Star Jumps Lafferty has a 45 minute Hampden nightmare

When you get outjumped by a guy more than six inches smaller that you the chances are it is not going to be your day.

After serving a 10 match ban for letting his hatred of Catholics surface Kyle Lafferty returned to the Kilmarnock team yesterday, apparently to upset the Celtic defence as a ‘wild card’.

His card was marked in the opening minute with a lunge at Alexandro Bernabei that embarrassingly missed the target by some distance. From then on it was downhill until his 18th minute masterclass.

Faced with a dangerously placed free-kick the former Hearts striker tried to swipe the ball clear for a corner, with Daizen Maeda two yards away the ball was in the back of the net with Killie keeper Sam Walker left helpless.

Afterwards Lafferty consulted with Derek McInnes on the sidelines, later there was a change of boots but absolutely no impact on the match.

At one stage he tried sledging Beranbei, what they young Spanish speaker made of his comments delivered with a hand over his mouth is anyone’s guess.

After three minutes of first half stoppage time McInnes decided to leave his star striker in the dressing room at the break, Celtic went through 2-0 with Kilmarnock left to pick up the pieces for Wednesday’s visit from Micky Beale’s team.