Kilmarnock pulled up the drawbridge last night and invited Celtic to besiege them. They almost survived, but Mark Burchill's goal midway through the second half restored a semblance of order to things.
But it was desperately close for Celtic, who were more than anxious not to lose more ground on Rangers. They had to play a cup-tie-like, feverish game merely to gain three points.
The respective managers had both trotted out the old line that they would not begin to think about this week's UEFA Cup ties until after this game was out of the way. Kilmarnock travel to Kaiserslautern - who lost 5-0 at Werder Bremen yesterday - while Celtic entertain Hapoel Tel Aviv.
For once they may have meant it, too, since Celtic could ill afford to drop six points behind Rangers, and Kilmarnock's start to the season had been less than convincing. There is also a tradition that games between these clubs tend to be much closer than they should.
Kilmarnock tried hard to be enterprising early on, playing with two strikers and giving a game to David Bagan, a snapper of heels in midfield. Celtic decided Mark Burchill's skills could be ignored no longer.
The 19-year-old underlined his talent when he broke away from Kevin McGowne's tackle in the sixth minute and tried to deceive Colin Meldrum with a shot inside his near post. The goalkeeper read it well, though.
Celtic's tactics were clear. They hoped that Burchill's pace would eventually undermine McGowne and Jim Lauchlan, the central defenders. In the first half some of their interceptions were desperate affairs, but they proved unable to hold out.
In a long spell of defending should have paid off for Kilmarnock in the 50th minute. McPherson's long ball found Paul Wright and as the Celtic defence stepped out, the flag stayed down. The striker seemed as amazed as everyone else, but recovered his composure quickly to carry the ball forward and chip neatly over Gould. But it was struck a fraction too hard and hit the bar.
The miss was enough to remind Celtic they were in some peril, and they poured forward for the rest of the match. Their commitment finally paid off in the 72nd minute when Burchill fully justified his inclusion.
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, MacPherson, Jeffrey (McCoist 81), McGowne, Holt, Wright, Durrant (Burke 81), Mitchell, Baker, Lauchlan, Bagan (Davidson 71). Subs Not Used: Watt, Hessey. Booked: Baker, Wright.
Celtic: Gould, McNamara, Stubbs (Petrov 76), Riseth, Tebily, Lambert, Mjallby, Moravcik (Petta 66), Burley, Burchill, Larsson. Subs Not Used: Kharine, Wieghorst, Brattbakk. Booked: McNamara, Lambert, Tebily, Burley. Goals: Burchill 72.
Referee: K Clark (Scotland).
