Scott Brown sent off after late winner as Celtic strengthen grip on top spot
Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 1
When Celtic win their eighth successive Scottish title and their third under Brendan Rodgers – sometime in April, in all likelihood - this game will be seen as pivotal and Scott Brown’s name imprinted on its recollection. Celtic's captain was at the heart of all of the flashpoints at Rugby Park, scoring his second goal of the season and incurring his first red card as well as victim of a reckless challenge from Kirk Broadfoot that saw the Kilmarnock defender sent off.
The tone for the contest had been set on Saturday when Rangers’ challenge faltered in a home draw with St Johnstone and Aberdeen’s nominal pursuit was also undermined when they had to come from behind twice to salvage a draw with the bottom club, St Mirren. With the prize of an increased advantage as motivation, Celtic began as though they would settle the issue in short order as James Forrest and Jeremy Toljan combined to find Odsonne Edouard – who had replaced Oliver Burke – for a shot which skipped narrowly past the post with Daniel Bachmann scrambling to cover.
Edouard’s contribution came from a prompt by Ryan Christie, but this time Bachmann blocked and was able to gather the rebound attempt from Forrest. Johnny Hayes had come in for the injured Emilio Izaguirre and Celtic’s momentum released the Irishman from his role as stand-in full back, so that Kilmarnock were faced with the threat of two wingers on their right, where Scott Sinclair was also marauding.
Pressure from the flank allowed Sinclair to try his fortune with a dipping drive which was a simple take for the goalkeeper.
Despite appearances, that proved to be the signal for Kilmarnock to shift play to the other end of the field where, from a cute free kick by Chris Burke, they won their first corner kick. Burke, as usual, took charge and planted his delivery on to Broadfoot’s skull but the defender’s header swirled wide.
Kilmarnock had arguably edged the contest when the interval arrived with the game goalless and they had made their presence felt to the extent that Brown picked up his first caution of the game for a sliding lunge on Greg Taylor to stop the full back breaking clear on the flank. The restart was the signal for an absorbing second period, which could have gone either way until Broadfoot’s high and reckless swipe at Brown with 15 minutes remaining.
A flurry of personnel switches followed, as both sides adjusted to the altered situation. Timothy Weah – watched by his mother, Clar, the First Lady of Liberia – came off the Celtic bench along with Vakoun Bayo, who replaced Christie. Kilmarnock’s response was to replace Burke with Rory McKenzie, Conor McAleny with Liam Millar and, fatefully, Eamonn Brophy with Alex Bruce.
Weah almost made a spectacular impact with a low angled shot that cannoned off the base of the post but the garland belonged to Brown in the final minute of normal time when Dedryck Boyata headed a corner kick into the box where his skipper met it with an explosive half volley that spun off Bruce’s hand and into the net. Brown, echeloned by his euphoric colleagues, sprinted to receive the salutes of the fans behind Bachmann’s goal, flares were thrown and supporters came on to the field.
The upshot was a second caution for Brown and a compelling four minutes of injury time, during which Kilmarnock launched themselves at the champions but, ultimately, to no avail. The title is now Celtic’s to lose and its mainstay has been the defensive record that has seen them keep clean sheets in 780 minutes of league and cup football since they lost to Rangers at Ibrox on December 29, a record that gratified the Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers.
“We weren't settling for a draw,” He said. “We play to win every game and I thought we played very well considering we had a game of such intensity and difficulty on Thursday.
“It is never easy here, you have got to break through their block and they are very well organised. You know there are not going to be many chances so you have got to be ready.
“In the second half the players had great control and limited Kilmarnock to nothing really. When the moment arrived, we took it, so I thought we were well deserving of the win.
Match details
Kilmarnock (4-4-2): Bachmann; O’Donnell, Broadfoot, S Boyd, Taylor; Burke (McKenzie 83), Power, Dicker, Jones; McAleny (Millar 81), Brophy (Bruce 76).
Subs (unused): MacDonald (g), K Boyd, Waters, Thsibola.
Sent off: Broadfoot.
Celtic (4-3-3): Bain; Toljan, Boyata, Ajer, Hayes; Brown, Christie (Bayo 88), McGregor; Forrest (Weah 78), Edouard (Burke 67), Sinclair.
Subs (unused): Gordon (g), Lustig, Bitton, Okoflex.
Sent off: Brown.
Booked: Brown.
Referee: Bobby Madden.
