Rock On Tommy: A Kilmarnock-Celtic Match Report

Saturday August 19th: Scottish Premiership; Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 2 (Forrest 40’, McGregor 88’)

Tom Rogic was the star man as a much changed Celtic made it three league wins out of three with a comfortable win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Brendan Rodgers made many changes from the team which routed Astana 5-0, with only Gordon, Tierney, Brown, Forrest and Rogic remaining in the side. There were starts for Miller, Ralston and Ajer at the back, with Benyu and Armstrong also starting.

With a much changed side, it was as expected a disjointed start to the game, as Killie were content to let Celtic have possession and put men behind the ball. As a result Celtic were restricted to long range efforts before Brown came close to opening the scoring with a header over the bar.

The opening goal eventually arrived in the 40th minute, and was all down to the genius of Tom Rogic, who went on a run into the box and his deft disguised backheel found James Forrest whose sidefoot finish found the back of the net.

Shortly after this a great Calvin Miller cross went across the six yard box with no takers to put the ball into the net, so it remained 1-0 at half-time.

The first real chance of the second half fell to James Forrest, who showed good skill to find space in the box but his finish was poor. The very impressive Miller was then involved in the next two chances, firstly putting his shot over the bar after being found by Tierney then he was at the heart of a great team move which ended with MacDonald saving his shot.

Celtic then made changes, introducing Griffiths, Bitton and Lustig, and the killer second goal arrived in the 88th minute, and was once again all down to Tom Rogic, whose through ball found Callum McGregor, who finished with aplomb, and it was 2-0 to the Celts.

The last notable incident of the game involved Nir Bitton, who was forced off injured meaning that Celtic had to finish the game with ten men, but despite this Brendan Rodgers will be delighted with today’s result and performance, as the fringe players did well, in particular Calvin Miller, who looked very dangerous going forward and did well in defence, and Kristoffer Ajer, who I would have no hesitation in starting against Astana if Nir Bitton is out injured.

But the star man was Tom Rogic, who displayed his full range in creating both goals, he really does have a bit of style that no one in Scottish football can touch. All eyes now turn to Kazakhstan as Celtic aim to clinch our Champions League place against Astana on Tuesday.