Celtic move 15 points clear in SPL with win over Kilmarnock

Celtic recovered from their weekend League Cup defeat with a comfortable win over Kilmarnock. An unlikely double from defender Adam Matthews helped them to a 4-1 victory at Parkhead.

The Rugby Park side struggled to deal with a more lively Celtic as Georgios Samaras should have given the home side the lead after 10 minutes when he rounded Cammy Bell in the Kilmarnock goal but his shot smashed the side netting.

Killie teenager Ross Barbour thought he had opened the scoring as he squeezed the ball over the line in the 37th minute, however after consultation with his assistant referee Calum Murray to wave play on.

Substitute Joe Ledley went on and fired the hosts into the lead four minutes from the end of the first half with a long-range effort.

The second half began with a bang for Killie as former Celtic striker Sheridan drew the score line level in the 47th minute when he slotted in a cross from William Gros.

Five minutes later Matthews put Celtic ahead again with a thunderous shot that rivalled Ledley’s for the spectacular and from that point Celtic never looked back.

Gary Hooper, subject of yet another failed bid from English Premier League side Norwich, passed up a number of chances to stretch the lead further but Killie were on the verge of crumbling.

Stokes, on for the injured Samaras, made it three after rounding the goalkeeper and slotting past Bell from a tight angle.

Matthews put the icing on the cake with his second and Celtic’s fourth shortly after, tapping in from a yard out.

The win takes the champions 15 points clear of Inverness, who sit in second place.