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Kilmarnock logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 2
Aug 9, 2020 at 4.30pm UK
Rugby Park
Celtic logo

Kilmarnock
1 - 1
Celtic

Burke (24' pen.)
Dicker (10'), Power (35')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Christie (11')
Brown (72')

Neil Lennon refuses to blame Christopher Jullien despite costly mistake

Neil Lennon refuses to blame Christopher Jullien despite costly mistake
© Reuters
The Hoops dropped two points,

Neil Lennon refused to pin the blame on errant defender Christopher Jullien after Celtic dropped two Premiership points in a 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.

Midfielder Ryan Christie opened the scoring for the champions with a free-kick from distance after 10 minutes but veteran winger Chris Burke levelled in the 24th minute from a penalty conceded by the French centre-back who clumsily fouled Nicke Kabamba inside the box.

Celtic stepped up the tempo after the break but a disciplined, well-organised Killie side refused to buckle.

Lennon said: "I think he's rusty and he is a slow burner. He was the same this time last year.

"So the more games he gets the better he becomes. He is disappointed but that is not the reason we dropped two points today. We weren't good enough in the final third with all the play we had.

"I'm frustrated. We got off to a good start and gave away a poor goal from our point of view. We dominated the second half and didn't find the answer.

"Kilmarnock defended well and our final ball wasn't great and we will have to work on that.

"Lots to work on and get better on. I know what we have with these players and it may be a good point at the end of the day."

Asked about injured striker Leigh Griffiths, reportedly warned over his conduct after holding a gathering at his house which appeared to breach social distancing guidelines, Lennon said: "The club are doing an ongoing investigation.

"I am not convinced it is a big issue and hopefully it will be resolved in the next couple of days. He is not fit, he had a calf strain so he would have missed the game anyway."

Killie boss Alex Dyer hailed a "great performance" and insisted that Kabamba, who signed from Hartlepool in January, personified his side.

Dyer said: "He has been outstanding since he came to this football club. He gives 100 per cent and the boys believe in him.

"They know what he can do and he showed it today against two good defenders so let's hope it continues.

"He sums up what the football club is about, working hard, not giving up when you are cornered, show a little skill and he won himself a penalty.

"Great team effort and everyone to a man played well and deserved the point.

"We had a good shape, defensively we were good, they didn't trouble us too much and they are a good side obviously but today we were compact, pressed when we had to and had a good discipline."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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