Kilmarnock vs Celtic - LIVE updates
Kilmarnock beat Celtic, knocking them out of the League Cup, thanks to a Marley Watkins strike as they defended resolutely at Rugby Park.
Brendan Rodgers was quite rightly proud of his astonishing perfect knockout Cup tie record as Celtic boss first time around.
The Irishman won 24 out of 24 matches before his departure for Leicester City and will be looking to pick up where he left off as he gets back to to business in the last-16 of the Viaplay Cup.
Derek McInnes has ended that record though.
It was a huge task for McInnes but having already stunned Rangers at home in the opening Scottish Premiership fixture of the season, McInnes and his men went in an optimistic mood as they completed an early-season Old Firm double.
Danny Armstrong squared up to Daizen Maeda on the corner of the box before dropping the shoulder and darting past him.
He fizzed in a low cross and Watkins lunged in at the back post to nudge it over the line. A brief VAR check for offside followed but it was over quickly and the goal stood.
Celtic huffed and puffed but failed to find a leveller after Killie opened the scoring with a few half-chances and half-shouts for penalties waved away.
Ultimately Celtic failed to work the Killie keeper Will Dennis enough as Killie stood resolutely and recorded a famous win.
Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy, Watkins Subs: O'Hara, Wright, Davies, Donnelly, Polworth, McKenzie, Murray, Wales, Vassell
Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Lagerbiekle, Nawrocki, Taylor, McGregor, O'Riley, Holm, Abada, Maeda, Kyogo Subs: Bain, Scales, Haksabanovic, Yang, Turnbull, Kwon, Tomoki, Bernabei, Forrest
Stick with us for all of the reaction right here in our LIVE blog.
17:37KEY EVENT
Brendan Rodgers says he hopes to get back into the transfer market after watching Celtic fall short against Kilmarnock.
There was an admission of no excuses but the Irishman reckons the artificial Ayrshire pitch played its part on a dismal day as his unbeaten streak in domestic cup competitions came crashing down on a toothless day against Derek McInnes' men. Marley Watkins' second half strike provided a worthy reward for the home endeavour, with this result coming just weeks after beating Michael Beale's Rangers in the Premiership by the same scoreline.
But for Rodgers, he has been left with thinking to do as he sees one of the cups Ange Postecoglou's side claimed last season slip away before August is done. And he tells Sportsound he is looking to the market for an extra spark to give his side a boost.
READ MORE
17:20Jack Herrall
17:18Jack Herrall
[On the next round against Hearts, he adds] "We’ve got a couple of league games now but it’s a great opportunity when that one comes around.
"As a team, we feel we have some big performances in us.
"We’re probably a bit more settled as a team than Celtic are at the minute and that probably helped us."
17:14Jack Herrall
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells Viaplay:
There were some moments in it but I think by and large there will be some times you have to suffer against a team who are possession based.
It’s just where you try and let them have possession at times.
It’s never comfortable when you’ve got boys like Kyogo, Maeda and then Celtic bring on subs that can threaten that space in behind and fresh legs against tired legs is always a concern against the better teams.
I thought we stuck to our task absolutely brilliantly and we limited Celtic to very few chances, it’s not as if they were peppering our goal and my keeper’s man of the match or whatever, you know?
I think the strength was in the team performance and just delighted we've beat such a strong opponent.
16:58Jack Herrall
Rangers at home on the first day of the season in the league.
Celtic at home in the League Cup.
Killie are off to an absolute flier this season after an impressive transfer window.
The Rugby Park faithful are loving it.
16:57Jack Herrall
This is Brendan Rodgers' first-ever loss in a domestic-cup game in Scotland.
16:55Jack Herrall
Kilmarnock advance in the League Cup.
The holders are out after Marley Watkins' goal went unanswered.
A terrific display from Killie, particularly at the back.
16:54Jack Herrall
Killie won a corner after some solid play by Kyle Vassell.
They take it short as you'd expect in an attempt to keep the ball up at that end of the pitch.
Celtic wrestle it back and fly up the pitch before Haksabanovic failed to get on the end of a low, driven cross.
More impressive defending from the hosts.
16:52Jack Herrall
Sead Haksabanovic drives into the box and gets caught on the wrong side of Lewis Mayo.
He wants a penalty. The few thousand Celtic fans right in front of it want a penalty. They're not getting it though.
The referee, again, says nope and it's a goal kick to Killie.
16:51Jack Herrall
It is all Celtic now.
Killie are defending well, with Robbie Deas recovering well to stop Maeda before an overhit Celtic pass trundles out for a goal kick to the hosts.
Vassell then isn't quite able to read the bounce of the ball as he almost counters from the halfway line.
16:48Jack Herrall
Will Celtic draw level?
Or are the holders heading out already?
16:46Jack Herrall
Celtic appeal for a penalty after Taylor's dinked cross but nothing is given.
Another appeal comes seconds later as Haksabanovic takes a tumble in the area, maybe even just outside it.
