so lucky and was singled out
for some special treatment by the locals from that moment on.
So, too, was the man they call the dog, Neil
Lennon, who had been snarling and growling around in midfield from the
start. Lennon snapped midway through the first half when he lashed a
ball into Kilmarnock's dugout as boss Jim Jefferies contested a decision
and from then on he was a marked man, his every touch booed by the home
fans.
Killie goalkeeper Colin Meldrum, told this week he will not be given
a new contract, saved at the feet of Petrov and Stephen Pearson's drive
from the rebound was cleared off the line by Garry Hay.
Celtic made the breakthrough after 31 minutes, Larsson flicking the
ball into the path of Petrov and this time he slipped it past Meldrum.
Meldrum saved superbly at full stretch to stop Larsson's curling free
kick to the far corner as Celtic dominated for a spell.
Boyd sliced wide after Murray's mis-hit found the striker unmarked
eight yards out and he also tested Douglas with a 20-yard free kick.
An Invincibile drive flashed across the face of the Celtic goal and
just wide as Kilmarnock created the first threat of a second half during
which the visitors looked more interested in holding their lead than
adding to it.
But Killie were thankful for a one-handed stop by Meldrum after a
powerful 18-yard drive by substitute Miller.
Manchester United-bound Miller replaced
Agathe after 71 minutes,albeit to a mixed reception, as O'Neill sensed
fresh legs were required to finish the job. And the Irishman's first
touch,a rasping shot from 20 yards, brought out a fine save from Meldrum,
who dived to his left to turn it around the post.
Moments later Miller's next touch, a
woefully slack passback, sent Boyd hurtling clear at the other end but
Douglas was alert and managed to jab out a leg to poke clear and stop
the striker skipping around him towards an empty net.
, Locke,
Skora, Murray, (Dargo 82 mins) Boyd, Invincibile. (McSwegan 87 mins)