Skip to content
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

Realistic Klopp claims top-four would be success for Liverpool

‘Coutinho isn’t worth €160m’ – Barcelona overpaid for Liverpool star, says Carragher

Author
View 5 comments
Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Brosnahan
    Favourite Jason Brosnahan
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:12 PM

    Another Irish winner on Paddy’s weekend. Well done Rory!

    311
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Just Some Guy
    Favourite Just Some Guy
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:22 PM

    @Jason Brosnahan:

    Irish? Lol. He is no Irish man. He didn’t want to represent Ireland at the Rio Olympics

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute seancreaven13
    Favourite seancreaven13
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:25 PM

    @Just Some Guy: Oh ffs get a life.
    He’s Irish. He played brilliantly today. Huge confidence booster and prob favourite for the Masters now.
    And your nonsense is boring.

    279
    See 11 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Brosnahan
    Favourite Jason Brosnahan
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:26 PM

    @Just Some Guy: so does that mean Shane Lowry is not Irish either then?

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Barnes
    Favourite John Barnes
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:26 PM

    @Just Some Guy: neither did Shane Lowry is he not Irish too?

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Coveney
    Favourite Stephen Coveney
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:26 PM

    @Just Some Guy: not an easy question to be answered for everyone. But he did make a choice and its over and done. Only idiots would hold it against him

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Brosnahan
    Favourite Jason Brosnahan
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:27 PM

    @seancreaven13: maybe he was supporting only 3/4 of the Irish team yesterday…..

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Just Some Guy
    Favourite Just Some Guy
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:36 PM

    @Stephen Coveney:

    What about the time he snubbed the Irish flag? And yes Stephen I’m an idiot

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Connery
    Favourite Anthony Connery
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:39 PM

    @Just Some Guy: he never did.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute seancreaven13
    Favourite seancreaven13
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:45 PM

    @Just Some Guy: Just let it go… your original remark was boring, old, and repetitive – stop digging.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Julian D'Arcy
    Favourite Julian D'Arcy
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 12:08 AM

    @Just Some Guy: Check your facts.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute grandslamkbo
    Favourite grandslamkbo
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 1:31 AM

    @Just Some Guy: You can be from the island of Ireland (therefore Irish) but not recognise the tricolour as your flag.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal
    Favourite Cathal
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 2:15 AM

    @Jason Brosnahan: “I see myself as more British than Irish” – Rory McIlroy
    But sure you go with whatever ties into what you’d like him to be

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Gorey
    Favourite Tom Gorey
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 4:31 PM

    @Just Some Guy: neither did Shane Lowry, so neither of them are Irish by your logic ???

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kjholt
    Favourite kjholt
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:34 PM

    What a great sporting weekend for our island…
    #neverthatfaraway

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall James Fergal McCormack
    Favourite Niall James Fergal McCormack
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:32 PM

    He will be heavy favourite going into the masters if he can roll it on the greens like that leading up to it . Great to see him coming back into a little form and hope he can keep it up and some how find the drive to work as much as it takes to be remembered as one of the greats as I feel he has the game to go down as one of the top 4/5 best ever golfers !

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Raymond Dennehy
    Favourite Raymond Dennehy
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 2:05 AM

    Should keep the boo boys quiet? Both the boorish Americans on the course and the keyboard warriors here. Great win.

    43
    EK
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EK
    Favourite EK
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:30 PM

    Good on him. Some incredible putting in the last 9 holes.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bob Cummings
    Favourite Bob Cummings
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 12:22 AM

    Good man, you’re back.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Ahern
    Favourite Michael Ahern
    Report
    Mar 19th 2018, 10:37 AM

    Well done Rory. You can do it.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute seancreaven13
    Favourite seancreaven13
    Report
    Mar 18th 2018, 11:27 PM

    “He hit a bogey shot”….?????

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a comment

 
cancel reply