Resolute Killie hold on to deny champions

CELTIC 0 KILMARNOCK 0

Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock proved problematic once again to champions Celtic as they held out for a goalless Ladbrokes Premiership draw at Parkhead.

The much-changed home team struggled against a resolute Killie side in a rather lifeless first-half and were unable to convert the few real opportunities they were restricted to after the break.

Clarke had drawn with and beaten Celtic since taking over the Rugby Park club in October and will be glad of another point against Brendan Rodgers’ side, their first in four post-split games.

There will surely be more excitement when Celtic collect the league trophy for the seventh successive season against Aberdeen on Sunday before they bid to win a successive domestic treble in the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Motherwell the following week.

But in the grand scheme of things, neither side had much to play for at a rain-soaked Celtic Park.

The first real effort on target took 31 minutes and saw the ball in the Killie net, after Jozo Simunovic had climbed to head ex-Dundee United man Stuart Armstrong’s free-kick. However, the flag was up, perhaps for Kristoffer Ajer’s final touch in an offside position.

Winger James Forrest headed a Callum McGregor cross just over the bar and Scott Sinclair came close with an angled chip over Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald which cleared the far post.

Within three minutes of the restart MacDonald made a great save at point-blank range from Armstrong after Sinclair had jinked into the box to set him up.

Just before the hour mark Calvin Miller conceded possession deep in his own half and Greg Kiltie’s drive across the six-yard box was cleared by Jack Hendry on to inrushing Aaron Tshibola and over the bar.

In the 79th minute Hendry’s stooping header was cleared close to the line by Tshibola and then, from five yards out, the unmarked former Dundee defender missed the target with a header from another McGregor corner.

Ewan Henderson replaced Patrick Roberts to make his Celtic debut and the corner count mounted but the Ayrshire men held firm.

Celtic: Bain, Hendry, Simunovic, Ajer, Miller (Tierney 67), Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Armstrong (Rogic 66), Roberts (Henderson 82), Sinclair. Subs not used: Ntcham, De Vries, Johnston, Eboue.

Kilmarnock: MacDonald, O’Donnell, Scott Boyd, Findlay, Taylor, Mulumbu (Wilson 90), Dicker, Tshibola, Brophy (Kris Boyd 77), Erwin, Kiltie (Burke 87). Subs not used: Fasan, Greer, Simpson, Cameron.

Referee: John Beaton.

Picture: PA. Former Dundee defender Jack Hendry is sent tumbling by Youssouf Mulumbu.