Celtic re-established their 13 point advantage over Rangers with a stunning second half display that earned a deserved 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this evening. Rangers had closed the gap to ten with a 3-0 win over third placed Livingston earlier today, but a John Hartson penalty and a Paul Lambert strike on the hour wrapped up a hard earned win for the defending champions against a youthful Kilmarnock side.
Henrik Larsson missed two glorious opportunities to put the visitors in front but dragged both chances wide, while former Celtic goalkeeper Gordon Marshall did well to save a powerful shot from Hartson during a tight first half. Jackie McNamara then had to come to Celtic's rescue when he headed off the line after teammate Stilian Petrov redirected a Stephen Murray corner goalwards to keep the sides level until the break.
Celtic emerged after the interval with renewed vigour and were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute after referee John Underhill adjudged Canero to have fouled Petrov in the box after exchanging passes with Larsson. Hartson took the ball from Larsson who had missed some spot-kicks recently, and the Welshman made no mistake to put Celtic in front.
Lambert extended Celtic's lead on the hour after Dindeleux failed to clear the danger and the midfielder blasted his right-foot shot home past Marshall. Hartson hit the crossbar four minutes later with a glancing header from Alan Thompson's corner, but in the end Martin O'Neill's men had to be content with the two goals which extends their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
Filed by Shane Murray
