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Celtic supporters made their point to the board by remaining outside Rugby Park in their thousands prior to kick-off. For so much of this dramatic affair, the team inadvertently underscored their message.
On their first outing since the transfer window closed, Brendan Rodgers’ side looked set to add the negativity engulfing the club with an untimely stumble.
When David Watson rose to head Kilmarnock level with seven minutes remaining, it felt like the folly of the Parkhead board in failing to adequately back their manager would come back to haunt them.
Just as those behind the goals began contemplating a long winter lying ahead, the award of a controversial penalty deep into stoppage time afforded Kelechi Iheanacho the chance to become an instant hero with the visiting support. The Nigerian took it with aplomb.
A moment which ensured an uneasy peace was kept, it arrived just when the anger and frustration in the away end was threatening to spill over.
Ultimately, it was enough to win the day at the death for Rodgers’ men and see them retake their place at the top of the Premiership.
Iheanacho races away to celebrate after his late, late winner at Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock felt the penalty for a handball against Lewis Mayo should never have been given
The match had been overshadowed by fans' protests against the Parkhead board
While a nine-point gap to Rangers is clearly no longer going to be enough to pacify the bulk of Celtic supporters, all concerned will take no little satisfaction from that state of affairs.
At the midway point in September, a title challenge seems more likely to come from the west of Edinburgh than the south side of Glasgow.
Having struggled to get going initially, Rodgers’ men looked set for a routine victory when Daizen Maeda pounced to score with a diving header just before the hour mark.
Watson’s intervention made for a thrilling finale. It will take Kilmarnock some time to come to terms with how they lost it.
James Forrest’s shot caught Robbie Deas before moving onto Lewis Mayo’s arm. You could well understand the dismay of the home camp, though, when they saw referee John Beaton being called to the monitor and inevitably point to the spot.
The smell of cordite had filled the air around Rugby Park. If Celtic’s failure to adequately back Rodgers in the transfer window had angered supporters, then last Saturday’s now infamous statement had put them on a war footing with the hierarchy.
Rarely has an anonymous communication failed so spectacularly in its intention.
Rather than appease supporters, it enraged and galvanised them. It led directly to the planned protest, with visiting fans entering the ground late.
Iheanacho slots home the all important penalty which collected three points for Celtic
The striker is pursued by his delighted team-mates after calmly firing in the spot-kick
Last Friday, Rodgers had curried favour with those disaffected fans, expressing sympathy with their views. In describing the briefing against him to a newspaper as a ’cowardly act’, this bond with the rank and file was strengthened.
The chants from the visiting support against the hierarchy were constant. For the hard of hearing, the words ‘Sack The Board’ were printed on a giant banner behind the goal in the Chadwick Stand. Soon the words ‘Back the The Team’ appeared beside it.
In the fullness of time, it got personal; ‘Nicholson, McKay, Lawwell Out. Parasites, Liars, Cowards,’ screamed the banners.
Although they were without a home league win since May 10, Kilmarnock fancied this.
Djenairo Daniels, their self-assured Dutch forward, had expressed a belief that his side would take advantage of the fact that Celtic ‘weren’t really in a good place’. It would not have gone unnoticed.
Those Celtic supporters – around 80 percent - who remained outside the ground in protest until the 12th minute didn’t miss much.
Mayo’s short back-pass threatened to put Max Stryjek in trouble. Maeda closed the keeper down and almost found the net with his block. Stryjek let Mayo know all about it.
It would be too easy to attribute a slow start by Rodgers’ players to a lack of vocal backing. It was their choice to play too many safe, sideways passes.
Daizen Maeda is delighted after he opening the scoring with a magnificent diving header
David Watson equalised for Kilmarnock, however, with a brilliant header of his own
What an imposing target Stuart Kettlewell has in Marcus Dackers, the six foot seven Welshman. No prizes for guessing where every set piece the home side had was aimed.
On his debut for the visitors, Sebastian Tounekti showed some highly promising signs. The only criticism of the winger was his reluctance to release the ball after he’d beaten his man.
Kettlewell would have been encouraged with just how little his side gave away in the opening half. Playing with a flat back-five, they stood up tall and allowed Celtic to play in areas where they were comfortable. It was not pretty. It was effective.
Although the visitors tried to play short incisive passes, they struggled to penetrate. Reo Hatate’s shot over the top after a neat lay-off by Maeda was one of few real moments of alarm for the home support.
Tounekti showed great imagination to flick the ball into Hatate’s feet and take the return first time. His aim was just out. Benjamin Nygren then passed up a fine opening by firing Tounekti’s cross straight at the keeper.
Colby Donovan’s first start for Celtic was a mixed bag. The full-back managed to get into some promising positions high on the right. His crossing would leave something to be desired.
At least the youngster was showing something. The same could not be said of Michel-Ange Balikwisha. Unwilling to take on his man, the winger invariably rolled the ball backwards. There was just no risk-taking in his game.
Celtic’s growing frustration at failing to break down a resolute Killie side was becoming evident as the interval approached. Cameron Carter-Vickers tried to cut to the chase with a fierce 30-yard which Stryjek tipped round the post.
Brendan Rodgers congratulates his instant hero Kelechi Iheanacho at Rugby Park
The travelling supporters making their feelings known about the Celtic board
Rodgers’ men showed a little more urgency at the outset of the second period. Just not enough quality.
A promising move ended with a woeful touch by Nygren. He brought down Rory McKenzie at the cost of a booking.
Rodgers needed someone to do something special. Step forward Marcelo Saracchi. Whipping his left foot around the ball, the Uruguayan could not have produced a better delivery had he tried it a thousand times. Maeda dived through the air and caught the ball perfectly. Stryjek could only watch as the ball arrowead into the far corner.
Celtic should have quickly had the three points in the bag. Tounekti’s dribble opened up the game for Nygren. The midfielder’s shot was charged down by Dom Thompson. Another bob and weave by Tounekti ended with his shot being blocked on the line.
Sub Luke McCowan thought he’d found the second until Thompson popped up on the line again.
Killie hung in there and, when Donovan blocked Bruce Anderson’s strike, the home fans made their voices heard.
Greg Kiltie’s corner found Celtic’s defence sleeping. Watson made the ball his and thumped a header past Kasper Schmeichel.
For a few minutes, Celtic were all over the place. But deep into stoppage time, sub Hyun-jun Yang’s cut-back found Forrest whose shot eventually caught the unfortunate Mayo on the arm. Iheanacho did what was required of him from 12 yards.
