The thing is, the more often you score injury-time winners, the more you will be confident of scoring injury-time winners. When the board went up to indicate 7 minutes additional time, everyone expected Celtic to get the winner – and that probably includes the Kilmarnock players.
Auston Trusty vacillates between man-of-the-match performances (often in Europe) and error-prone displays. Yesterday he tended to the latter. Tyreece John-Jules stumbled and mis-controlled the ball, but was still permitted to cut inside Trusty to open the scoring. “Show him down the wing” would have been the default instruction Auston heard as a youth player.
Kasper Schmeichel’s leap seven minutes later was not sharp enough to get a touch on the looping header from Joe Hugill as it put the home side two goals up. Killie were not flattered to be two goals ahead at the break.
We can question the ability of this Celtic team but their character is surely not in doubt. Lesser footballers would hide after an abject first half, but Celtic took control in the second period, with Sebastian Tounekti creating the spark. His solo effort from 25-yards into the postage stamp corner 11 minutes into the second period turned the tide. Kilmarnock were rattled and made a harsh of defending a throw-in, allowing Benjamin Nygren to control and poke the ball past the keeper.
Yet again Celtic players were frustrated when free-kicks were awarded when Kilmarnock players tumbled within sight of an opponent. We seem set to endure this phenomenon until the league is settled. It could have cost dearly, when Callum McGregor was penalised after cleanly winning the ball with 15 minutes to go. The excellent resulting effort from John-Jules hit the face of the bar with Schmeichel nowhere.
Tomas Cvancara replaced Junior Adamu at halftime. Both were denied much service and had a quiet games, however, Cvancara’s 97th minute cross created the chance for Julian Araujo to score his first goal for Celtic and win the game. This is the second crucial goal Cvancara has created for Celtic from the left in his short time at the club.
You will remember the game at Kilmarnock in October 2011, which saw Neil Lennon’s side 3-0 down at halftime. Anthony Stokes inspired a remarkable comeback as Celtic took a point and went on to win the first title in their second nine-in-a-row run. It was not a great Celtic team and Killie should have scored late to win, but the result and performance were pivotal. Let’s hope we look back on this period with the same fondness.
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Buenos dias caballeros,
Julien Araujo es magnifico! 🇲🇽
The Battered Bunnet on 16th February 2026 10:40 am
One for DrambowieCelt and emdy else who’s into dogs: https://someoldhat.wordpress.com/2018/03/24/recovery/
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Crackin’ short stories .bunnet doffed…
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Tinytim and DrambowieCelt hope all turns out well 🍀🍀
Supporting Celtic has long been known to do your head in, but these recent performances have been aneurysm-popping 😂
Happy St. Daniel Day! Ave Ave
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.
https://c.org/kC24nkswRn
Does the Willie Collum review still happen? I haven’t heard any recently with some very dodgy decisions. What about the handball yesterday? Some terrible decisions by the ref e.g. Calums’s ridiculous booking.
Tinytim and DrambowieCelt- all the best
I’m watching the Dundee game again the night.
We dominated and again it was a lack of clinical finishes that made it a frustrating game.
Thing is, Paul’s observation that:
“…Celtic players were frustrated when free-kicks were awarded when players tumbled within sight of an opponent. We seem set to endure this phenomenon until the league is settled.”
This is aided and abetted by shite/bent officicla.
I note how bemused new Celtic players – Araujo, Cvancara – look at the pish decisions given against them, or not awarded in their favour. They know the reffing is more than whiffy.
How good will it be to win this fuggen thing, watch these cheatin hun canute tears and pain cos all their cheating couldn’t deny the best side – US – in the country.
CheatinBassasRThems !!
Armed Forces Day is 27th June……the kevlar fetish continues
Tinytim & drambowiecelt
Y.N.W.A
the Bada Bing on 16th February 2026 12:26 pm
Tinytim and DrambowieCelt- all the best
I concur, por cierto
Tex with the Mex.
Saw some posts on the read back re crowd support us vs the huns. Watched both games on TV yesterday as had ppl down and talking home crowds, based on recent experience at CP I kind of get it BUT our team can change that on March 1st. They are supportive now as things seem rosy (lot of ref calls to thank for that) but they turn quick at the slightest blip.
Thought the fans in Killie got behind the team really well and it was notable in post match interviews that the players genuinely appreciated that and credited that support as helping the result.
As much as the first half was horrible, the 2nd was joyful, especially the ending. The smile when taking a booking for going into the crowd was a thing of beauty. Quite the contrast to McCanns coupon.
quadrophenian on 16th February 2026 12:28 pm
“I note how bemused new Celtic players – Araujo, Cvancara – look at the pish decisions given against them, or not awarded in their favour. They know the reffing is more than whiffy.”
Big Tam was booked yesterday for complaining after killie got a soft free kick for yet another dive after minimal contact not two minutes after he got hee haw after being hauled to the floor by a killie CB who had him in a bear hug.
The booking had more than a whiff of a guilty/defensive ref trying to silence the truth as Big Tam didnt seem to be overly persistent in his complaints to merit a booking and I doubt he was cursing more than others on the pitch.
Playing the speed merchants on a poor plastic pitch is always a gamble in my book. Yang and Daizen got played in a few times but by and large , the tactics failed.
Far better to have ball players collecting ball to feed and running at defenders…. Pretty sure that’s our last plastic game of the season …
Arajuo was out of position for the 2 Killie goals down his flank hence Martins barbed comment post match. Made up for it second half.
