Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1

Celtic continue to struggle badly in front of their own supporters following a third straight draw at Parkhead.

In their previous couple of home games the Hoops twice conceded advantages. But this time around they were the side coming from behind and finally grateful for a late equaliser from defender Thomas Rogne.

Kilmarnock striker Conor Sammon had earlier opened the scoring with his fifteenth goal of the season during the opening stages of the second-half.

It means that Celtic enter their Christmas programme with a two-point deficit on leaders Rangers, who also have a game in hand.

The Hoops welcomed back both James Forrest and Emilio Izaguirre from injury. But it was soon Niall McGinn with a shot wide after Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cameron Bell had spilled a cross, while Gary Hooper saw an effort disallowed for offside.

However, Bell dealt much better with a McGinn effort towards his near post after a through ball from Hooper before also having to deny Izaguirre. Daniel Majstorovic then headed Ki Sung-Yueng’s corner behind as Celtic continued to dominate.

But the home side suffered a setback ten minutes before the break when Hooper was stretchered off after a clash with Frazer Wright.

And they received another one eight minutes into the second-half as the visitors netted on the break when Moroccan Mehdi Taouil allowed Sammon to drill past Fraser Forster.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon reacted by bringing returning skipper Scott Brown off the bench and moments later also turned to Paddy McCourt.

Both Anthony Stokes and substitute Daryl Murphy were off target as they chased an equaliser, which finally came after Jamie Hamill fouled Izaguirre with six minutes remaining. Ki delivered the free-kick for Rogne to head in off an upright.

However, Kilmarnock weren’t finished yet and goalscorer Sammon swept beyond Forster, only for the covering Majstorovic to clear before Murphy headed over Stokes’ late cross at the opposite end.

Celtic: Forster, Cha Du-Ri, Rogne, Majstorovic, Izaguirre, McGinn (McCourt 70), Ledley (Brown 66), Ki Sung-Yueng, Forrest, Murphy, Hooper (Stokes 35)

subs (unused): Zaluska, Mulgrew, Crosas, Samaras

Goals: Rogne (84)

Kilmarnock: Bell, Fowler, Wright, Gordon, Bryson, Hamill, Taouil, Kelly, Pascali, Sammon, Eremenko

subs (unused): Letheren, Clancy, Hay, Sissoko, Silva, Rui Miguel, Forrester

Goals: Sammon (53)

Ref: W. Collum

Att:

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