A FORCE OF NATURE
Classy Edouard double breaks resolve of Killie as Celtic power clear
ON a day when the irresistible force met the immovable object, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Kilmarnock’s iron-clad defence had not conceded a goal in 475 minutes.
But that was until they met Odsonne Edouard, with the Frenchman proving a step up in class for even the Rugby Park side’s superbly marshalled back line.
Despite a particularly inspired performance from Killie’s on-loan Juventus keeper Laurentiu Branescu, the newly-crowned Premiership Player of the Month scored his seventh and eighth goals of a prolific season.
Edouard’s brace either side of the break helped Neil Lennon’s side recover from going behind to Eamonn Brophy’s 33rd-minute goal.
Ryan Christie made sure of the points, scoring a third that keeps Celtic three points clear over Rangers at the summit of the Premiership.
But Angelo Alessio’s men squandered a golden chance to heap late pressure on their hosts when Fraser Forster saved a tame Alan Power penalty.
After the early scare and late drama, it was a satisfactory conclusion for the Celtic support, who cheered the return of club saviour Fergus McCann (below) as he performed the half-time draw and boldly predicted: ‘I’m with you for nine more (titles) in a row.’
Afterwards, Lennon was not short of Celtic players to praise.
‘I’m so happy for Edouard and Christie,’ said the Celtic manager.
‘They deserve everything they get and I’m really happy with (James) Forrest, too.
‘I thought James was outstanding. He was the real catalyst for a lot of good things and Olivier Ntcham also had a great game.
‘Moritz Bauer came in and had an excellent (home) debut. Boli Bolingoli looked good, too.
‘Sometimes he gives me the heebie jeebies but he is playing really well.
‘All round, we looked a very competent side to the point where my goalkeeper saves a penalty as well.’
After a minute’s applause in honour of the late Rangers player Fernando Ricksen, Celtic set about breaking down Kilmarnock’s stubborn navyblue wall.
Barring early efforts from Christie and Killie’s Mohamed El Makrini, the early stages of this game boiled down to a duel between Forrest and Branescu.
First, Forrest saw a surprise snapshot from range bounce off the outside of the post.
The Celtic winger’s next effort was pushed out by Branescu but the ball evaded all of the hosts’ supporting attackers before being cleared.
This one-man assault on the Killie goal continued and Branescu had to look lively to dive down and push away a low drive from Forrest.
The Scotland international then claimed handball when another attempt was blocked in the box by Power. But referee Greg Aitken ruled it was not a penalty.
He then angered Celtic further by booking Christie for diving outside the box under a challenge from Killie full-back Stephen O’Donnell.
Worse was to come for the home fans when El Makrini picked up a flick from Liam Millar and played a lovely ball in behind Bauer and Christopher Jullien.
Brophy moved the ball to his right before firing a fantastic shot that took a deflection before soaring high past Forster and into the top-left corner of the net.
As the man who is nicknamed ‘Wolfman’ made his trademark ‘W’ salute, Celtic Park responded with howls of derision.
Killie boss Alessio was assistant to Antonio Conte when Juventus beat Lennon’s side 3-0 at Celtic Park en route to knocking them out of the Champions League last 16 in 2013. The Italian’s new charges were now on course for what would have been just the Ayrshire team’s second win at Celtic Park since 1955. Unfortunately for them, they were unable to hold out until half-time. First, a dangerous dead-ball delivery from Christie narrowly missed a group of Celtic players, including Edouard, lurking with malevolent intent in the box. But when Forrest sent over a left-wing cross 60 seconds before half-time, Edouard rose to divert the ball past Branescu. After the break. the Killie keeper had to look lively to prevent another when he saved a curling shot by Ntcham that was heading for the top corner.
But Celtic were soon ahead when Edouard took a pass from Bauer, bore down on goal and squeezed the ball low under the Romanian.
The Kilmarnock No1 then made the save of the match from Forrest’s point-blank header after a cross by Bolingoli.
But Branescu could only watch in agony as Christie steered the rebound into his net from close range.
There was late drama when Celtic captain Scott Brown — playing centre-half after an injury to Jullien ended the £7million Frenchman’s afternoon — slid into a tackle on Killie sub Osman Sow and conceded a penalty.
Power took the spot-kick but it was weak and low to the bottom-left corner and Forster made the save.
In the aftermath, referee Aitken showed Lennon a yellow card for his animated protests about the award of the penalty.
The Celtic boss was soon smiling, however, as full-time brought confirmation of a fine win ahead of Wednesday’s Betfred Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle at Parkhead.
‘It was a big ask (for the players) to come back from a demanding game and great performance against Rennes in France and lift themselves,’ said Lennon. ‘They have done it in spectacular style — but I am not getting carried away.’