Harald Brattbakk put on a four-star show as Celtic overwhelmed Kilmarnock to
fuel their title ambitions at Parkhead.
The Norwegian striker has struggled since signing from Rosenborg, but could
hardly fail to shine as his team-mates presented him with three open goals
before he made a fourth for himself.
Brattbakk tapped the ball in twice at the far post in the opening half, and in
the 70th minute squeezed in a close-range third albeit in less convincing
manner.
Substitute Simon Donnelly's low cross became trapped between Brattbakk's legs
for a dreadful moment with an open goal gaping, but he recovered tosecure his
and Celtic's third.
It was perhaps the easiest hat-trick any player will score this season, but as
if to prove goals breed confidence Brattbakk completed his afternoon's work with
a stylish fourth.
Collecting an inside pass from another substitute Darren Jackson, Brattbakk
swept the ball beyond the reach of former Celtic keeper Gordon Marshall with a
precise low finish.
That ensured a repeat of the scoreline when the two sides met on October 4,
though, in truth, four was the least Celtic deserved for their complete
assurance.
Brattbakk had the chances to have even doubled his personal tally during a
match which Celtic dominated after taking the lead inside 11 minutes.
Considering the two teams started the fixture second and fourth respectively,
the result, and the convincing manner it was achieved, said little for the depth
of the Scottish game.
Kilmarnock paid the price for being far too square at the back enabling the
pace of Brattbakk and Henrik Larsson to dictate.
Brattbakk's welcome to the action was rather more inauspicious than what
followed as Ally Mitchell was booked after just 44 seconds for a lunging foul on
the Norwegian.
Clearly Mitchell sensed the potential danger from the Celtic frontman, whose
mood was positive after his decisive strike at Dunfermline in Monday's Scottish
Cup win.
Brattbakk missed his first opportunity after a poor backheader from Kevin
McGowne put him clear on Marshall, but he overran the ball as he was about to
shoot.
After 11 minutes, Brattbakk made no mistake after Larsson exchanged passes
with Jackie McNamara before unselfishly picking out his strike partner at the
far post.
With more than a suspicion of offside, Brattbakk tapped the ball in andCeltic
established a grip on the contest they never looked like losing.
Larsson again released Brattbakk after 15 minutes, but after rounding Marshall
expertly, he lost his composure and hit a scuffed shot at an open goal against
the post.
Jim McIntyre, impressing back in the Kilmarnock starting line-up, caused
problems with a weaving run after 33 minutes, but his attempted chip waslifted
too high clearing the bar.
Brattbakk's second settled Celtic nerves and was almost identical in execution
to the first - the Norwegian proving that from two yards out there is no-one
more lethal.
Larsson started the move with a quickly taken free kick to Craig Burley who
looked up intelligently to slip the ball to the lurking Braattbakk who accepted
the invitation to double his tally.
After 48 minutes, Larsson missed a chance to make it three after Brattbakk fed
him on the edge of the area, the Swede delaying his shot allowing theball to be
blocked.
Brattbakk conspired to miss a dream opportunity of a hat-trick in Celtic's
next attack, albeit from the closest of margins after again being put clear by
Larsson.
One-on-one with Marshall, Brattbakk sidefooted a low shot beyond the keeper's
reach but against the inside of the post, the ball running agonisingly across
the goal-line to safety.
Jonathan Gould needed to be alert in the Celtic goal to a fierce header from
Gary Holt after 57 minutes, saving well as Kilmarnock indicated the home team
would require a third.
That duly arrived in the 70th minute and this time it was to Brattbakk's
hat-trick as he converted a low cross from substitute Simon Donnelly with
another open goal.
With 10 minutes remaining, only a superb Marshall save denied Burley,
butBrattbakk wanted the last say and nobody was denying the match ball after he
rattled in his fourth.
Teams
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Mahe, McNamara (Donnelly 62),
Rieper (Annoni 72), Stubbs, Larsson (Jackson 76), Burley,
Brattbakk, Lambert, Wieghorst.
Goals: Brattbakk 11, 36, 70, 87.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Baker, Lauchlan, McGowne,
Reilly, Mitchell (O'Neill 82), Holt, Wright (Vareille 68),
McIntyre (Roberts 81), Henry.
Booked: Baker, Reilly, Mitchell.
Att: 49,231
Ref: A Freeland (Aberdeen).
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