Kamara claims Celtic were guilty of complacency at Kilmarnock

DIOMANSY Kamara believes Celtic were guilty of believing their own hype when they slumped to their first defeat against Kilmarnock for nine years on Tuesday night.

The Senegal international forward, on loan from Fulham until the end of the season, endured a miserable debut as the 1-0 loss at Rugby Park left Celtic ten points behind Rangers at the top of the SPL.

Kamara feels the publicity generated by the loan signing of Robbie Keane late on Monday night prompted Tony Mowbray's revamped side to adopt a fatally complacent attitude.

"I think that, with the new players, maybe we thought we had the game won even before we played it," said Kamara. "Everyone said, 'Ah, Robbie Keane is here and it's his debut and he'll score'. Maybe in the minds of the players then we thought the game was won before it started. We know we are a big team with big players, but we have to win the game before we start talking."

The 29-year-old knows Celtic can ill afford any such mental weakness when they take on Dunfermline at East End Park tomorrow in the fifth round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

"It is now a massive game for us," said Kamara. "Our minimum target should be to reach the final. We have to win something this season and the Scottish Cup is important. It's good we have a game so soon so that we can forget the defeat on Tuesday. That was a big surprise as I'd never have thought we'd have lost that game with all the new players that arrived. I was angry and surprised at the result.

"It was hard to sleep after it. It's my first game and you don't want to lose. It was also Robbie's debut and you don't want to get off to a bad start. It's a hard league and anyone can beat anyone, but we are Celtic and we should win."