Celtic placed their championship hopes in considerable peril at Kilmarnock last night. Missing a clutch of important players, they were frequently outfought and dropped six points behind Rangers, who also have a game in hand.
It was hardly a happy return from their mid-winter break and left John Barnes and their fans completely frustrated. The visitors faced an unexpectedly vigorous challenge from Kilmarnock, whose manager Bobby Williamson has long contended have been playing better than results would indicate.
Indeed, they might have taken the lead in the 26th minute when Jonathan Gould's instinctive save blocked Gary Holt's header.
Celtic had been unconvincing, but Mark Viduka always carries a threat. Five minutes later he pursued a Regi Blinker pass and carried the ball into the penalty area. His shot eventually found the net with a little help from a deflection off Jim Lauchlan.
But Kilmarnock, undeterred, deservedly equalised five minutes before half-time when Mark Reilly's hopeful shot from the edge of the area beat Gould after taking a heavy deflection off Vidar Riseth.
The visitors were rather put to the sword in the second half. A dreadful mistake by Riseth gave Andy Smith a clear run only for Gould to make a brave block at his feet. The same striker was denied again moments later.
Celtic looked bemused. With Tommy Boyd, Stilian Petrov and Jackie McNamara all booked in one spell it was clear that they understood their desperate state but could do little to resolve it. In the end, they counted their blessings for Gould's agility.
KILMARNOCK: Meldrum, MacPherson, Lauchlan, Dindeleux, Baker, Mitchell (Mahood 85), Durrant, Holt (Canero 89), Reilly, Cocard, Smith (Jeffrey 85). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Hessey. Booked: Smith, MacPherson, Lauchlan. Goal: Reilly 40.
CELTIC: Gould, Riseth, Mjallby, Boyd, McNamara, Blinker (Wright 72), Petrov, Berkovic (Johnson 82), Healy, Moravcik, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Kerr, Burchill, Petta. Booked: Boyd, Petrov, McNamara. Goal: Viduka 31.
Referee: Kenny Clark (Scotland).
Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo is widely expected to be named FIFA's World Player of the Year in Brussels today as football's world governing body holds its ninth annual gala evening.
Rivaldo is tipped to finish ahead of Manchester United's English international David Beckham and Fiorentina's Argentinian forward Gabriel Batistuta when the successor to France's World Cup winning hero, Zinedine Zidane, is announced.
Batistuta is expected to finish third with Rivaldo and Beckham contesting the award, but most expect the Brazilian to get the nod when the votes cast by 140 international coaches are counted.
Ironically both Rivaldo and Beckham have seen a glittering 12 months end in controversy.
