Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Celtic: Killie make their point as champions pay penalty for slack defending

Neil Lennon’s side drop first points of campaign as Chris Burke spot-kick cancels out Ryan Christie’s free-kick

Chris Burke scores from the penalty spot for Kilmarnock. Picture: Getty.

In a Premiership title race where every slip-up or setback by the main protagonists will be analysed to the nth degree, Celtic became the first to invite critical scrutiny of their 
credentials.

Two dropped points in only their second match of the campaign 
hardly constitutes a catastrophe for the Scottish champions but any notion they may have had of setting the pace from start to finish in their quest for ten-in-a-row ended as they were held to a draw by Kilmarnock.

Chris Burke’s penalty for the hosts, conceded by Christopher Jullien on an undistinguished afternoon for the French central defender, cancelled out Ryan Christie’s early free-kick opener for Neil Lennon’s side.

It was a performance well short of the standards set by Celtic in Lennon’s second spell as manager. With Nicke Kabamba leading the line with grit and intelligence for Kilmarnock, Alex Dyer’s team delivered a collective effort of unflinching will which succeeded in disrupting the rhythm of the visitors.

Lennon had predicted pre-match that the artificial playing surface at Rugby Park could intensify the challenge facing Vasilis Barkas as he made his debut for Celtic.

Certainly, if the club’s most expensive ever goalkeeper had hoped for a settling-in period behind his new defensive team-mates, he was soon disappointed. To be fair to the 
£4.5 million Greek international, no-one could reasonably find fault with his contribution. It was those immediately in front of him who cost Celtic.

Their back four, most notably the giant Jullien who has previously looked ill at ease on synthetic pitches,
showed signs of discomfort from the opening exchanges. Twice in the first six minutes, Kilmarnock right-back Ross Millen was able to put the visitors’ back four on the back foot with fine overlapping play and dangerous crosses.

A brave and painful block from Jeremie Frimpong prevented Rory McKenzie from getting on the end of first one, then Kabamba shrugged aside Celtic’s attempts at marking him to head the second one over.

But an encouraging start from the hosts’ perspective was undone by a piece of wholly unconvincing goalkeeping by Danny Rogers as Celtic took an 11th-minute lead. Killie captain
Gary Dicker halted a thrusting run by Odsonne Edouard with a cynical foul from behind which some referees might have considered worth more than the yellow card Alan Muir administered for the offence.

Christie extracted further retribution for Celtic, however, as he stepped up to take the free-kick from all of 30 yards out. His left-foot shot was well enough struck but Rogers, making his debut for Kilmarnock, looked slow to react as the ball beat him to his left and nestled in the 
corner of the net.

It appeared the ideal platform from which Celtic could generate control of the contest but Kilmarnock were level again 13 minutes later when Jullien was found seriously wanting in a physical challenge with Kabamba.

The Killie striker outmuscled the defender as he forced his way into the left side of Celtic’s penalty area. Caught on the wrong side of his man, Jullien sent him sprawling with a clumsy challenge. It was a clear spot-kick which veteran winger Burke converted confidently despite Barkas diving the right way.

While Celtic soon established dominance of possession, Kilmarnock continued to carry a threat and another excellent cross from the impressive Millen was headed over by Kabamba.

Edouard curled a free-kick narrowly wide of Rogers’ left-hand post, the striker having been crudely 
taken down by Alan Power who was booked, as Celtic tried to impose some authority on proceedings.

But they continued to look vulnerable at the back and Jullien was in trouble again four minutes before the interval when Kabamba beat him to a Millen through ball. The striker’s deflected shot spun over Barkas but the keeper had time to get back and retrieve the situation.

Celtic were struggling to find any sustained fluency or attacking momentum. Callum McGregor fizzed a shot narrowly over from 20 yards but clear-cut chances were at a premium.

Lennon made a double substitution
midway through the second half, replacing Frimpong and Mohamed Elyounoussi with Hatem Elhamed and Patryk Klimala, also changing the shape of his side as the Polish striker joined Edouard up front.

But Kilmarnock remained tirelessly obdurate, defending with composure and resilience even when Celtic hemmed them in around their own penalty area for much of the closing stages.

Scott Brown, some way short of 
his influential best for the visitors, was replaced by Olivier Ntcham as Lennon desperately attempted to inject fresh energy and creativity into his side. Kilmarnock still held out with a reasonable degree of comfort to secure their first point of the new season, one which was fully merited on the basis of their admirable industry and organisation.

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