The 2-2 draw that Celtic were held to by Rangers at Ibrox on Monday was by no means damaging to their Scottish title aspirations – they remained nine clear of their city rivals at the top of the cinch Premiership table despite the dropped points.
Yet, Ange Postecoglou was certainly eager for the defending champions, who had not lost domestically in 13 games before their short journey across the River Clyde, to get back to winning ways against Kilmarnock at Parkhead this afternoon and they duly did so.
Jota nipped in and put the home team in front just before half-time following good work by Alexando Bernabei, who started at left back in the absence of the injured Greg Taylor, and Daizen Maeda and then an Ash Taylor own goal put them two ahead early in the second-half after a penatrating delivery by Reo Hatate.
The comfortable victory sent Celtic 12 ahead of Rangers, who take on Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow, in the league and will put them in a positive frame of mind ahead of their Viaplay Cup semi-final against the same opponents at Hampden a week today.
Here are five things which we learned.
FURUHASHI ON FIRE
The Japanese striker went a long way towards silencing the critics who had questioned his big game mentality at Ibrox when he levelled with three minutes of regulation time remaining and finally opened his account in the world-famous fixture.
But did the £4.6m signing really have anything to prove to anybody? It was his 16th goal of the 2022/23 campaign for goodness sake.
He forced Taylor to turn a Hatate ball beyond Walkerthis afternoon. There is no more dangerous predator in the land at the moment.
KILMARNOCK RESISTANCE
The Rugby Park club can, despite the final outcome, take some confidence from their assured showing in the first-half today ahead of the cup semi-final next weekend.
Yes, they may have played with five men strung across the back and three others positioned just ahead of them when they were out of possession. Sure, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart may not have had a save of note to make during the 90 minutes.
Still, Hart’s opposite number Sam Walker was untroubled until just before half-time when Jota nipped in and broke the deadlock. The Ayrshire outfit contained their hosts well and soaked up relentless pressure. They had their moments in the final third too. Chris Stokes hit the top of a crossbar with a chip and his fellow centre back Ash Taylor headed over in the first-half.
If they can show the same organisation in defence and a little bit more composure in attack next weekend they can make a real game of it.
O’RILEY RESTED
It is fair to say that Matt O’Riley did not perform to his usual high standards in Govan earlier this week. The playmaker was by no means alone in that respect. Several of the visitors’ players were not at their brilliant best.
But O’Riley has struggled to make a significant impact since club football in this country resumed after the World Cup shutdown last month and found himself on the replacements’ bench this afternoon.
His dip in form has been strange given that the comeback of his skipper Callum McGregor from injury has allowed him to return to the advanced midfield role which he prefers and is better suited to. Still, the Dane can have no complaints about his omission.
His place in the starting line-up was taken by Aaron Mooy. The Australian has, like Maeda, been excellent since returning from Qatar and he once again impressed. His chip to Jota before a Kyogo Furuhashi own goal that was ruled offside was exquisite.
His club mate replaced him after an hour as Postecoglou made a triple substitution – Liel Abada also took over from Jota and Furuhashi made way for Giorgos Giakoumakis – and helped Celtic to record another victory.
He will have to get his mojo back to feature regularly going forward.
GIAKOUMAKIS THREAT
The Greek front man was linked with a move away from Glasgow in the build-up to the January transfer window and this week it was reported that Midtjylland of Denmark had had a multi-million pound offer rejected by his employers.
But if he is unsettled by the speculation over his future or keen to depart it did not show this afternoon. He made quite an impact after taking over from Furuhashi. He forced an excellent save from Walker with a powerful header and then struck the crossbar with a shot from just outside the Kilmarnock penalty box.
Postecoglou will be keen to retain his services for as long as possible on this evidence.
MCGARVEY REMEMBERED
The new year got off to a wretched start for everyone associated with Celtic last weekend when it was announced that Frank McGarvey had passed away at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer.
The Parkhead club paid an appropriate tribute to the striker who had famously scored a late winner in the Scottish Cup final against Dundee United in 1985 ahead of kick-off today; clips of his most memorable goals were shown on the giant screens and fans belted out a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
McGregor and his team mates wore black armbands and there was a period of quiet reflection before proceedings got underway as those inside the ground remembered McGarvey, Pele and Pope Benedict XVI.
Family members of the man who also represented St Mirren and Scotland during his distinguished playing days were in attendance and would doubtless have been touched and comforted by the gestures.
