Kilmarnock started brightly and, with five minutes gone, Craig Dargo
was allowed to run onto Freddie Dindeleux's hopeful punt downfield but
the striker pulled his long-range lob past the upright. (right).
The nerves of the home fans were tested soon after when David
Marshall needed to make three important saves.
The young keeper pushed Colin Nish's header behind before doing well
to stop two awkward efforts from the ex-Swindon man in quick succession.
Celtic were finding it difficult to create anything early on but
showed signs they were raising their game with Camara pulling the ball
across the face of goal and John Hartson chipping the ball just wide.
After half an hour Neil Lennon's long-range shot fell to Hartson, who
spun and fired in a low shot but Graeme Smith did well to turn it around
the post.
The rookie goalkeeper was again busy moments later when Thompson
picked up the ball near the corner of the penalty area and unleashed a
rocket which Smith had to tip over the bar.
Hartson then headed Thompson's free-kick over the top from eight
yards.
Celtic were now on top and Varga got ahead of his marker to get on
the end of Thompson's corner but his header bounced off the crossbar.
Thompson tried his luck with a stinging drive from 25 yards which
Smith could only parry and Camara blasted the rebound well wide.
But McGeady came to Celtic's rescue when he curled a right-foot
free-kick over the defensive wall and past the despairing dive of Smith.
The free-kick was awarded for an alleged hand-ball, but it certainly did
not appear to be deliberate.
Killie threatened in the 52nd minute when Gordon Greer threaded the
ball through to Nish, who drove low and hard, but Marshall got down well
to gather.
Camara could have settled Celtic nerves on the hour when Varga broke
down the right and pulled the ball into his path but he sidefooted the
ball well wide.
But the on-loan striker won his side a penalty in the 63rd minute
when he toppled dramatically after Simon Ford appeared to take the ball.
Thompson stepped up to send Smith the wrong way.
Furious Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies had to be restrained moments
later when referee Mike Conroy ignored penalty shouts after Gary
McDonald had gone down under Dider Agathe's challenge.
Kilmarnock's industry was rewarded in the 89th minute when
Colin Nish powered home a shot from 18 yards after good work
from substitute Steven Naismith. This was Nish's 4th goal in 3 outings.
Kilmarnock: Smith, Lilley, Dindeleux, Greer, Ford, Invincibile,
(Fowler 45 mins), Leven, McDonald, Johnston, (Naismith 87 mins), Dargo,
(Locke 73 mins), Nish
Subs Not Used: Samson, Hay, Joly, Murray.
Attendance: 57,348
Cards: None.
