SHAUN MALONEY admitted Celtic’s five-star display in their 5-1 triumph over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park saved him from a grilling from Martin O’Neill!
The stand-in boss was relieved as a hat-trick from Kasper Hogh and singles from Benjamin Nygren and Luke McCowan made certain there was no banana skin on the hosts’ brand-new grass-based playing surface.
O’Neill, of course, was missing following his small procedure in hospital during the week and the nearest he got to the action was his television set.
The 74-year-old Irishman would have enjoyed what he witnessed with Hogh, the club’s record signing at £11million-plus, netting in 64 seconds and adding two more before the interval.
THE CALM BEFORE THE FIVE-STAR SHOW…Shaun Maloney watches the Celtic players work out as they prepare for the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Benjamin Nygren and substitute Luke McCowan, with his first kick off the ball, claimed the others after the break as the champions coasted to victory.
Maloney was more than satisfied with the intensity of his team right from the start and said: “I’m delighted. Really, really happy. I thought we were excellent.
“I’d say the most impressive thing was the mentality. We started the game at full throttle and we never came off it.
“Considering the week that we’ve had, it’s a massive credit to the group that they’ve performed like that and I’m sure the boss is extremely happy.”
With a smile, Maloney, speaking to CelticPlayer, added: “If he turned up on Monday and this hadn’t been the result, I might have been in a spot of bother!
“I’m really looking forward to having him back. We’ve missed him and I’m really glad we got a win for him.”
O’Neill is expected to back in harness this week as the team prepare to embark on the Premier Sports League Cup adventure with an opening tie against Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday evening.
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