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Jota jabbed Celtic in front just before the breakCeltic extended their Scottish Premiership lead to 12 points over Rangers as their attacking persistence paid off against Kilmarnock.
After a dominant half, Jota broke the deadlock for the league leaders just before the break, sliding in to meet Daizen Maeda's low cross to score his eighth goal of the season.
And Celtic doubled their lead after the break when Kilmarnock defender Ash Taylor deflected Reo Hatate's cross into his own goal under pressure from Kyogo Furuhashi.
Rangers - in second place - travel to face Dundee United on Sunday (16:00 GMT) with precious little margin for error.
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Celtic had such a glut of chances towards the end of the match that one could be forgiven for forgetting how sore Kilmarnock must have felt at Jota's opener.
Derek McInnes's men had defended stoutly for the opening 45 minutes, limiting Celtic to one deflected shot on target, that from Jota who was stymied by Taylor's desperate block.
Kilmarnock, in truth, were worth no more than parity at the break. Seeking their first league win at Celtic Park since October 2012, they relied on long balls directed at debutant Kyle Vassell for their attacks.
The Englishman was badly isolated, though, and Cameron Carter-Vickers was too fast and composed to dispossess the striker and build another period of Celtic possession.
That was the theme, save for Taylor's looping header from Liam Polworth's cross that landed on top of Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart's net.
Celtic benefited from the energy of Hatate, Callum McGregor and Aaron Mooy, the midfield trio afforded time to look up for passes to Maeda and Jota, the Portuguese winger switching wings to try to break Kilmarnock down.
Visiting goalkeeper Sam Walker conceded two goals but had an outstanding match. He kept out an 18-yard drive from Hatate, getting down low to his right to parry, and after the break he dived high to his left to save a powerful Giorgos Giakoumakis header, aided by the woodwork.
The Greek striker smacked the crossbar a few minutes later as the visitors tired and the hosts became energised by the introduction of Giakoumakis, Liel Abada, James Forrest, Matt O'Riley and David Turnbull.
Late in the game, Forrest gave the fans who were still in the ground further excitement with two right-footed shots from eight yards, the first saved by Walker, the follow-up rebounding off the upright.
Player of the match - Reo Hatate
Hatate was relentless in the Celtic midfield, winning possession and looking to provide Jota and Maeda on the wings. His cross into the box created Celtic's second goalWhat's next?
Celtic and Kilmarnock meet again in a week's time in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden (17:30 GMT).
Line-ups
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hart
- 2Johnston
- 20Carter-Vickers
- 4Starfelt
- 25Bernabei
- 13MooySubstituted forO'Rileyat 63'minutes
- 42McGregor
- 41HatateSubstituted forTurnbullat 83'minutes
- 17Neves FilipeSubstituted forAbadaat 63'minutes
- 8FuruhashiSubstituted forGiakoumakisat 63'minutes
- 38MaedaSubstituted forForrestat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Jenz
- 7Giakoumakis
- 11Abada
- 14Turnbull
- 18Kobayashi
- 29Bain
- 33O'Riley
- 49Forrest
- 88Juranovic
Kilmarnock
Formation 5-3-2
- 20Walker
- 2Mayo
- 19Wright
- 5Taylor
- 6Stokes
- 33Chrisene
- 4PowerSubstituted forLyonsat 64'minutes
- 31PolworthSubstituted forMurrayat 75'minutes
- 7McKenzieSubstituted forMcInroyat 85'minutes
- 16RobinsonSubstituted forArmstrongat 64'minutes
- 23VassellSubstituted forDoidgeat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Hemming
- 8Alston
- 11Armstrong
- 14Sanders
- 15Murray
- 17Lyons
- 18Waters
- 21McInroy
- 26Doidge
Live Text
Match ends, Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
Attempt missed. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Forrest.
Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by David Turnbull.
Attempt blocked. Alexandro Bernabei (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Alistair Johnston following a corner.
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lewis Mayo.
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Forrest.
Attempt saved. Matt O'Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
James Forrest (Celtic) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.
Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Matt O'Riley with a cross.
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brad Lyons.
Attempt missed. Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fraser Murray with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Carl Starfelt.
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Kerr McInroy replaces Rory McKenzie.
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
Daniel Armstrong (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Celtic
Squad number1Player nameHart
Squad number2Player nameJohnston
Squad number20Player nameCarter-Vickers
Squad number4Player nameStarfelt
Squad number25Player nameBernabei
Squad number13Player nameMooy
Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Squad number41Player nameHatate
Squad number17Player nameJota
Squad number8Player nameFuruhashi
Squad number38Player nameMaeda
Squad number7Player nameGiakoumakis
Squad number11Player nameAbada
Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Squad number33Player nameO'Riley
Squad number49Player nameForrest
Kilmarnock
Squad number20Player nameWalker
Squad number2Player nameMayo
Squad number19Player nameWright
Squad number5Player nameTaylor
Squad number6Player nameStokes
Squad number33Player nameChrisene
Squad number4Player namePower
Squad number31Player namePolworth
Squad number7Player nameMcKenzie
Squad number16Player nameRobinson
Squad number23Player nameVassell
Squad number11Player nameArmstrong
Squad number15Player nameMurray
Squad number17Player nameLyons
Squad number21Player nameMcInroy
Squad number26Player nameDoidge
English (US) ·