Hoops hot stuff to give Ange biggest away win

KILMARNOCK 0

CELTIC 5

Ange Postecoglou hailed Celtic for putting on a show in difficult conditions after they recorded the biggest away victory of his Parkhead reign.

Celtic navigated the heatwave and Rugby Park’s plastic pitch to thrash Kilmarnock 5-0 and go top of the cinch Premiership on goal difference above Rangers.

There was little doubt about the outcome after Kyogo Furuhashi finished off a penetrating move inside seven minutes and the points were wrapped up by half-time thanks to Jota’s 30-yard strike and Jenz Moritz’s acrobatic finish.

Celtic rediscovered an extra gear after some second-half changes and substitutes Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis both netted, the latter with an overhead kick.

Postecoglou said: “We spoke about it before the game. It wasn’t the easiest of conditions for our boys to play football both in terms of the temperature and the pitch.

“To the players’ credit they kept their discipline and focus and committed to our style of football.

“There were plenty of excuses for us to just look at this game as three points and get up the road but we still wanted to put on a performance and I was pleased that the players did.

“I thought the quality of our goals was excellent and the quality of our general play attacking-wise was good.”

Postecoglou admitted he enjoyed lapping up the post-match celebrations with the away fans.

Starfelt netted his first goal for Celtic when he finished at the second attempt at close range on his first appearance of the season following a hamstring injury.

“He has worked really hard to get himself back to a position where he is available again,” Postecoglou said.

“Credit to him, he is a really good pro.

“I am really pleased for him to get a goal - he has been trying really hard. It was probably the ugliest of the five but probably the most significant.”

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes was “embarrassed” by the scoreline.

“For all the talent Celtic have, I was disappointed with the level of goal we lost,” he said.

‘Two corner-kicks, three goals in the six-yard box. I need to see the Jota goal again but my first thought is we should have saved it.

“Other than the Giakoumakis overhead kick, there were no real goals defined by the difference in quality.

“It was more our responsibility and lack of willingness and resolve to deal with that situation. That’s what I’m more concerned about.”

Ange Postecoglou hailed his Celtic team’s adaptability.