MATCH REPORT:  CELTIC 3   KILMARNOCK  0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:

Good to be back and it was quite excited to see the Bhoys again after what seemed ages being away.

BROWN ….……....6 Brown has achieved something that Artur rarely does, i.e. keep two consecutive clean sheets. 

HINKEL...... …… 7 Could this be the real Hinkel at last? He was full of running, clever footwork and an attacking flair indicates that he could be the man for the position.

CALDWELL.…. .8 Must be on his way for Player of The Year after another totally commanding performance. Enjoyed his surges forward and his precise passing.

McMANUS…. …7 Very steady.

WILSON.... …… 7 A good performance and had one moment of 'Jinky' magic had the crowd of their feet until he ran into the post!

MALONEY. …… 6  He's a strange player! He starts of showing some lovely touches and positive shooting then fades out of the game and so it was to-night.

DONATI……. …7 Another encouraging display and showed enough class and skill to hope that he will, after all, play an important part in Celtic retaining the Championship. I just wish he would go forward a little bit more with both his passes and his runs.

NAKA..…. ……7 Amazing display from a player who had been out with injury and managed to last the full 93mins. Took the usual amount of abuse from the Killie defence but gave the perfect riposte when he did what he always does, i.e. score a sumptuous goal.

BROWN…..….....8 He strolled through the game bossing the midfield and surging forward at will. A class player.

SHERIDAN .........8  MOM Was very interested in watching him for the first time start a game and watched closely to see what he has to offer. The answer is, as well as youthful enthusiasm, pace, good running into space and a clinical eye in front of goal. 

McDONALD...… 7 The biggest improvement in his game since I last saw him, apart from a return to full fitness, is in his ability now to control the ball and bring his teamates into play with good lay offs, etc.


SUBS 

SAMARAS………..5 Good to see him back but he was lacking in match sharpness.

MIZUNO…………. 6 On for 10 mins and didn't waste a ball.

CADDIS........…… 5 Only on for a few minutes.

REF…………...... (Tumilty) 5 Can't believe how blind he was to the persistent fouling by Kilmarnock especially the holding of McDonald all through the game.

THE GAME ……8 A game in which the players were able to show their ability in keeping possession and passing and movement.

GOALS ………. 1. What a beautiful goal by Sheridan. He had won very few balls in the air but when he did win one he flicked it onto McDonald, surged forward to pick up the return pass and then clinically passed the ball past the goalkeeper.

2. A movement which started ironically by Naka winning a header just on the edge of the box, donati picking the ball up and unleashing a powerful shot which the keeper spilled allowing Sheridan to pounce and fire the ball into the net.

 

3. The best goal of the night with a six man-passing move which ended up with Naka firng in a great shot across the keeper.



COMMENTS ….. 1. It wasn't the best moment of the night but it certainly rounded off a good night when the core came in from Motherwell (it is only the second time in 60 years that those two have had a scoreless draw at Fir Park).

2. With Strachan's coaching skills and the natural 'bulking up' of Sheridan, we could see another Sutton soon.