Celtic Edge Past Kilmarnock, But Shaun Maloney Insists There's Room for Improvement
Celtic blew Kilmarnock away at Rugby Park on Sunday, hammering Neil McCann's side 5-1 to make it two wins from two. Kasper Høgh scored a superb first-half hat-trick in another eye-catching display from Celtic's record £11m signing.
The win was a credit to the group, according to acting boss Shaun Maloney, who led the side from the touchline after Martin O'Neill's hospital procedure. Maloney was delighted with the performance, particularly the way Celtic attacked from the opening whistle and refused to ease off.
"I'm delighted. Really, really happy," Maloney said. "I thought we were excellent today. I'd say the most impressive thing was the mentality. We started the game at full throttle, and we never came off it."
Høgh has wasted little time making his mark since joining Celtic, scoring 20 league goals for Bodø/Glimt during the 2025/26 season. His three-goal burst at Rugby Park showed exactly why Celtic spent £11m on him.
Celtic still gave Kilmarnock too much encouragement, however, with the visitors finding their way through far too easily for Schjønning-Larsen's goal. Celtic controlled huge periods, but Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty still looked exposed whenever Kilmarnock sent direct balls beyond the midfield.
Alistair Johnston's withdrawal at half-time added another issue, with Celtic looking less secure after he went off. The coaching staff will be worried about the depth behind the first-choice defenders. Arne Engels brought plenty of quality, although Celtic lost the ball too often in awkward areas and conceded needless fouls.
Those moments disrupted their rhythm, but Celtic still scored five away from home. They must tighten up, however, despite another huge win. The warning signs remain, though. Five goals looked brilliant, but the defending for Kilmarnock's one didn't.
With Celtic's next match approaching, Maloney will be looking to build on this performance and improve the team's defending. The acting boss will be hoping to see more of the same attacking flair from Høgh and the rest of the team. But first, they must address the issues that left them vulnerable at the back.
Source: Yahoo Sports