A GLASGOW FAIRYTALE IN TRIBUTE TO CELTS LEGEND
Fairytale script at Celtic as defender scores in a fitting tribute to ‘Cesar’
WITH 67 minutes on the clock yesterday, Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic wearing Billy Mcneill’s iconic No.5 shirt - scored the winner against Killie to take the Hoops to the verge of eight-in-a-row. A largely poor display from Neil Lennon’s men was instantly forgotten when the Croatian met a Callum Mcgregor cross to give the Hoops all three points.
The performance on the day though was secondary to the tributes pouring in for ex-captain and manager Mcneill who passed away on Monday.
Mcneill (inset) became the first British player to lift the European Cup in 1967 on the way to nine league titles on the trot and Parkhead gave him a rapturous ovation yesterday as his family watched on from the stands. Manager Lennon and skipper Scott Brown laid wreaths at Mcneill’s statue before the game.
CELTIC centre-half Jozo Simunovic paid his own fitting tribute to Billy Mcneill by heading in the winner against Kilmarnock at Parkhead.
An emotional day, following the death of the man who captained the side that won the European Cup in 1967 and later went on to manage the club, did not quite go to plan for over an hour.
Despite being mostly on the back foot, Killie had the better chances while Celtic had numerous – but mostly inaccurate – efforts on goal.
However, Simunovic – wearing the number five so closely associated with Mcneill – headed in a Callum Mcgregor cross with 67 minutes showing on the clock to give the hosts a 1-0 Premiership win.
With three fixtures remaining, Celtic moved 12 points ahead of second-placed Rangers – and they could secure an eighth successive title as early as today if their Old Firm rivals slip up at home against Aberdeen.
Interim boss Neil Lennon made two changes with midfielder Tom Rogic and winger Scott Sinclair coming in for Olivier Ntcham and Jonny Hayes.
Injury and suspension meant Killie boss Steve Clarke had to field a makeshift central defence of on-loan veteran Alex Bruce and midfielder Gary Dicker. There was as an appropriate 67-second round of applause in Mcneill’s honour before the game and when the action got under way Celtic, wearing black armbands with number five on them, looked most likely to make the breakthrough.
Scott Brown, Emilio Izaguirre, Odsonne Edouard and Rogic all had efforts on goal of varying quality.
However, in the 14th minute there was a Killie penalty claim when Brown challenged Stephen O’donnell inside the box but referee Willie Collum waved play on.
Four minutes later the Ayrshire side had a great chance when former Rangers winger Chris Burke found himself clean through on goal after the break of the ball but Hoops goalkeeper Scott Bain made a crucial block. Bain then saved from Liam Millar and Conor Mcaleny as Killie grew in confidence. In the 27th minute, Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer gifted Eamonn Brophy possession but made a fine recovery tackle as the Rugby Park attacker took too long to get his shot away. It was another let off for the home side but Killie still had plenty of defending to do before reaching half-time goalless. More attempts on goal by both sides followed early in the second half, most notably when Bain had to stretch to tip Burke’s effort over the bar. Amid increasing Hoops frustration, Edouard curled a shot wide, Killie keeper Danny Bachmann made a great save from Mcgregor and O’donnell stopped Edouard getting on the end of Rogic’s pass. However, that frustration was replaced with joy when Simunovic leapt to head past Bachman (inset). The game stretched further as the visitors threw men forward in search of the equaliser – but perhaps the match was destined to be decided by Celtic’s number five.