Full press on Stuggart on Thursday night
HH
HH
● May have asked this one before●
Four players same surname appeared for Celtic in Scottish Cup Finals 56,63,67 and 77.
EKBhoy on 16th February 2026 12:50 pm
Playing the speed merchants on a poor plastic pitch is always a gamble in my book. Yang and Daizen got played in a few times but by and large , the tactics failed
Far better to have ball players collecting ball to feed and running at defenders…. Pretty sure that’s our last plastic game of the season …
______
We might still have to go to Falkirk. Last ever game on the Killie plastic pitch. I remember way back, Killie had a brilliant playing surface
Get the fans back for the weekend Celtic.In a season littered with your disasters, do something right.Give the stadium and team a lift.We are running on fumes at Celtic Park.The support on Sunday,led by a lot of the banned fans was magnificent.Do the right thing.
Struggling for Thursday.Midfield?,just who plays?If Hatate is not featuring at the weekend,throw him in.Make or break him.New guys that are eligible,in.Sarrachi,in.Luke,in.Weekend more important.
Turkeybhoy on 16th February 2026 12:56 pm
Get the fans back for the weekend
______
Dereliction of duty if they don’t. With Engles out now, we really need some help in midfield. Bernardo surely can be better. Very sort of options.
Craig?
Is Sarrachi in Europa squad? I didn’t think so
Billy, Bobby, Jim and Joe
Brilliant as we were that’s the last 2 league games we have scored in added time
We are hanging on
Visit to iPox 1 March is must not lose game
But a few twists and turns before this is won or lost
67ECW
QuadBhoy on 16th February 2026 12:48 pm
For sure. Araujo remonstrated about his faux booking anaw.
As MON said:
“There were a few funny ones on Saturday. I felt we should have had a penalty too, and it was looked at very quickly. It was lightning… as if it never happened! But there we go. The penalty nearly brought back all my paranoia!”
That ref – Ryan Lee – was having a fine audition for the crafty collective. Embarrassingly partizan.
As I say; I hope to enjoy their pain when we lift the silver at season’s end.
ziggydoc1 on 16th February 2026 1:01 pm
Is Sarrachi in Europa squad? I didn’t think so
____
Yes he is 👍
bhoyjoebelfast
Based on on 67 &77 SC Finals
Craig?
Never heard any sack the Board stuff yesterday on TV,? Maybe part of any peace talks……..
He got away with picking the wrong team IMO,Tounekti,Saracchi and Big Tam need to start,Hatate will be lucky to start another game
CELTIC MAC
Correct.
56 Billy
63 Bobby
67 Jim
77 Joe.
NB Billy Craig was brother in law of Sean Fallon.
Cvancara’s touch, turn and cross was magnificent. Great finish by the loveable Araujo on his weaker foot too.
We would have lost that match under the French dreamer.
CalMac was actually booked for a textbook tackle.
Not bringing the fans back is an act of self-harm.
While I agree that Trusty was at fault for the first goal yesterday with some poor defending and Scales for the second, abetted by very poor positioning from Schmeichel, I thought Yang was terrible in the build‑up to the second. There was a 50–50 ball there to be won, and not only did he fail to win it, he didn’t even make an attempt. I saw it in real time and actually shouted at the TV, ‘you coward!’ or words to that effect…
belfastbhoy
Think GaryGillespies….got there first!
This Man Craig……gets everywhere
the bada bing
Sadly the puerile ‘Sack The Board’ chant came over loud and clear, so much so that Aipple heard it all the way over in Kansas…..or Kentucky
Didn’t help, but support made up for it the second half, and pushed us on to victory…
Need to get everybody on board to keep us in the hunt….
CELTIC MAC
Yes you are right, Gary G…how did I miss your answer?
As a club we can’t keep taking scandalous refereeing performances on the chin, Paul.
That is up to the club.
They have SOME latitude but it requires a change of attitude.
Fringe benefit – the board will show the fans they care – it will melt just some, not all, the current frostiness
This league title could be decided by the aggregation of several very thin layers each marginally impacting outcomes.
IMHO, Celtic need to be all over all of them.
the Bada Bing on 16th February 2026 12:28 pm
Armed Forces Day is 27th June……the kevlar fetish continues
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That’s my anniversary😠..she’s getting now’t this year.
(hopefully my sweetheart doesn’t see this )
I hope the Club are seeking answers from Collum about the now blatant cheating that is commonplace by the officials against us. Every match we are penalised quite obviously wrongly and the opposition get away with fouling us, with impunity, e,g, we were denied quite an obvious penalty yesterday. Surprisingly (or maybe not) I have yet to see any of the SMSM make any reference to this.
It is nothing new for us to be cheated but now it’s the new norm.
“Let’s hope we look back on this period with the same fondness”.
Celtic need to hold honest inquests in to a number of things that have happened over the past 12 months and I’d add yesterday’s first half performance to the list.
I get playing on that pitch in wet, wintery conditions is probably not everyone’s cup of tea (I wouldn’t have blamed the new guys for asking WTF is this?), but given what was at stake I’d have expected much more energy and endeavour.
I’m down as saying we will soon “click”, but that first half performance was the opposite (don’t know the word for the opposite of click). Indeed, it reminded me of second half performances under Nancy.
We can’t afford many more of them if we are to look back with fondness.
My first post on here, I do like a quiz:
9 players that have played for Celtic and Arsenal