Kilmarnock 2 – Celtic 2: Clever Kal stun Ronny Deila’s side

Their first half performance against Partick was particularly impressive and manager Ronny Deila has challenged his side to repeat that in midweek.

A Kilmarnock side who had shipped six goals and scored none in their two league matches to date breached Craig Gordon’s net twice and could quite well have doubled that tally.

He said: “I was glad that we turned up tonight”.

On Johnston’s injury, the former Hearts boss said: “I am gutted for the lad”.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila will be looking for his team to make it three wins from three games domestically, with the Bhoys looking to defend and improve their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Substitutes Arron Splaine and Mark O’Hara also troubled the Celtic goal in the second period and finally there was some feelgood factor for the Rugby Park regulars to celebrate.

A quickly taken free-kick by the alert Kris Commons sent Griffiths racing clear of Kilmarnock skipper Mark Connolly before he slipped the ball under Jamie MacDonald. The Northern Ireland striker raced behind the Celtic defence to collect a clever through ball from Rory McKenzie but he blazed his effort high over.

But the equaliser still arrived as the home side broke from a unsafe situation in their own area and Darryl Westlake supplied Magennis to level.

However, it didn’t last long, as Celtic’s Isreali midfielder Nir Bitton let fly with the outside of the right foot, sending the ball swerving into the top corner for an absolute screamer.

Just before the break MacDonald pulled off an incredible stop when Virgil van Dijk’s header came back off the post and Rogic fired in a shot from point-blank range, but somehow Killie’s No1 prevented it crossing the line.

At that moment a Killie leveller appeared even less likely than when Magennis had struck his in the first half, but with Emilio Izaguirre’s trip on Greg Kiltie four minutes from time Kallum Higginbotham was presented with a spot-kick opportunity – dispatched with a Panenka chip, nonchalantly delivering Scottish football’s collective retort to Collins.

Charlie Mulgrew had an effort ruled out for offside before Killie earned a late penalty.