2008-11-12: Celtic 3-0 Kilmarnock, SPL

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Trivia

  • Four pts clear in the league as Rangers draw with M'well away!!!!!
  • Return for Naka, Hinkel & Samaras from injury
  • Ex boss Jo Venglos is guest of the club on the night.

Review

Comfortable win against Killie who were generally toothless. Game will be remembered for two things, firstly that of Sheridan getting his first double for Celtic, and ourselves going four in front after Rangers drew away to M'well.

One nil up at half-time through a self-created goal by Sheridan which showed a bit of class, and then then picked up the second after a fumble by the goalie. Naka wrapped up the points with a third with a shot into the corner of the goals after Scott Brown set him up. Naka tbh was piss though in this game.

Injured players returns in this game included Samaras, Hinkel and Naka.

1/3 of the season gone and we're four in front, but a long long way to go.

Teams

Celtic:-
Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Donati, Maloney (Mizuno 83), Sheridan (Caddis 90), McDonald (Samaras 76).
Goals:- Sheridan 18, 75, Nakamura 84.
Subs Not Used:- Fox, Robson, O'Dea, Hartley.

Kilmarnock:
Combe, Fowler, Wright, Corrigan, Skelton, Simmonds (Cox 70), Bryson (Flannigan 75), Pascali, Clancy, Gibson, Taouil (Russell 58).
Subs Not Used:- Harpur, Hay, Murray, Sammon.
Booked:- Skelton, Pascali.

Att:– 55,347
Ref:- M Tumilty.

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM v Killie, Cillian Sheridan

Stats

CELTIC KILMARNOCK
Possession

64% 36%

Shots on target

12 0

Shots off target

6 2

Corners

4 2

Fouls

7 19

Articles

Celtic 3-0 Kilmarnock

By Keir Murray

BBC

Celtic moved four points clear at the top of the table with a decisive win at home to Kilmarnock.

Cillian Sheridan was the toast of the home support in 18 minutes when he clipped a low shot past Allan Combe.

The Irishman doubled his side's advantage with 15 minutes remaining when Combe spilled Massimo Donati's shot and he scored from close range.

Shunsuke Nakamura scored Celtic's third, working a neat one-two with Scott Brown and hammering home.

The first half was a comfortable affair for Celtic. Shaun Maloney had a couple of early efforts at Combe's goal and Nakamura, returning from injury, had a few opportunities to score a trademark free-kick, but could not find the back of the net.

Celtic's opening goal was created and finished by Sheridan.

He flicked Mark Brown's long kick-out on to the feet of strike partner McDonald, who shielded the ball well and returned the ball to the advancing young forward.

Sheridan raced in on goal, leaving Kilmarnock's Tim Clancy in his wake, and was composed as he dispatched the ball low past Combe at his near post.

Having gone 15 league matches since their last score draw, things did not augur well for Kilmarnock recovering to snatch a point.

Their best chance of the opening period came on the half-hour mark when joint top scorer Mehdi Taouil burst into the inside right channel and unleashed a powerful left-foot shot which Brown was relieved to see whizz past his post.

Donati and Brown's ability to retain possession and take the game to the Ayrshiremen meant that most of the game took place in the visitors' half.

Shunsuke Nakamura scores Celtic's third
Nakamura rounds off the scoring with a powerful shot

Returning from suspension, Manuel Pascali fought manfully to stem the tide but, as is often the fate of teams playing at Celtic Park, Kilmarnock struggled to do anything meaningful with the ball once they broke up Celtic's play.

As the half-time whistle sounded, the only complaint from the home fans was that they had not made more of their possession.

McDonald was first to threaten in the second half, his low shot from the right almost squeezing into the near corner of the net.

MY SPORT: DEBATE
Discuss Celtic's performance on My Sport

Sheridan's decisive second goal, in 75 minutes, was the product of a powerful shot by Donati, which Combe saved but could not hold.

The ball fell kindly for the eager Sheridan, who pounced to lash the ball into the net from close range for his third league goal.

Nakamura guaranteed the points as the match petered out. He worked a one-two with Brown in the inside-left channel and his finish beyond Combe was clinical.

Both sides entered the match with lengthy injury lists. The depth and quality of Celtic's squad went a long way to deciding the result.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"We've won nine SPL games in a row and in that time we have had to play Champions League games and Co-operative Insurance Cup games and have had to deal with that.

