Kilmarnock's suspended top scorer, Colin Nish, was replaced with Mehdi
Taouil, who went on to produce a classy display in midfield.
Defender
Frazer Wright returned from suspension to take over from Tim Clancy, while
Craig Bryson came in for Gary Locke.
Both sides threatened in the early stages, although Combe was the first
goalkeeper to be called into action, diving to turn a Scott McDonald drive
round the post.
But Celtic suffered a double injury blow, with Chris Killen and Riordan
coming on as replacements after 17 minutes.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was withdrawn with blood streaming from a
headwound after a clash of heads, while Andreas Hinkel came off with what
looked like a hamstring problem.
Alan Combe came to Killie's rescue again, blocking a volley at
point-blank range after his defence allowed a cross to reach McDonald.
A fine Shunsuke Nakamura cross found Brown breaking into the box, but
the midfielder's glancing header flew a couple of yards wide.
Garry Hay did well to block at the front post after a low Killen cross
found McDonald.
Celtic were now in total control and Combe did superbly to tip the ball
over the top following a deft chip by Riordan.
When Combe failed to hold the subsequent corner, the ball was cleared
off the Killie line after a goalmouth melee.
Combe followed that with a superb, one-handed save after Riordan had
broken forward before firing a powerful drive from just outside the
penalty box.
McDonald was first to threaten after the break but headed straight at
Combe from a Nakamura corner.
The Australian striker was booked for complaining when he was denied a
penalty after being sandwiched between two Killie defenders.
Kilmarnock
looked to have weathered the storm until Brown's 20-yard drive was turned
into his own net by Martyn Corrigan, (right) past a luckless
Alan Combe,
Killen sent a 20-yard drive just over as Celtic looked to consolidate.
Lee Naylor's last-ditch tackle prevented Paul Di Giacomo having a late
opportunity in front of goal to equalise, but Celtic held on.
Sandy's Match Pic's are
HERE
