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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers leads his players off the Rugby Park pitch. Jeff Holmes

No excuses from Brendan Rodgers as Celtic slump to league defeat at Kilmarnock

“We can blame injuries and look at the pitch but the bottom line was we weren’t so good today,” said Brendan Rodgers.

CELTIC SLUMPED TO their second league defeat of the season as Youssouf Mulumbu’s strike secured Kilmarnock a shock 1-0 win over the reigning Scottish champions at Rugby Park today.

The Congolese midfielder struck in the 70th minute to help the home side end a 16-game winless run against the Glasgow giants, whose only previous domestic defeat under Brendan Rodgers came in December against Hearts.

It is Kilmarnock’s first win over the Hoops since October 2012 and comes just a month after they recorded a 2-1 win over Celtic’s Old Firm rivals Rangers at the same venue.

The Hoops were 27 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership at this stage last season but Aberdeen could reduce their 11-point lead at the top of the table if they avoid defeat to Hamilton Academical at Pittodrie later.

“Defensively we were a bit passive at times and then with the ball, with so much talent on the field, we didn’t create a great deal either,” said a disappointed Rodgers.

“We can blame injuries and look at the pitch but the bottom line was we weren’t so good today.”

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke was delighted to see his side record their fifth successive home victory.

“It was a great performance from the team. Everybody made their contribution,” said the former West Bromwich Albion manager.

“I said we would have to play almost a perfect game and I think we managed to achieve that.”

© AFP 2018

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2017, 4:26 PM

    Ospina got the ball, ospina wanted it more. The same way as Chelsea fans said alonso ‘wanted it more’ than bellerin a few months ago

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    Mute Brian Shaw
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    Jul 24th 2017, 6:25 PM

    @Jordo Callaghan: Oh yeah if Ospina wanted it he would have caught it with both hands….you must be an arsenal fan to be stupid enough to say that Ospina wasnt to blame….going back to that Alonso Bellerin clash…Alonso is a foot taller than Bellerin and got up much higher than bellerin who bearly even got the ball.

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    Mute Conor Flynn
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    Jul 24th 2017, 7:07 PM

    @Jordo Callaghan: That said Ospina had done it before to Oscar so he has previous too.

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2017, 9:06 PM

    @Brian Shaw: Alonso was running at full speed you clown, bellerin wasn’t looking at him, bellerin had his eyes on the ball

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2017, 9:06 PM

    @Brian Shaw: how could he catch the ball if he was struggling to make it hence why he dived to punch it

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    Mute Shane Murphy
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @Jordo Callaghan: Pedro was running back with his back to ospina , can’t see how you can argue he wanted it more

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 25th 2017, 12:10 PM

    @Shane Murphy: no he wasn’t

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    Mute Drogspur
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    Jul 25th 2017, 4:25 PM

    @Frodo: Lads ya must be new on here. This Jordan fella is a deluded clown who talks shyte non stop he is like a 12 year old kid who has just discovered the internet and believes Arsenal are the best team in the world, you can’t argue with him your wasting your time he is too thick.

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:26 PM

    @Drogspur: shut the fuc* up you scruffy 6 fingered cun*, get a life, my 12 year old cousin knows more about football than you

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    Jul 24th 2017, 4:51 PM

    At the time of writing the headline states ‘Chelsea’s Pedro suffers multiple facial fractures after wreckless collision”
    Quite ironic misspelling considering Pedro is a wreck.
    Also – reckless journalism

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    Mute Philip Mc dermott
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    Jul 24th 2017, 10:03 PM

    Jordo you’re a muppet ospina took him out end of story, anyway it could be a bleessing in disguise of sorts the young lad boga who came on for pedro was brilliant he made fools out of some of the goonetts lads with his ball control and trickery although thats not to difficult i suppose.

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    Mute Mike Flannery
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    Jul 24th 2017, 10:30 PM

    @Philip Mc dermott: cosmetic handbags

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2017, 11:17 PM

    @Philip Mc dermott: wonder why no Chelsea player could do it in the fa cup final when it matters

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    Mute Jordo Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2017, 11:18 PM

    @Philip Mc dermott: alonso took bellerin out of it as well you fool

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    Mute Drogspur
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    Jul 25th 2017, 4:23 PM

    Lads ya must be new on here. This Jordan fella is a deluded clown who talks shyte non stop he is like a 12 year old kid who has just discovered the internet and believes Arsenal are the best team in the world, you can’t argue with him your wasting your time he is too thick.

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