A goalless war of attrition did Celtic few favours in the battle for
championship honours as Kilmarnock denied them the win their fading title hopes
desperately required.
With Rangers having lost to Dundee United at Ibrox, this was an opportunity
spurned to reduce the gap on the leaders to seven points.
Instead, nine points
is the new margin.
It was not that Celtic wanted for effort or desire, but their perspiration was
rarely matched by the level of inspiration needed to deprive Kilmarnock a 17th
clean sheet this term.
It was a mean defensive display by the home side which made for a game high in
tension but low on drama.
Kilmarnock played virtually the whole game in the style of an away team with
men packed behind the ball as if at Parkhead rather than their own Ayrshire
home.
The result means both the Old Firm have now lost their 100% records
established since the winter shutdown, but despite avoiding defeat it is Celtic
who will feel the pain most.
Celtic were still without talented Slovakian Lubomir Moravcik, while Alan
Stubbs' persistent ankle problem again meant midfielder Vidar Riseth switched to
centre-half.
Kilmarnock's attack was again led by Ally McCoist - told by Scotland manager
Craig Brown a national squad place could yet be his with an inspired goalscoring
display.
The visitors had the first effort at goal, Craig Burley releasing Jackie
McNamara whose pull-back set up an effort from distance by Paul Lambert
deflected wide of the mark.
Neither team refrained from heavy challenges in a fiercely-contested opening
period and for persistent fouling Kilmarnock's Paul Wright collected the first
yellow card in the 16th minute.
The match clearly had an edge to it and there was an element of apparent
retribution about a Gus McPherson foul on Henrik Larsson, the Swede having
caused him a shin injury earlier this year.
Incredibly, there was no booking which perhaps prompted Johan Mjallby into an
ill-judged aerial challenge on Gary Holt for which he was lucky to just be
cautioned.
After 26 minutes, Mark Viduka spurned a potential opening when he failed to
connect with a powerfully-driven McNamara cross as Celtic sought to calm
proceedings with a goal.
McCoist might have done better for Kilmarnock on the half-hour mark when Dylan
Kerr floated in an inviting cross from the left but the veteran's diving header
missed the ball entirely.
Holt's alertness denied a Regi Blinker burst on 34 minutes, while a curled
effort from McNamara proved comfortable for Gordon Marshall in the Kilmarnock
goal.
Right on half-time a clever Viduka turn and pass fed Larsson, but defender Jim
Lauchlan held his ground and made a telling tackle to preserve the deadlock.
For all its pace the contest continued to prove low on quality after the
interval with McPherson's booking for felling Tosh McKinlay indicative of
Kilmarnock's approach.
From the resulting free-kick Riseth headed wide when well-placed as too, on
the hour mark, did Larsson, but in truth Celtic were unable to create the
chances they craved.
After 62 minutes, a swirling Blinker corner was missed by home keeper
Marshall, but no Celtic player was on hand to take advantage of the error.
Viduka then found some precious space on the left and squared the ball into
Burley's path, yet the former Chelsea midfielder's drive was virtually straight
at Marshall.
Kilmarnock replaced McCoist with Mark Roberts after 69 minutes but their
game-plan seemed more about preventing defeat than actually gaining victory.
After 73 minutes, Burley came closer with a far post header after McKinlay's
deep cross had picked him out, but still Celtic remained frustrated.
With only eight minutes remaining, McKinlay's corner sparked a fine glancing
header by Riseth but the ball sailed wide of the target and time had run out for
Celtic.
Teams
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, McGowne, Reilly, Holt,
Wright (Burke 84), Durrant (Mahood 86), Mitchell,McCoist (Roberts 69), Lauchlan.
Subs Not Used: Hamilton, Strain.Booked: Wright, MacPherson, McGowne.
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, McNamara, Larsson, Burley, Lambert,
McKinlay, Blinker, Riseth, Mjallby, Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Brattbakk, Marshall, Healy, Burchill, Corr.
Booked: Mjallby.
Att: 14,472
Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow)
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook