The Hoops returned to the top of the table after winning a penalty late on at Rugby Park to secure a 2-1 win
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates(Image: SNS Group)
Celtic fans sat out the start in protest but stuck around for the wild celebrations at the end on an incredible afternoon at Rugby Park.
Kelechi Ihenacho slammed in a 96th-minute penalty with the last kick of the ball to leave Kilmarnock crushed.
A section of supporters kept their promise to remain outside until after the 12 minute mod anger at the way the club is being run.
Yet it was two summer recruits who made the difference in Ayrshire. Deadline day arrival Sebastian Tounekti dazzled on his debut while Daizen Maeda ditched his disappointment over an exit by delivering a crucial opening goal.
Celtic looked set to see it out but David Watson pounced from a corner and the Hoops had to hang on as Stuart Kettlewell’s men threatened to grab all three points.
There was another huge twist in storage time when sub James Forrest’s drive was blocked by the arm of Lewis Mayo – and it was clocked by VAR.
Ihenacho – who was written off as a panic buy after the window closed – had the guts to step up and he riffled high into the net.
The Nigerian sparked mayhem in the away end – but it doesn’t look like it will get the under-fire Hoops board off the hook.
Fan power
Celtic fans are fuming and doesn’t look like this dramatic win will heal the rift with the club’s board.
The supporters made their anger at the way the club is being run with the no show until 12 minutes after kick-off.
The away end was half empty at kick-off and then filled up as promised.
The protests didn’t end there though with A series of banners including ‘Sack the Board, Back the Team,’ in a throwback to the slogan from the nineties when they did manage to empty out the club’s directors.
There were plenty of others targeting the club’s leadership and chants throughout.
They celebrated at the death but even after the winner there were sack the board chants.
This isn’t going away.
Seb on the go
The poor lad might have got lost in the wash on transfer deadline day given all the frantic carry on, but it looks like Celtic did manage to pull off a sensational piece of business.
Sebastian Tounekti made a huge first impression here. Celts were slow and laboured in general, but they came to life every time the Tunisian ace was on the ball.
The 22-year-old looks to have quick feet and loves taking on his man, hitting the byline and cutting balls across the face.
There was no easing himself in at Rugby Park. Tounekti was demanding the ball and teammates quickly cottoned on to the fact he was the main danger man.
He was invoked in just about every single move where the Hoops threatened and by the end he was ripping Killie to ribbons.
The wide man will be disappointed to lose his man for the Killie goal but Tounekti could be a cracker.
New Bhoys
What a way to silence any doubter. Kelechi Iheadacho’s arrival was almost ridiculed in some quarters, but the former Man City and Leicester man has plenty of experience and nerves of steel.
It was a risk taking the spot kick but he did the business to secure the points.
Elsewhere Marcelo Saracchi was handed his first start for Celts as well and he would have got pass marks for his wonderful cross for Maeda alone.
But the borrowed Boca Juniors man did more than enough to endear himself otherwise.
Youngster Colby Donovan was also more than decent on the right but on that other flank it was a tough afternoon for Michel-Ange Balikwisha. He copped flak for constantly cutting back at Ibrox and it was a similar story here.
Even on his preferred right foot, there were times when he could have hit the byline but chose to hit the break.
Rodgers was seen giving an ear bashing at one point and it’s something to be worked on.
Changed Daiz
Daizen Maeda apparently had emptied his Lennoxtown locker on deadline day ahead of an expected exit.
Celtic blocked the move due to dithering over striker signings and even Rodgers admitted the attacker should have been sold.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda (left) celebrates after scoring(Image: PA)
But here he was, back in the Hoops and needed up front. The Japanese ace is a hard man to read at the best of times but he didn’t seem to be the happiest of chappies.
That might be his natural look mind you as he got through his usual power of work.
It wasn’t really happening for almost an hour as he struggled for service and for space.
Yet he found a bit of last season’s magic when Celtic needed it most – throwing himself on to Saracchi’s brilliant ball to nod in the vital opener.
There should be no concerns over the hitman downing tools.
Killie in superb shape
Stuart Kettlewell’s side might still be chasing their first win of the season and this one will sting.
But they shouldn’t feel too down though.
Celtic’s pressure and touch of class got them ahead but Killie were well in the game for long enough to make sure they still had a chance – and were seconds away from a fifth draw on the bounce.
Kettlewell didn’t exactly get the red carpet treatment when he was appointed but the punters have gradually been won over.
The manager has recruited well and he’s got his side looking like a classic Kilmarnock outfit, well organised and hard to beat.
This is without key men such as Brad Lyons and Matty Kennedy as well and it should give Rugby Park fans plenty of optimism about the months to come.