SPL Saturday August 4th

Kilmarnock 0

Celtic 1

0:1 Larsson (76)

Att: 13,201

MIB: Stuart Dougal

Celtic: Douglas; Tebily (Crainey 82), Mjallby, Valgaeren; Agathe (McNamara 77), Lennon, Lambert, Thompson, Petta (Hartson 18); Larsson, Sutton

Buoyed on the back of the Huns dropping two points at home to new boys Livingston, the travelling support swarmed into sunny Ayrshire to receive their customary warm welcome from the Killie Plods. The news that the Huns had banned Simply the Best from the Ibrox tannoy, due to it having allegedly acquired Loyalist paramilitary connotations, was greeted with derision. It is patently obvious, given the level of performance at the Death Star, that the Huns are plainly embarrassed at such a ridiculous notion. With a Blue room as bereft of trophies as a Hun is of good looks and charm, not even Advocaat could defend playing it, even after playing Ricksen.

Rugby Park once again treated us to a psychedelic scoreboard, which may explain why punters swear they saw a large blue squirrel and another in a skirt prance around the ground at half time. This, no doubt, was an attempt to bamboozle the TV audience into disregarding all the empty spaces amongst the paltry home support.

As a game this was a tense affair with the hoops' minds clearly focussed on meeting Ajax. Sutton and Larsson started well, displaying deftness of touch as they pulled the Killie defence around the park. An early injury to Petta, who had started gamely, saw the introduction of Hartson and the shape and rhythm of the team upset for the next twenty minutes.

Hartson quickly displayed the qualities that once made him a signing target for the Huns, when he scythed down Innes with a two footed tackle that was worth a red card. Amazingly, he didn't even get booked, which was a minor miracle as Sutton had been carded for remonstrating with a Killie clogger earlier. Hartson's contribution thereafter was more mundane, with Marshall's legs keeping him off the score sheet.

It took Larsson to break the deadlock, in what was another typically tight game here. Having been put through by Sutton, now in midfield, a deft flick with the head allowed Larsson to set himself for a shot from 14 yards that gave the Chunky Chicken no chance and grabbed all three points.

The other standout in this game was Killie striker Ndonge, a brick shithouse on speed. Mjallby and Valgaeren bounced off this guy and were caught constantly for pace. In a better side this guy could do some damage.

So, its Ajax on Wednesday and no doubt a much changed Celtic performance if we are to go through.