CELTIC BEATEN.. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG WITH BREN’S BHOYS?
REPORT AND REACTION: SEE PAGE 41
KILMARNOCK 2 CELTIC 1
STUART FINDLAY’S dramatic injury-time header gave Kilmarnock a stunning 2-1 win over Celtic at Rugby Park yesterday.
And as the loss confirmed the Hoops’ worst start to a top-flight season in 20 years, boss Brendan Rodgers admitted he is facing the biggest test of his tenure.
The Carnlough man has enjoyed nothing but domestic success since arriving at Parkhead in 2016 and his side finished last season as unprecedented double treble winners.
However, after six games the champions have only 10 points, their poorest start since the 199899 campaign under Jozef Venglos.
Asked if he’s facing the biggest test of his time as Celtic boss, Rodgers said: “It is. It’s a challenge.
“We have to accept that. There’s no doubt we need to be better. When you’re at the biggest clubs and you don’t win the heat comes on to you.
“That’s when you show you’re a Celtic player, manager, member of staff.
“You come together.
“It hasn’t been great, but we have to accept that. We’re the only ones who can make it better and get more consistent results.”
Rodgers had rejigged his side from Thursday night’s Europa League win over Rosenborg and midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, whose goal for Killie was enough to beat Celtic last season, made his Hoops debut.
Ryan Christie and Mikey Johnston made their first league starts of the season while Scott Sinclair and Leigh Griffiths were back in the side, which had to be changed to include defender Jack Hendry when Filip Benkovic was injured in the warm-up.
After an encouraging start by the home side, the Ayrshire men had only themselves to blame when they fell behind.
From a Kieran Tierney cross from the left, Kirk Broadfoot miskicked then left-back Greg Taylor fired an attempted clearance off his own post, with Leigh Griffiths diving to head the rebound pastjamie Macdonald.
It was a calamitous goal to concede but moments later Macdonald prevented a second when he saved Dedryck Boyata’s closerange shot from a Griffiths corner.
The visitors started the second half as strongly as they had finished the first and Killie looked far less potent until former Rangers winger Chris Burke took a pass from Alan Power and fired a drive from 25 yards low past Craig Gordon and in off the post for his first goal in 11 months.
Celtic fought back immediately and only a fine save from Macdonald stopped Christie’s drive from 16 yards speeding in at the far post.
The visitors dominated the rest of the match until the final seconds of three added minutes, when former Celtic youth player Findlay planted his head on a Burke corner and the ball bounced in at the far post for a remarkable Killie victory.