Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 2:SCOTT McDONALD, apparently the only Celtic striker who knows where the goal is these days, hit a magnificent winner with nine minutes left last night to prevent an unlucky 13 for his side at Rugby Park and send them back to the top of the table.
Celtic, who had won their last dozen visits to this venue, are three points clear after the bottom club Inverness gained a dramatic 1-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox with a 90th-minute penalty from Ian Black.
McDonald, who danced inside three defenders before firing home the winner, supplied genuine class exactly when Celtic needed it.
Gordan Strachan’s side had been dominant in the first half but two instances of brilliance within 60 seconds from the home goalkeeper, Alan Combe, kept the champions at bay. Combe denied Scott Brown and Aiden McGeady from close range, reacting superbly on both occasions. McDonald had, by that time, put Celtic in front with a low finish. The clinical Australian striker was afforded far too much space by David Lilley, 12 yards from goal, and duly made the Kilmarnock defender pay.
The hosts’ first meaningful attack had seen Danny Invincibile head fresh air rather than the ball when handed a glorious chance but the Australian soon atoned. In the second act of woeful defending of the evening, Celtic’s backline missed a Craig Bryson corner and Invincibile was on hand to prod home at the back post.
David Fernandez lobbed narrowly over within five minutes of the restart as Kilmarnock sensed their opponents’ anxiety. Kevin Kyle and, shockingly, Connor Sammon also missed chances. Gary Caldwell did his best to ease Celtic’s tension, but Combe made a reflex stop. McDonald, though, would not be denied.
GuardianService
KILMARNOCK: Combe, Clancy, Hay, Ford, Lilley, Bryson, Pascali, Hamill, Invincibile (Taouil 86), Fernandez (Sammon 57), Kyle. Subs Not Used: Rascle, Skelton, O'Leary, Flannigan, Anson. Booked: Hamill, Ford. Goal: Invincibile 36.
CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, O'Dea, Caldwell, McManus, Scott Brown, Crosas, Nakamura, McGeady, Samaras (Hutchinson 78), McDonald. Subs Not Used: Fox, Loovens, Hartley, Flood, Conroy, Millar. Booked: McGeady, O'Dea. Goals: McDonald 27, 81. Att: 6,712.
Referee: C Thomson (Scotland).
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