Celtic earn battling win at Kilmarnock

Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn continued their goalscoring form to ensure Celtic emerged from a difficult test at Kilmarnock with three points and top spot in the William Hill Premiership.

McGregor's cross drifted into the net in first-half stoppage-time and Kuhn sealed a 2-0 victory at Rugby Park when he finished from a tight angle in the 71st minute. It was the Celtic captain's fifth of the season and Kuhn's 10th.

Marley Watkins hit the post for Kilmarnock with the game goalless and Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had one his busier days of league action. The home team managed 18 shots at goal, six of them on target and another six blocked.

A pre-match Remembrance Sunday silence was cut short by referee Nick Walsh as a number of Celtic fans sung a song about the death of Aidan McAnespie, who was shot by a British soldier at an Army checkpoint in Co Tyrone in 1988.

Supporters had already raised a series of banners which read: "From Balfour to Starmer, the crimes of the empire live on, Britain is committing genocide in Gaza."

Celtic lost twice at Rugby Park last season before clinching the title at the same venue with a 5-0 win.
There was a clear indication of how difficult Brendan Rodgers viewed the challenge when he named a team that had only two changes from the side that beat RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

Adam Idah started up front and the Corkman's Republic of Ireland team-mate Liam Scales replaced pre-match fitness concern Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Derek McInnes was forced into two changes as Stuart Findlay and Danny Armstrong dropped out. Liam Donnelly and Joe Wright came in.

Celtic's wingers made some positive runs in the opening stages but it soon became clear that the visitors would face a tough test and Schmeichel made