Celtic took any fears over Kilmarnock’s artificial pitch in their stride as Ange Postecoglou’s champions were fantastic on plastic with a Sunday stroll in the Ayrshire sunshine over the Scottish Premiership new boys.
It was three and easy in the first half for the Hoops thanks to Kyogo’s early opener before Jota fired a screamer and Moritz Jenz scored an acrobatic effort on the stroke of half-time. Carl Starfelt added a fourth with his first goal for the club before fellow substitute Giorgos Giakoumakis netted a fifth to continue Celtic’s perfect start to the defence of their league title. Celtic now take on Hearts at home next before a trip to Dundee United ahead of that massive first derby of the season.
So much was made of the plastic pitch on a scorching day and whether the sticky surface would disrupt the champions free-flowing style. Well, it didn’t take long for the answer with the clock just short of the seventh minute when the visitors took the lead.
It was great play from Killie old boy Greg Taylor who played a ball down the left channel for Daizen Maeda who got in behind Fraser Murray and the Japanese star crossed for compatriot Kyogo who supplied the finish in off the inside of the upright.
If that close range finish was simple then Celtic’s second was anything but. Jota doesn’t really do tap-ins and the Portuguese star added another screamer to his Hoops collection as Maeda provided a second assist, shifting the ball to Jota who unleashed a 35-yard screamer into the top corner.
It’s a goal Benfica legend Fernando Chalana would have been have proud of and Jota paid tribute to the former winger who passed away a few days earlier, pointing to a wristband with the 27-time capped ex-Portuguese International’s name on it.
Despite the thunderbolt shot, Killie keeper Sam Walker might have done better to but if there was any criticism levelled at him for that then he deserved credit for preventing another for Jota when Kyogo sent him clear and the former Reading shot-stopper came out to block.
But it was backs to the wall stuff for the home side and they fell further behind just before the interview. Jota’s corner broke to Callum McGregor and the skipper’s shot wriggled through a ruck of bodies and spun up with Jenz brilliantly adjusting himself to send an overhead kick into the bottom corner.
For Killie, the second half was about damage limitation yet they could have been 4-0 down with only the crossbar denying Kyogo before Starfelt came off the bench for his first appearance of the season after picking up an injury with Sweden during the summer, the defender replacing Jenz.
Postecoglou had that luxury of making changes and one of them - Liel Abada - almost got a fourth his effort cleared off the line as he injected fresh energy into the side along with Giakoumakis and Aaron Mooy.
But it was that earlier sub Starfelt who grabbed the fourth and it was third time lucky as Walker denied Cameron Carter-Vickers and Starfelt before the Swede scored with his second attempt before Giakoumakis completed the rout with a brilliant overhead kick through the legs of Walker after a cross was headed into his path.
Here's three talking points from Rugby Park.
Terrific Taylor
Greg Taylor was getting a bit of stick from the home crowd who once worshipped him as he returned to his old stomping ground. But the 24-year-old continued his impressive start to the season as he gives the perfect response to the summer arrival of Alexander Bernabei who challenges him for the left back spot. It was Taylor’s delicious ball which started the move for the opening goal and that set the tone for a man of the match display. It’s fair to say he has had his doubters since moving to Parkhead over whether he has the quality needed to cut it but he’s won them over in front of a man who ended no convincing - his old Rugby Park gaffer and current Scotland boss Steve Clarke.
Season starts now for Killie
It’s been a tough start to the Kilmarnock on their top flight return with Rangers and Celtic in consecutive weeks after their opening day draw at home to Dundee United. Derek McInnes and his newly-promoted side won’t be judged on games against the Old Firm, although there’s no doubt they could have been more competitive against the champions on their own patch. A trip to winless Ross County is up next and that is a fixture where they will want to show what they’re made of.
Derby duels crucial
We’re only three league games in but the early evidence suggest the Celtic vs Rangers meetings are going to be huge this season. The rivals have made a solid start to their Scottish Premiership campaigns and in this weekend they were emphatic wins over their respective opponents. If that continues, as looks likely as they will surely only both improve, then those derby meetings are going to be massive. And with just two league games until they meet at Parkhead there’s every chance thy could go into that meeting on the back of perfect starts to the league season.
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