"So the players can be pleased with themselves. I was pleased with their attitude against Kilmarnock, the stadium was not buzzing and we had to get the crowd on our side.

"There was good enthusiasm although we wasted too many chances which was the only disappointment.

"You are always nervous when it is only 1-0 but once we got the second I knew we were okay."

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies:
"We had injuries and there were two or three players playing for the first time in a long time but they plugged away.

"Celtic had a lot of possession but until the second goal went in, I felt comfortable enough.

"We didn't do enough in terms of attacking them, but we were well organised and if Alan Combe had held the ball they wouldn't have scored their second goal. Alan was hard on himself after the game because he let the ball slip.

"But I said before the game, my priorities lie in the next seven games, four of which are at home."

Celtic: Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Donati, Maloney (Mizuno 83), Sheridan (Caddis 90), McDonald (Samaras 76).
Subs Not Used: Fox, Robson, O'Dea, Hartley.

Goals: Sheridan 18, 75, Nakamura 84.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Wright, Corrigan, Skelton, Simmonds (Cox 70), Bryson (Flannigan 75), Pascali, Clancy, Gibson, Taouil (Russell 58).
Subs Not Used: Harpur, Hay, Murray, Sammon.

Booked: Skelton, Pascali.

Att: 55,347

Ref: M Tumilty

Soccer: Nakamura on target in Celtic's win13 November 2008

Provided by: Kyodo News
GLASGOW, Scotland, Nov. 13 — Japanese playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura scored his third goal of the season to help Celtic to a 3-0 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League on Wednesday.
Nakamura, who missed the previous two league games because of a left knee injury, netted Celtic's third in the 84th minute when he left-footed a pass from Scott Brown after a Cillian Sheridan double put the home side 2-0 ahead.
Celtic had Nakamura and fellow Japanese Koki Mizuno, who was brought on as a late substitute, on the pitch simultaneously for the first time in league action since Mizuno's transfer from J-League side JEF United Chiba in January this year.
==Kyodo
(c) 2008 Kyodo News
Kyodo News

Sheridan's double helps Celtic extend their lead.13 November 2008 Provided by: Irish Times

Factiva News Search
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Celtic 3 KIlmarnock 0:A CILLIAN Sheridan double helped Celtic to a convincing victory over Kilmarnock last night at Parkhead as the Hoops stretched their lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points over Rangers.
The 19-year-old Irish striker worked a neat one-two with Scott McDonald in the 18th minute before slotting past Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe for his third goal of the season.
Celtic dominated thereafter and in the 75th minute Sheridan was on hand to knock the ball in to the roof of the net after Combe had spilled a long-range shot from Massimo Donati.
Hoops midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, returning from a knee injury, grabbed number three with six minutes remaining to give a true reflection of the home side's superiority.
Gordon Strachan's side did not really have to go through the gears against their Ayrshire opponents, who are still looking for their first win at Parkhead since 1955.
Sheridan fashioned the lead with a goal that belied his 19 years.
The gangly Irishman worked a fine one-two with McDonald and galloped through the heart of the Killie defence after taking the return before sliding the ball past Combe from inside the box.
Seconds later, Nakamura's free-kick from 25 yards had Combe scrambling low to his left to gather before Shaun Maloney had an attempt from a similar range, which went yards wide.
Celtic failed to add to their tally until the 75th minute when Combe spilled Donati's long-range drive allowing Sheridan to scoop the ball in to the roof of the net. Nakamura notched the third in the 84th minute when he took a Scott Brown pass before firing home.
Meanwhile Rangers slipped four points behind Celtic after a frustrating draw at Fir Park. Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith made several important saves to keep the dominant visitors at bay.
CELTIC:Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Donati, Maloney (Mizuno 83), Sheridan (Caddis 90), McDonald (Samaras 76). Subs not used: Fox, Robson, O'Dea, Hartley.
KILMARNOCK:Combe, Fowler, Wright, Corrigan, Skelton, Simmonds (Cox 70), Bryson (Flannigan 75), Pascali, Clancy, Gibson, Taouil (Russell 58). Subs not used: Harpur, Hay, Murray, Sammon. Booked: Skelton, Pascali. Att: 55,347
Referee:M Tumilty (Scotland).
(c) 2008, The Irish Times.
Irish Times