Celtic canter further towards title in Kilmarnock

Celtic are seven points away from retaining the Scottish Premiership after a first-half goal blitz against relegation-threatened Kilmarnock.

Liam Donnelly got one back at the end of a first half that also featured a missed a missed penalty by Kyogo, with neither side finding the net after the interval.

South Korea head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was in attendance at Rugby Park hoping to see Oh Hyeon-Gyu and the striker replaced Kyogo at half-time.

Kilmarnock remain in the relegation play-off spot, a point above bottom side Ross County and below Dundee United on goal difference.

Celtic re-establish a 12-point advantage over Rangers and, with a vastly superior goal difference, Ange Postecoglou’s side effectively need two more wins from six games to clinch back-to-back titles.

After Fraser Murray conceded possession, Kyogo turned Joe Wright and raced clear on the right. The striker turned back and, as the Kilmarnock defence stood off, struck a low shot past Sam Walker for goal number 29 of the season. Great striker play but the league’s top scorer was afforded too much space.

Celtic’s second was well worked. Sead Haksabanovic released Alistair Johnston in the inside right channel and his chip was nodded back across goal into the net by Maeda.

There was no let-up from the visitors as O’Riley tested Walker at his left-hand post.

But the midfielder scored with his next attempt on 18 minutes, receiving Greg Taylor’s incisive pass and placing the ball low into the net with Killie again too passive.

Christian Doidge’s foolish trip on Taylor gave Kyogo the chance to reach the 30 mark from the spot, but the striker’s effort came back off the post and Maeda knocked the rebound wide.

The fourth was not long in coming, though, as Murray’s sliced clearance went backwards into his own box and Danny Armstrong’s header presented the ball for O’Riley to control and finish.

Beleaguered home manager Derek McInnes took action with defender Jeriel Dorsett and midfielder Alan Power sent on in place of midfielder Murray and striker Doidge, the change in shape eventually stemming Celtic’s flow.

And it was the visitors’ turn to err in first-half added time as captain Callum McGregor was robbed by Donnelly inside the box. The Northern Irishman’s first shot was blocked by Joe Hart, so was Armstrong’s but Donnelly retrieved and forced the ball in to reduce the hosts’ arrears.

The second period was far less incident-packed than the first, but Kilmarnock did carve one excellent chance. Armstrong swung in a brilliant cross from the right and Luke Chambers’ header was superbly blocked by Hart.

Oh was active in front of his international manager, trying his best to get across defenders and finding the side netting on one occasion. Team-mates Carl Starfelt, Tomoki Iwata and Johnston also threatened.

Player of the match – Matt O’Riley

Celtic goal hungry again at Rugby Park – analysis

When Celtic visited Rugby Park in August, Celtic were a goal up after seven minutes, three up by half-time and five in front by full-time. The start to this game was eerily familiar for Kilmarnock, with basic errors and lacklustre defending ruling out any possibility of gaining a foothold in the match.

The hosts were always huge underdogs but the ease with which they were bowled over in the opening half-hour was the last thing they need in their battle to avoid the drop, particularly with rivals Dundee United having found form with two wins.

To their credit, Kilmarnock got much closer to their opponents and restricted space in the second half. They now face six games which could define their season.

Comfortable Celtic wins this season are nothing new. Postecoglou’s side have won 9-0, 6-1, 5-0, 5-1 and 4-0 this term, continually rejecting the footballing convention of getting in front and sitting on a lead.

The league leaders need nine more points to reach 100, having moved beyond a century of league goals to 102 for the campaign with this win.

What’s next?

Kilmarnock visit St Mirren on Saturday (15:00 BST), when Celtic will be at home to Motherwell.