Celtic on this Day – The second half fightback that kick-started two decades of domination

The Celtic Star

·15 ottobre 2024

Celtic on this Day – The second half fightback that kick-started two decades of domination

Celtic on this Day in 2011 were 3-0 down at the interval. The second half would be the beginning of an incredible period of domination the like of which has never been seen before in Scottish football…

Kilmarnock v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, 15 October 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Three goals in seven minutes

Three goals in seven minutes rescued a point for Celtic at Rugby Park in a memorable 3-3 draw with Kilmarnock On This Day 13 years ago. Neil Lennon’s side had started the league campaign dismally. Heading into the encounter versus Kenny Sheils Killie, the Hoops trailed rivals Rangers by 10 points.

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Dropping points in four of their first 10 matches, which included defeats at Ibrox, Tynecastle and an embarrassing 1-0 loss at home to St Johnstone, Lennon was under huge pressure as he took his side to Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock had taken an astonishing 3-0 lead

The season went from bad to worse after a mortifying first-half display. Goals from Dean Sheils, Paul Heffernan James Fowler meant that Kilmarnock took an astonishing 3-0 lead heading into half-time.

Kilmarnock v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, 15 October 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki

It was the first time since 2002 that Celtic had conceded three goals in the first-half of a competitive fixture. Meanwhile, as the disgruntled travelling away support booed their side off as they went into the dressing room, then Celtic manager Neil Lennon has since admitted that he thought his job was up at the break.

Calamitous first-half showing from Celtic

Who could blame him? It was a calamitous first-half showing. Daniel Majstorivic, Cha Du-Ri and Charlie Mulgrew were all culpable for individual errors which led to the bleak scoreline at the interval.

Kilmarnock v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, 15 October 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki

However, an eight minute turnaround with 20 to play, starting off with individual brilliance at a free-kick from Anthony Stokes reignited the comeback. The Irishman grabbed his brace three minutes later, with an excellent strike from 25 yards beating Anssi Jaakkola in the Killie net.

Kilmarnock v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, 15 October 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki/REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN – Tags: SPORT SOCCER)

Celtic’s remarkable comeback

Celtic’s remarkable comeback was complete with 10 minutes of the game remaining when the ever-reliable Ki Sung-Yeung’s free-kick was met with a smart Majstorovic header back across the goal to his on-rushing centre-back partner Charlie Mulgrew who bulleted home.

Ironically, Paul Heffernan missed a glaring opportunity at 3-3 to edge his side back in front but headed over the bar. Thankfully for Celtic, a point meant Celtic did not lose any ground on Rangers. They had drawn 1-1 with St Mirren, so for Celtic it was a missed opportunity to close the gap.

Kilmarnock v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, 15 October 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki

“I’ll turn it round. We will turn it round. We’re not giving up,” Neil Lennon

After the match, Neil Lennon refused to give up on the title, “I’ll turn it round. We will turn it round. We’re not giving up – we’ll just keep going to try and find a consistent run of wins,” the Celtic manager told BBC Sports Scotland.

It would be the spark that would crucially change the course of Celtic’s season. Importantly, it kept Neil Lennon as Hoops manager. History would have taken a different course had Celtic lost at Rugby Park.

Lennon’s side would go 21 league games unbeaten after the drama against Kilmarnock. Within those games, they would famously defeat Rangers 1-0 at Celtic Park following Joe Ledley’s match-winner. For the first time in the 2011/2012 campaign, the Hoops went ahead in the league table.

Valentine’s Day 2012

Celtic went onto win the league by 20 points. Rangers FC went into administration on Valentine’s Day so were deducted ten points. Oh, and it would be title number one of Celtic’s second nine in a row.

That day 13 years ago was the catalyst for our modern success. Neil Lennon’s starting Celtic XI v Kilmarnock was as follows: