Watch Nir Bitton’s screamer at Kilmarnock

On a night of disappointment at Rugby Park there was one outstanding moment for Celtic fans to savour.

Ten minutes into the second half as Celtic broke forward it seemed that Tom Rogic had ran into a dead end as he found himself surrounded by Kilmarnock defenders.

With Nir Bitton pushing into the Kilmarnock half Rogic sent the ball towards the Israeli who took two touches on the ball before cracking an incredible shot beyond Jamie MacDonald into the top right hand corner of the net.

The Kilmarnock keeper had been in inspired form but although Bitton’s shot was almost a yard inside the post MacDonald couldn’t get close to his shot.

That goal should have given Celtic a fresh lease of life but they continued to squander chances throughout the second half.

Leigh Griffiths should have added to his third minute opener, various players missed chances and substitute Charlie Mulgrew had a ‘goal’ chopped off.

The disastrous night was rounded off in the 87th minute when Emilio Izaguirre conceded a penalty converted by Kallum Higginbotham.

A combination of sloppy finishing matched by careless defending proved costly as Celtic returned from Ayrshire having dropped two points.

Scott Brown, Mikael Lustig, Dedryck Boyata and Stuart Armstrong should be back to face Malmo next Wednesday where similar problems would have disastrous consequences.

I am disappointed of course,” Ronny Deila said. “We should have scored more goals but I am very disappointed that we were sloppy in defence. It was like that against Partick Thistle in the second half and we continued that today and we got punished.

“They got four or five chances and that is more than the other teams have had in 10 games. So we deserved to get punished when we don’t score goals and are so sloppy.

“Everything starts with good defence, that is why we have had so many good results – and we have to be back on track on Saturday.”

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