Champions Celtic are marching towards yet another title after their 4-1 thumping to down sorry Kilmarnock.
Kyogo got the goals party started in Ayrshire before Daizen Maeda made it two. Matt O'Riley was on form and netted a double to have the Hoops four clear inside half an hour. Derek McInnes' side were dazed and confused and it could have been worse if Kyogo hadn't cracked the post from the spot kick which followed. Liam Donnelly capitalised on a rare Callum McGregor error to pull one back before the break. But it was merely a crumb of consolation for a side who are facing a mammoth battle to avoid the drop.
The first moment of hope for the hosts came early as success story Danny Armstrong nutmegged Carl Starfelt before his low cross was hacked clear. But that optimism was quickly replaced with a collective groan over the slackest of passes and that set up the most fearsome finisher in the Scottish football. Fraser Murray's head in hands over his epic back pass gaffe was reflected from within the stands. But if the hope for the hosts was that would prove a wake-up call it appeared to make them drowsy and almost unresponsive.
Seriously, this was a pasting, so much so it took on the feel of a friendly in the second half with the five subs rule making it feel like a game to build up fitness rather than taking place in the business end of the season. The Celtic switches allowed Kilmarnock to get a foothold and pepper Joe Hart's box with crosses and corners. But Celtic still carried a threat and Oh will have had the on-watching Jurgen Klinsmann scribbling down plenty in his notebook as he put himself about. Tomoki Iwata's tidy play was almost rewarded with a late goal with a low effort from 25 yards finished narrowly wide.
But this game was won early and Celtic made it an incredible 91 points from 96 on a season where they could smash the all-time points record. Postecoglou and the punters within Rugby Park soaked up another dominant win as yet another title edges ever closer.
Murray's Mare
The type of game you have in your nightmares where you can't run or defend yourself. The former Hibs man made significant errors for Celtic's first, second and fourth goals before being hooked after only half an hour.
But it would be remiss to blame it merely one man as there were fatal flaws both in terms of coaching and on the pitch. Kilmarnock are only in the mix to avoid the drop due to their home form so a second pasting at the hands of Celtic on home turf does not bode well for a side whose survival will be decided by whether they have the fight for the battle.
Yu will do
Postecoglou is keenly aware a statue outside Celtic Park is a tall ask but he might make into the club's hall of fame twice – first as a manager and secondly as a recruitment guru. His signing successes have been plentiful and Kobayashi appears destined to join the hit club. The left-footed central defender is as good as many midfielders with the ball at his feet. And his knack for perfect passes was splitting an overmatched Kilmarnock side open at will. He's game and up for the physical side but it's his ability with the ball at his feet which catches the eye.
A line-up to stick?
Celtic's greatest trait may well be there ability not to skip a beat whoever is in the line-up but the balance and pace of this starting XI appeared hard to stop. Kobayashi appears a genuine game-changer with his passing and a potential pairing with Cameron Carter-Vickers appears something that could truly flourish – that's not to play down Carl Starfelt who is a key man in this current side. Jota will rightly make a case to return but the inverted full-backs in Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor never looked better with the balance down the line with the aforementioned Maeda and Kobayashi.
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can also follow our dedicated Rangers and Celtic podcast pages and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
READ NEXT:
