DAVID TURNBULL had the distinction of scoring Celtic’s first goal of the topsy-turvy 2023/24 season when he swept a penalty-kick into the Ross County net in the 17th minute.
The champions went on to win 4-2 and the last goal of an entertaining afternoon in the sunshine in the east end of Glasgow was provided by Carl Starfelt when he deflected a James Brown drive wide of the stranded Joe Hart.
It was the Swede’s last kick of the ball as a Celt as he joined La Liga outfit Real Betis shortly afterwards and Turnbull joined him through the Parkhead exit in January when he agreed a £2million switch to Championship outfit Cardiff City.
Thirty-seven-year-old Hart eventually completed the hat-trick of farewells when he announced his retirement at the end of the double-winning campaign.
HEADING FOR A FALL…new Bhoy Odin Holm is sent tumbling by Kilmarnock’s Daniel Armstrong as Brendan Rodgers suffers a Cup defeat for the first time.
Two weeks after the kick-off to Brendan Rodgers’ comeback crusade, the Irishman tasted defeat in a domestic Cup-tie for the first time in 25 encounters when the holders stumbled to a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Just before the hour mark, the hosts took advantage of Greg Taylor’s absence in the left-back slot as he received treatment on the touchline for a facial knock. Killie raced down the unoccupied flank, the ball was fired low into the box and Marley Watkins was unmarked as he whipped an effort beyond Hart.
Making early appearances in the green and white hoops that day were Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Odin Holm and Yang Hyun-jun. None of the quartet was on show when Celtic won the Scottish Cup nine months later.
As the Hoops reeled from the Cup exit, they were then held to a home scoreless stalemate against struggling Ross County.
It was hardly ideal preparation for Rodgers’ return to Ibrox confrontation the following weekend.
RESULTS
August 5: Premiership: CELTIC 4 Ross County 2
Turnbull 2 (1 pen), Kyogo, O’Riley
August 13: Premiership: Aberdeen 1 CELTIC 3
Abada, Kyogo, O’Riley
August 20: League Cup: Kilmarnock 1 CELTIC 0
August 26: Premiership: CELTIC 0 St Johnstone 0
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss Diary of an Epic Season: September.
