Kilmarnock 0 – 5 Celtic

Celtic clinched their third successive Premiership title in type with a dominant show as they beat Kilmarnock 5-0 at Rugby Park.

The Hoops, who wanted only one level to wrap issues up, made the proper begin as Adam Idah opened the scoring within the fifth minute.

Daizen Maeda (12) slotted residence Celtic’s second, with James Forrest (35) including a 3rd earlier than the break as Kilmarnock struggled to include a facet they’d overwhelmed twice in Ayrshire already this season.

Matt O’Riley (51 and 71) then scored both facet of Danny Armstrong’s disallowed effort for Killie as Brendan Rodgers delivered the title in his first season again in Scottish soccer.

They will elevate the trophy after their ultimate recreation of the Premiership season towards St Mirren on Saturday, whereas Kilmarnock will finish the season in fourth with European soccer secured.

How Celtic wrapped up one other title with a recreation to spare

The date and venue of Celtic’s triumph was important. The away followers unveiled an enormous banner of Tommy Burns earlier than the sport on the 16th anniversary of the dying of the previous Hoops and Killie participant and supervisor, and the entire floor joined in a minute’s applause.

Rugby Park was additionally the place Rodgers noticed his good Scottish knockout file finish in August final yr when Celtic crashed out of the League Cup. Celtic had additionally misplaced in Ayrshire within the league in addition to drawing at residence to Killie in February, a outcome which allowed Rangers to maneuver prime of the league after trailing by seven factors following seven matches.

With key gamers again match, Celtic have come good when it mattered, accumulating 22 factors from eight video games to take full benefit of their opponents’ stoop in type in mid-April. The one draw got here at Ibrox.

They continued their spectacular type in Ayrshire, though their fifth-minute opener had greater than a contact of controversy as Killie felt play ought to have been stopped to permit therapy to Robbie Deas, who took Idah’s arm to the face 10 yards inside his personal half.

The Irishman broke ahead and fed O’Riley on the correct earlier than persevering with his run and knocking residence the midfielder’s ball throughout the face of aim.

Deas required therapy whereas the VAR verify was ongoing, however referee Don Robertson was not known as to his monitor.

Celtic doubled their lead when Maeda burst into the six-yard field to transform Alistair Johnston’s cutback after Reo Hatate had opened up the house defence.

The guests have been within the temper to complete off the job. Idah noticed a strike saved and each Forrest and Liam Scales got here shut from outdoors the field.

Killie’s process might have been higher when Liam Donnelly scythed down Hatate. The midfielder had been lucky to flee a reserving for pulling O’Riley again earlier and would have been relieved to see the yellow card this time.

Celtic didn’t want any numerical benefit although they usually went three forward within the 35th minute. Idah performed Maeda in behind and Forrest confirmed good consciousness to fulfill the Japan worldwide’s low cross and sidefoot the ball residence.

Kieran O’Hara saved from Idah and O’Riley earlier than the interval introduced temporary respite for Killie.

But there was nothing the goalkeeper might do to cease O’Riley curling a strong shot into the highest nook from 18 yards within the 51st minute.

Killie winger Armstrong netted an equally spectacular strike two minutes later however the aim was disallowed for an earlier offside.

The residence facet continued to aim to provide their supporters one thing to cheer – on prime of their fourth-positioned end and European qualification, and Matty Kennedy headed towards the bar.

But O’Riley slotted residence Celtic’s fifth within the 71st minute after being teed up by substitute Nicolas Kuhn.

The visiting supporters have been lapping it up they usually reprised a track very hardly ever heard since Rodgers left all of a sudden for Leicester in February 2019, hailing their supervisor for “coming home to lead the green and white”.

It was certainly a major private second for the 51-year-outdated, whose return final summer time was met with a combined reception.

A Scottish Cup ultimate win over Rangers per week on Saturday would additional mend the connection.

Rodgers: This one feels particular

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers advised Sky Sports:

“Obviously each time you win a league title it feels nice however this one positively feels one thing particular after every part we have been via this season and the challenges we have had.

“Also how we completed it as a result of that efficiency was completely unimaginable. Everything I’d need in a staff, with method and velocity and energy, I assumed our soccer was immense.

“The starvation within the staff appeared like we have been in the beginning of the season, not on the finish and that was towards a very good facet who do not concede many targets.

“So happy for the gamers as a result of there’s been loads of negativity round them this season however they stayed with it and stored believing.”

What’s subsequent?

Celtic’s ultimate Scottish Premiership match of the season is at residence to St Mirren on Saturday, dwell on Sky Sports. Kilmarnock are at Dundee.

Both video games kick off at 12.30pm.

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