Celtic made an early statement of intent on flag day as the champions marked their opening day party with a convincing win over a rather makeshift Kilmarnock outfit.
Lisbon Lion Jim Craig did the honours before the match, unfurling the championship flag to a rapturous reception around Celtic Park, where a tifo display proclaimed ‘We’ve won the league again, fly the flag’. On this evidence, the Celtic supporters might want to tuck it away for this time next year too.
Killie came into the game with an unfamiliar defence in particular on the back of their Europa League defeat to Cercle Brugge, and Celtic took full advantage. It might not have made much difference in any case.
First half goals from the imperious Reo Hatate and Liam Scales had the game all-but won by the interval, but a deflected Nicolas Kuhn effort and a late Anthony Ralston strike made certain in any case.
The mood music around this half of Glasgow could hardly be more different to that on the other side of the city after Rangers dropped points at Tynecastle to kick off their own campaign, with Brendan Rodgers’ side looking well-equipped even at this early stage to dominate domestically once more.
Here are the talking points from Celtic Park…
McCrorie far busier in tale of two keepers as Schmeichel enjoys quiet debut
New Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel had his famous dad in the stands to witness his competitive bow for the champions, and they could perhaps have stuck Peter in goals for this one even at the age of 60.
The Danish number one only had one shot on target to deal with, as Matty Kennedy fired a volley at him from the edge of the box that was struck true enough, but right down the keeper’s throat. He dealt with that in routine fashion, as he did with everything else that was asked of him in terms of his handling and distribution.
There will be sterner tests ahead, but there was no such opportunity for Robby McCrorie to ease himself into Premiership action with Killie for the first time. He made impressive saves from Kyogo Furuhashi, Hatate and Kuhn in the first half alone, and could do little about the goals they conceded despite getting his fingertips to Hatate’s opener.
The former Rangers stopper had enjoyed two clean sheets against Celtic when he was at Ibrox, but that was never likely here, despite his best efforts.
Lack of new Bhoys a concern?
It has been a test of patience for the Celtic support this summer, with the impressive on-field performances of pre-season doing little to quell anxieties around a lack of fresh blood in the squad. Indeed, Schmeichel was the only new signing on display against Killie.
Paulo Bernardo returned on a permanent basis this week of course, and took up a place on the bench, but while the lack of early Champions League qualifiers has afforded the club a little grace from fans in conducting their transfer business, Rodgers will want bodies in sooner rather than later.
What would happen, for instance, should their only recognised striker, Kyogo, pick up an injury in this early part of the campaign? Rodgers would have loved to have had Adam Idah to call on here to share the workload, but the club have yet to prise him away from Norwich City, despite the forward’s own best efforts.
The squad looks more than capable of picking up wins on the home front in its current guise regardless, but reinforcements will certainly be required not only for the step up to the Champions League, but to cope with the volume of fixtures in the long season ahead.
A fit Hatate could make Celtic hard to live with
For all the speculation surrounding two thirds of Celtic’s midfield three this summer, which has chiefly centred around Matt O’Riley, the trio were still in place for this one, and Killie couldn’t cope with their quality.
It was Hatate – linked with a move to Leicester City himself - who shone brightest, scoring a well-taken opener and generally giving the visiting backline nightmares from his advanced role, picking up pockets of space in front, using his guile to pick them apart and showing a willingness to run in behind too.
Celtic were denied Hatate for large chunks of last season as the Japanese toiled with injury, and there is absolutely no doubting what he brings to the party when he is as fit and sharp as he appeared here.
If one of O’Riley or Hatate is to leave Celtic this summer, it is unthinkable that they would allow the other to also depart. If they can hold onto both, unlikely as that may seem with Chelsea the latest to show interest in O’Riley, and assuming Hatate can stay fit, it is difficult to see another team domestically that can live with them.
Killie balancing act going to prove difficult
In some ways, this wasn’t the worst fixture for Derek McInnes’s men to limp into after their defeat in Belgium during the week.
On the face of it, going to Celtic Park with an understrength side due to a mixture of suspension, injury and the need to rotate ahead of the visit of Tromso to Rugby Park on Thursday evening is the stuff of nightmares, but while McInnes would never admit it, they might not have expected anything from this game in any case.
They had midfielder Brad Lyons at right back and debutant Oliver Bainbridge on the other side of the backline, while key players like Danny Armstrong had to settle for a place on the bench. Any hope they had of causing an upset was subsequently a rather forlorn one.
It is great for Killie to be in European competition, and they will hope to prolong their involvement in the Conference League, but this game showed how difficult it will be for McInnes to maintain a competitive level on both fronts.
Kuhn continues to show improvement
The issues that dogged the early months of Kuhn’s Celtic career are well documented, but he looks a different player now having regained his fighting weight and having tucked a full pre-season under his belt.
The winger was preferred on the right here with James Forrest operating of the left, and both were impressive. But it was Kuhn who always looked likelier to threaten, and he deservedly got himself on the scoresheet, albeit in rather fortuitous fashion.
It was reward for his direct running, though, and you couldn’t grudge him the nick that carried the ball over McCrorie and in to cap off a fine display from the German.
