Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 2

Last updated : 03 November 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Scott McDonald's deadly double kept Celtic secure at the top of the SPL table despite a spirited Kilmarnock fightback.

McDonald showed he meant business straight from the off, hitting the woodwork as early as the second minute.

Scott Brown rampaged into the box past Jamie Hamill and picked out the Australian, but his snap-shot rattled the outside of the post with the keeper helpless.

Celtic enjoyed almost total control and it was a surprise that it took until the 34th minute for them to go ahead.

The goal came out of nothing as there was no obvious danger when McDonald collected the ball with his back to goal 20 yards out, but a brilliant turn saw him round Simon Ford and, with his confidence sky-high, he calmly swept the ball around the keeper and in at the far post.

He doubled his and Celtic's tally two minutes later with another simple goal that was beautifully executed.

Aiden McGeady swung in an early cross from the right and McDonald threw himself forward to glance a header past Combe.

An angry Jim Jefferies rang the changes at half-time reverting to a 3-5-2 formation and introducing Gary Locke and Craig Bryson, and after 54 minutes, skipper Locke created the chance which dragged Killie back into the game.

He floated a lovely free-kick on to the penalty spot where Fraser Wright out-jumped the Celtic defence and goalkeeper and flicked the ball home.

Killie had the champions on the back foot now and Colin Nish was twice denied by brilliant saves from Artur Boruc to prevent a memorable fightback.

First, he was played in by a neat flick from Gary Wales, but from ten yards out he was unable to beat the keeper as Boruc dived low to touch his effort around the post.

Two minutes later, Wales was provider again as he sent Nish in on the right of goal, but Boruc was again equal to the task as he spread himself to block.

Killie keeper Combe had to match Boric's brilliance in the 68th minute when Stephen McManus powered in a header from a corner from the outstanding Paul Hartley, throwing himself high to tip the ball over the bar.

Jiri Jarosik and McGeady both had chances to kill the game in the last ten minutes, but neither was able to hit the target from good positions, leaving the fans on the edge of their seat until the referee's final whistle ended an absorbing match.