Attack of the clones: Young Hoops star in easy win at Killie
KILMARNOCK 0 CELTIC 2 Forrest (40), McGregor (89)
BRENDAN RODGERS admitted to making a slip during his side’s victory over Kilmarnock.
It must be the first one he’s made during a run of 51 unbeaten matches in domestic football!
The Celtic boss confessed to falling as the teams made their way up the tunnel at half-time.
He was able to joke about making a claim for compensation because he’d just watched a shadow side cruise their way to another three points.
There were six changes from the Hoops side that thrashed Astana 5-0 in midweek.
They had three teenagers in defence alongside 20- year- old Kieran Tierney.
Rodgers was delighted with the contribution of Anthony Ralston, Calvin Miller, Kristoffer Ajer and Kundai Benyu.
He says their ability to slot into the side is central to the way he is developing the future of the club.
His ideal scenario is to have a clone of a top player waiting in the wings.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the integration of our young players, how well they’re playing and the way they’re fitting in to our ideas.
“It’s just replacing one player with one of a similar profile.
“That’ s what you look for whenever you’re recruiting players and how I work.
“There needs to be a certain ability to run, be mobile and have technique.
“They also need to be able to take information on board.
“A player who comes through into the system they should have all of those attributes, so when you take one out another one goes in – then it’s just a clone really.”
Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch couldn’t hide his admiration for the Celtic kids.
Ajer was on loan at Rugby Park last season and it was hoped he would return for a second spell. His improvement, however, means he’s now wanted at Parkhead.
McCulloch said: “Peter Leven and myself were working extra with Kris every single day last season and he got better. He’s got better again in pre-season with Celtic.
“Anthony is going to be Scotland’s right-back soon in my opinion. That’s how good he is.”
Celtic fly out to Kazakhstan this morning for the second leg of the Champions League play-off tie.
Despite their handsome lead, you can be sure some of the more experienced players will be restored to the starting 11.
Leigh Griffiths started on the bench yesterday and James Forrest was asked to spearhead the attack.
He came up with the opening goal but a natural centre- forward may have been better equipped to convert Celtic’s domination into a series of opportunities on goal.
The lack of a target man was brought into focus when one fullback, Calvin Miller, hit the byline and sent a cross to his opposite number, Anthony Ralston, on the right.
Ultimately, the Champions had enough to take the points and continue their unbeaten domestic run.
There are likely to be many more games like this over the season – the Champions League will take priority and a shadow side will be expected to keep the title bid on the boil.
It was a bit of magic from Aussie midfielder Tom Rogic that helped the visitors break Killie’s resistance.
He made a trademark run down the side of the penalty area and pulled the ball back for Forrest to slot home.
The supporters will have been delighted to see Rogic feeling no after- effects of his midweek head knock.
He used to struggle to complete games but that’s no longer an issue and he created Celtic’s second just before full-time.
He again drove at the defence and sent forward a pass for Callum McGregor to fire home.
Kilmarnock fans are concerned by their team’s poor start to the season after watching three consecutive Premiership defeats at home.
While all is rosy in the Celtic garden, Killie now face another home crunch match against Hamilton on Saturday.
Killie skipper Stevie Smith said: “We want to address the home form but it’s hard to take positives from three defeats.
“We can say there have been positives but we need to get a victory.”