kilmarnock v celtic by yorkshire tim (detailed version)

there were ridiculously massive gaps in the away stand today, too many fans are either bored of seeing the same week in, week out (getting a goal and holding on), or the celtic fans would rather pay for setanta than be charged a ridiculous fee of around £20- £25 just to get into an average size spl team's ground.

it was a freezing, bitterly cold day today at ayrshire, and celtic knew a win against 'the killie boys' would send them top after rangers were on top on goal difference, and had played a game more than celtic.

the celtic fans wanted to win the game (obviously), but were just as worried about the controversy surrounding defender, dianbobo balde's future at the scottish champions, who put in a typical champion performance today.

celtic were lined up in a 442 formation today, with the normal players, yet again including ulrik laursen, who looks to be improving game by game after putting in terrific performances since the rangers game at the start of the month.


celtic started brightly, with central midfielder, stilian petrov narrowly missing as early as the 3rd minute, and bobo balde hitting the bar 5 minutes into the game.

chris sutton was playing at his best, and was committed to getting a goal early on. the englishman was unlucky, narrowly failing to head in a thompson corner, and hitting a shot from another thompson cross, which barely troubled the killie keeper, alan combe on the 20 minute mark.

kilmarnock's supporters thought their luck was in when they scored a goal by steven naismith, only to be ruled out by the linesman.

petrov was unlucky to score moments later, when his well struck shot went inches wide of the target.

kilmarnock fans must have thought they were going to take something from the hoops today, as sutton headed wide of the goal yet again.

However Sutton's big chance came when a floated ball from thompson's free-kick struck killie midfielder, danny invincible's hand for the referee to blow for a penalty to celtic. upstepped chris sutton who is yet to miss a penalty, to confidently, but narrowly beat combe that proved to be the game's main point.

the second half, was a casual one for celtic and they gave the kilmarnock players room to breathe, but they never looked like grabbing an equailser.

john hartson, who hasn't been up to scratch recently, aswell had a goal chopped off (unfairly) for a controversial push, which looked fair, as most referees would have allowed it.

hartson rounded off another frustrating day, by hitting a shot which didn't look to have troubled combe in any way.

man of the match: dianbobo balde, (narrowly ahead of stilian petrov.)

sunday 30th january 2005
KILMARNOCK 0-1 CELTIC
........................sutton 38 (pen)


2nd february 2005