Again though, the referee's not interested at all.
16:43Jack Herrall
Killie send a corner in and it breaks to Maeda on the edge of the Celtic box, allowing him to show his pace and launch a counterattack.
He gets his head up and sees there's a long-range pass on but he completely mishits it and it sails towards the Killie goal for Will Dennis to collect.
It was a bit surprising that he didn't power into all the space in front of him.
16:41Jack Herrall
Ooft, Celtic go close.
A deflected pass lands for Maeda and he has to take a few touches almost parallel with the goal back towards the side of the box.
He dinks it for Kyogo but it misses and instead falls for Yang to hit a venomous strike from just outside the six-yard box.
However, he gets under it way too much and sends it way over the bar from close range.
16:38Jack Herrall
Danny Armstrong and Kyle Magennis are off.
Rory McKenzie and Liam Donnelly come on.
Killie are trying to solidify their midfield.
16:38Jack Herrall
Yang has looked lively since his introduction.
Kyle Vassel charges goalward but gets hunted down by Gustaf Lagerbielke who recovers well.
16:35Jack Herrall
Derek McInnes brings on club captain Kyle Vassel as goalscorer Marley Watkins departs to a standing ovation from the home fans.
16:33Jack Herrall
Odin Holm and Liel Abada departed a few minutes ago from David Turnbull and Yang Hyun-Jun.
Sead Haksabanovic is also now on for Matt O'Riley as Celtic search for a leveller.
16:31Jack Herrall
Killie fans sing Derek McInnes' name as the clock ticks into the 73rd minute.
What a turnaround for the Rugby Park side compared to some of their performances last season.
You can bet they'll be up against it for all of the remainder of the game now though.
It's getting a bit scrappy now too.
16:27Jack Herrall
16:24Jack Herrall
Not far off a second Killie goal.
A deep ball is floated in by Matty Kennedy that evades Armstrong.
As the winger loops back round and onto the pitch, he barges into Joe Hart and the two share a few choice words.
Killie's tails are up, that's for sure.
Can Celtic muster a comeback?
16:20Jack Herrall
16:16KEY EVENT
Marley Watkins open the scoring.
Danny Armstrong squares up Daizen Maeda on the corner of the box, he drops the shoulder and zips past him.
The winger fires a low cross in and Watkins stretches at the back post to nudge it home.
There's a VAR check for offside as lines are drawn but it's all good as far as Killie are concerned as the goal stands.
I said it was nicely poised a moment ago. This could be a cracking final 30 minutes.
16:15Jack Herrall
A powerful driving strike from Kyle Magennis forces Joe Hart into a save.
Nothing happening from the resulting corner though as the second ball is won by Hart with a high punch away.
It's turning into a nicely poised cup tie.
Danny Armstrong then catches Greg Taylor late and the former Killie player needs a bit of medical attention.
Nothing too serious medical-wise though, just a patch-up job it appears.
16:11Jack Herrall
Matt O'Riley delivers a free-kick from the left-hand side but it's easily cleared by Killie.
Neither side has quite produced a decent set piece as of yet.
A Celtic corner is sent in by O'Riley just after that and it's a better delivery but Corrie Ndaba climbs to head it away.
16:07Jack Herrall
Abada flashes a ball across the box as Celtic click into gear.
It's turned out for a corner at the back post but the visitors can't conjure up a chance from it before Callum McGregor is booked as he fouls Danny Armstrong, who was off on the counterattack.
16:06Jack Herrall
Liel Abada threatens on the edge of the area and young David Watson steps in to break up the danger.
Moments prior to that, Kyogo had a sweeping shot blocked in the box.
16:02Jack Herrall
Right, we're off for the second 45.
Same tempo, same end-to-end football, just give us some more goalmouth action!
15:54Jack Herrall
Gustaf Lagerbielke has 'defended quite well' reckons Neil Lennon at half-time on Viaplay.
"In terms of his defending and physicality, I think he's done fine," he adds.
Despite a nervy opening touch that he passed out for a corner, he's looked a solid addition so far.
Lennon also reckons Derek McInnes will be 'delighted' with his side's first-half display.
15:48Jack Herrall
A fairly entertaining first half ends goalless.
Corrie Ndaba had the best chances for Killie while Kyogo had a powerful shot saved at the other end.
Celtic have enjoyed far more of the ball, as is to be expected, but Killie have been resolute in their shape so far.
Someone has to go through this afternoon...
![ALEX JONES [1 of 4] Monday 6/24/24 • RUSSIA VOWS REVENGE ON AMERICA, News, Reports & Analysis](https://ie.bfn.today/@btc/live/cover_images/U8pFRoeI7dXM/N0tH2vg2cqyf_640x360.jpg.webp)
![Ep. 3385b - [BO] Anxiety Over The Presidential Election Is Real, Immunity, Ready For The Shift?](https://ie.bfn.today/@btc/live/cover_images/n78PbEkvWx2g/JXCyYwMBhTZe_640x360.jpg.webp)