Scottish Premier League/Celtic 4 Kilmarnock 1: Just as Gordon Strachan staunchly refused to panic amid Celtic's dismal run of form in the pre-season, the manager is unlikely to feel his team are entirely on course to successfully defend their Scottish Premier League title despite a resounding start to the new campaign.
The Parkhead side had managed just one victory and two goals, neither of which arrived from a forward, before Saturday's curtain-raiser but returned to the sort of form which ensured they cantered to the championship last time around.
First-half goals from Maciej Zurawski and Jiri Jarosik handed the home side an unassailable lead, although Kilmarnock were largely architects of their own downfall after spurning a series of clear chances.
Shunsuke Nakamura curled home a 25-yard free-kick for the hosts' third goal, before Steven Naismith capitalised on loose defending to blast a consolation past Artur Boruc. Kilmarnock have not won at Celtic Park since 1955, and their agony was compounded when Zurawski completed the scoring from six yards after fine build-up play by Aiden McGeady.
Miller, who left the field to a standing ovation in the 88th minute, admitted his delight at the reception he received despite his previous spell in the blue half of Glasgow.
He said: "The fans have been nothing but welcoming since I first came through the door, and I don't have a bad word to say about them."
Strachan, meanwhile, has reignited a war of words with Alex Ferguson which stems from their time as respective player and manager at Aberdeen and Manchester United two decades ago. Ferguson claimed Strachan "could not be trusted an inch" in his 1999 autobiography but Strachan has hit back by questioning the Manchester United manager's motivational techniques in his own book.
"As much as I admire Fergie for what he has achieved, I have to admit this is offset by the memories of the deterioration in our relationship," said Strachan.
"I needed him to treat me as an adult, not a kid. His behaviour made me think that he looked on my decision to leave Aberdeen as a personal slight. At team meetings he would say: 'Where do you think you're going? Who would want a crap player like you?' In November 1986 he joined me at Old Trafford. It was a great move for him and Manchester United, but not, as it turned out, a great move for me."
Paul Le Guen's tenure as Rangers manager began with a nervy 2-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park. The visitors took the lead through midfielder Libor Sionko in the eighth minute but Motherwell midfielder Phil O'Donnell shocked the Light Blues when he equalised after the interval. But a Dado Prso header in the 65th minute gave the Ibrox side all three points.
CELTIC: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Camara, Nakamura, Petrov, Jarosik (Sno 84), McGeady, Zurawski, Miller (Riordan 88). Subs not used: Marshall, Thompson, Varga, Lawson, Wallace. Booked: Boruc. Goals: Zurawski 25, Jarosik 38, Nakamura 75, Zurawski 90.
KILMARNOCK: Smith, Fowler, Lilley, Greer, Hay, Naismith, Johnston, Frazer Wright, Di Giacomo (Leven 69), Invincibile, Nish (Wales 63). Subs not used: Bell, Grant Murray, O'Leary, Hamill, Stephen Murray. Booked: Greer. Goal: Naismith 87.
Referee: I Brines (Scotland).
