Not the best display by Killie but after a bit of a lay off with the U21’s, it was obvious that players were going to be a bit rusty. The first real event of the game came from a long range shot after 10 minutes by Robert Campbell which Hedman did well to hold. In 14 minutes, the first real set piece went to Killie in the form of a free kick taken by Scott Johnson which went wide.

The game at this stage was fairly open with both teams attacking the ball in the midfield areas with little emphasis on the final third. Rhian Dodds was beginning to command the midfield play and made himself available when possible, and in 15 minutes he shot just wide from outside the box.

In 26 minutes the best move of the game started with a central ball played by Dodds to Murray on the wing who in turn, played the ball to Campbell. The big man did well to beat about three players and sent the ball low in from the left, where it was met by S. Johnston, unfortunately he sliced the ball wide. Jamie Fowler looked like a man low in confidence but had a flash of inspirational defending from a strong Celtic attack in the 29th minute when he coolly chested down a Celtic cross for Smith to gather.

On 31 minutes Smith was in action again making a fine save from McManus’s powerful drive and three minutes later another good ball from Harris saw another chance missed. By now, Celtic seemed to be edging it and a few  minutes later, their pressure paid off. A through ball from midfield allowed Lawson to attack at pace and with only Gary Wild in tow, he calmly slotted passed the onrushing Smith.

Neil McGregor made a fantastic last ditch tackle following a great run by McManus on 40 minutes. However a minute later, some great interplay by Murray & Hamill produced a corner which was just headed over by McGregor.

The start of the second half saw Celtic bring on Marshall for Hedman, and he was tested a minute into the half when he tipped over a Campbell shot. McGregor was booked in the 53rd minute and two minutes later Celtic's O’Dea followed him. Murray put in two good crosses in the 60th minute, the second one producing a corner from Marshall’s inability to hold the resulting shot from Coyne.

Wallace showed good play in the 64th minute when he ripped the Killie defence apart, but poor finishing took the sparkle out of the move. In the 65th minute Sloan replaced the hard working Coyne and then in the 67th min, the impressive Campbell beat a couple of players on the right and played in a pass to the centre which was picked up by the ever present Dodds, whose shot was deflected from 20 yards.

Campbell had another shot parried in the 73rd minute. In the 78th, another piece of strong midfield work paid off as Dodds snatched the ball from the static McManus and charged through setting up a good cross which was deflected for a Killie corner. The short corner was headed over by McGregor.

In 80 minutes, a Celtic corner had plenty of players attacking a fast high ball in, but Smith easily plucked it from the air. In the 43rd minute of the second half, a handball by a Celtic player saw a free kick on the edge of the box which was poorly struck off the wall by Johnston.

In the final minute a drive from the ever present Dodds saw the ball go for a thrown in. All in all a bit of a scrappy affair with the Tenacious D(odds) and McGregor hopefully showing that they are worthy of a place in the first team.

 

Kilmarnock: Smith, Fowler, Hamill, Wild, McGregor , S Johnston, Loy (Adams 73), Dodds, Coyne (Sloan 65), Campbell, Murray

Celtic: Hedman (Marshall 45), Irvine, Mulgrew, Lambert, O'Dea , McManus, Harris (Cardine 70), Lawson, Quinn (McGlinchey 87), Fernandez, Wallace