Celtic begin title defence with dominant victory over Kilmarnock

Celtic began their title defence with a dominant 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock which sent them top of the Scottish Premiership.

The champions eased to their first three points of the season on the opening weekend – and are already two points ahead of Rangers after their draw with Hearts – once Reo Hatate fired into the bottom corner from just inside the box in the 17th minute.

Celtic had already seen Kyogo Furuhashi denied by an excellent goal-line clearance before he was kept out by Robby McCrorie, who dived high to his right to parry a bending effort.

Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn was inches away from doubling the lead after seeing his rebound clip the top of the crossbar, having initially been kept out by McCrorie, but Celtic made sure they took a two-goal cushion into the break when Liam Scales out-muscled Lewis Mayo at a corner to head in off the right post.

Scales nearly doubled his tally at the start of the second half as his effort was cleared off the line by Oliver Bainbridge, although Celtic soon netted a third when Kuhn’s shot deflected over McCrorie.

Kyogo was unable to get on the scoresheet, side-footing wide a decent opportunity from Hatate’s cross, having a goal ruled out for offside, a penalty appeal turned down and a last-gasp shot kept out by McCrorie with the rebound turned home by Anthony Ralston in added time.

Rodgers: We are improving all the time

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports:

“It was a very good performance. Coming into the first game of the season it’s just about getting it going and I thought a lot of our combination play in the midfield to attacking third was really good.

“It was a different type of game for us than what we’ve had right the way through pre-season. But I thought the guys coordinated it very, very well. Scored four excellent goals and we could’ve got one or two more.

“Our game idea today was to do everything quickly, whether it’s throw-ins, spot play, corners, where we could. Just get the tempo of the game up. So that side of it was very good.

“Obviously individual quality is important, but collectively it’s about the team. I’m very happy because I look at us now when we play against the different types of systems with the man-marking because it’s not easy.

“Kilmarnock are very, very fit. They make it very difficult, very physical, which is what the game’s about. But we can manage our way through that really, really well now.

“I feel that whether it’s a man-marking team, if there’s space, or teams in a low block, that this team is improving all the time.”

McInnes: We didn’t give up – it was gutsy

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes told Sky Sports:

“We’ve got a makeshift back four there. I think we battled away admirably. It was quite a gutsy performance.

“I spoke to the players about showing a lot of character and the difficulties that we faced coming back from Europe, which was a really demanding game on Thursday. I’m also looking ahead to Thursday night’s European game.

“I’m not saying we gave this game up, but ultimately we knew we had to compete and do a lot of things right. I thought to an extent we did that.

“We now look forward to Thursday night. We need to dust ourselves down. We’ll be stronger in terms of selection. I think we’ll get a couple off the treatment table.

“It’s a good reference that game for us because I think in terms of mentality and fitness, we actually competed well. We won’t come up against Celtic after a European trip every week. For me, it’s a chance to utilise the squad.

“I’m not happy with a 4-0 defeat. I think the fourth goal is harsh on us. But we have got other battles now.”

‘Kilmarnock wanted this game out of the way’

Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd:

“It’s difficult enough for Kilmarnock coming here with their strongest XI. They don’t have their strongest XI.

“They were well beaten by the better team today, but they had a huge game on Thursday night that they put everything into and came up a little bit short. They’ve got another one on Thursday.

“He [McInnes] is never going to write today off. You’ve been on the end of a 4-0 defeat, it could have been a lot better, but Kilmarnock are at the start of their season as well.

“It’s a game you want it out of the way. It’s sandwiched in between two huge European ties.

“The key thing for Derek McInnes now is these players remember what they did last season. They’ll regroup and they’ll go again.”

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