Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson pirouettes with considerable style and at some point in his rotation he back-heels the ball into the Killie box but the pass is too clever for his team-mates and the home team manage to clear.

Mark Connolly misses a tackle that he really had to win and Stefan Johansen has time to dink a lovely wee ball forward for advancing full-back Emilio Izaguirre in the box and he cracks a left-foot volley past keeper Craig Samson, a red streak of Ayrshire mid-air despair.

On comes Robbie Muirhead for Kilmarnock, off goes Chris Johnston, with 11 minutes of the first half remaining.

Image source, SNS

Celtic's Liam Henderson chases down a loose ball with Ross Barbour at Rugby Park.

That's the stuff from Killie! Alexei Eremenko's in-swinging free-kick from the left touchline 35 yards out is glanced down towards the Celtic goal thanks to an impressive leap by striker Josh Magennis, who did well to get above Efe Ambrose and shape his body to direct the ball at goal. In the end, though, it was a good save by Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who got down sharply to reacquaint himself with the spherical leather object that he last touched some, oh, let's see, half an hour ago.

Once again Kris Commons hits the crossbar with a fierce left-foot drive. Nir Bitton and Liam Henderson helped to set up the chance for former Derby County player. How long can Killie hang on?

See 20:17...

Celtic work the ball to Kris Commons, who weaves his way through some statuesque Killie defenders and from the corner of the six-yard box hammers a shot over the bar when he ought to have at least hit the target. Killie need to get hold of the ball and build some passing moves or they will be punished eventually.

Hmm, there's a pattern developing here. Jamie Hamill now sends Celtic skipper Scott Brown into the January night air with a trip. The visiting fans howl for a booking but Kevin Clancy doesn't take his name. He gives him a thorough ticking-off instead.

Perhaps we can put it down to a surge of testosterone after those attempts at the Killie goal. Or it could be revenge for the clattering he took a few minutes back. Anyway, Kris Commons is booked for an ugly challenge on Jamie Hamill.

Much better stuff from Kris Commons, though. He thuds the crossbar with a left-foot shot from the edge of the box and moments later has a right-foot effort deflected out for a corner after a nice set-up by Stefan Scepovic.

The burly Finn finds Josh Magennis with a delicious pass but the Northern Irishman's shot is horribly weak and off target. That was a chance for Killie, with the Celtic defence caught in a dozy state.

Playmaker Alexei Eremenko finally gets on the ball out on the left for Killie but his delivery in to the Celtic box is dee-ee-eep and drifts harmlessly wide.

Liam Henderson, Celtic's 18-year-old midfielder, will have boosted his confidence with a few attempts at goal with his left boot. He showed a wise head there to nudge his opponent off balance as they contested a dropping ball at the edge of the Killie box. Celtic have the upper hand.

Celtic win a few corner kicks that come to nothing, but in their next foray forward Stefan Johansen is dispossessed in the box by bearded terror Mark Connolly. He is subsequently booked for whacking the ball towards the assistant referee who had flagged against him for taking the ball over the bye-line.

Dear-oh. Kris Commons is in the wars in these early minutes. The stocky figure of Jamie Hamill sends his careering off the pitch.

Mark Connolly, the strapping Killie defender, looks part-comic, part-terrifying with his bandaged head. In any case, he steps forward to intercept a ball forward by Emilio Izaguirre and clear the modest danger.

Celtic midfielder Kris Commons is given a whack on his ankle by Killie's Lee Ashcroft and treads gingerly off for treatment.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila

"When you're talking about the championship you have to cope with your opponents. Now there's a team who is doing very well and we have to be even better."

And we're under way...