2 hours ago
1
Brendan Rodgers predicted that Kelechi Iheanacho will continue to prove himself to be a big game player after his late penalty claimed a dramatic 2-1 win for Celtic at Rugby Park.
Set to spill two points on the road after David Watson cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s opener, the visitors were awarded a controversial spot-kick deep into stoppage time when referee John Beaton belatedly decided that Lewis Mayo’s handball should be penalised.
With regular penalty taker Arne Engels not on the field, sub Iheanacho confidently smashed the ball home from 12 yards on his debut then raced into the jubilant Celtic supporters to celebrate.
The Nigeria international was signed after the transfer window closed due to being released by Sevilla. Despite struggling to make an impact at Middlesbrough and in Spain lately, Rodgers feels the forward — who he worked with at Leicester — can be a huge hit at Parkhead.
‘I was really pleased for Kels,’ Rodgers said. ‘I think the last penalty he took was for me at Wembley, when we beat Man City in the Community Shield, and he stuck that one away.
‘I think that’s a big moment for him, with the supporters and everything else.
Brendan Rodgers congratulates Iheanacho after his winning penalty at Rugby Park
Iheanacho whoops with delight after scoring the goal that earned the champions three points
The new Celtic striker slides home the ball and makes it 2-1 to the visitors against Kilmarnock
‘He’s got big moments in him, and once he gets fitter, he’s only going to get better.
‘Our penalty taker was off the pitch. Benji (Nygren) wanted it, but my message was for Kels (to take it). I know the confidence he brings and I also know what a goal will do for him.
‘I’m delighted for him and for the team because it’s been a long couple of weeks. It’s a big win for us.’
Despite the controversial nature of the victory, Rodgers felt his side were deserving of the three points.
‘It was very tight,’ he reflected. ‘We were a bit slow. There’s lots of new players coming in and the connections were maybe not quite as fluid. But second half, once we started to feed the wide players quicker and get through the pitch quicker, we were really dominant.
‘We deserved to go in front and then looked like we could go on and add maybe another goal. But at 1-0, it’s never signed off.
‘We concede from the corner.
That gives them a little bit of momentum. So, then we have to really show our resilience.’
Kilmarnock were enraged by the decision to penalise Lewis Mayo for handball
Killie boss Stuart Kettlewell was at a loss to understand how the penalty could be awarded
Celtic fans had earlier made their feelings known with a protest against the club board
Rodgers had a degree of sympathy with his opposite number, Stuart Kettlewell over the award of the penalty.
‘If you’re the home team and you get that going against you, then of course you may not be so happy,’ he said.
‘For myself, we create the chaos in the box, create the opportunity, and then we get that moment where it does pop up and it’s in on its way, maybe into goal, I don’t know. But it’s certainly (handball) on the only one image I’ve seen. It pops up and hits his arm.’
Kettlewell claimed he was at a loss to understand why the penalty was awarded. Still stunned his side didn’t claim a point, the Kilmarnock boss claimed the award contradicted everything he’d been told in pre-season meetings with the SFA.
‘We might as well cut to the chase, 96 minutes by the time the penalty is taken. I need a question answered,’ he said.
‘We attend meetings, we spend all this time talking about rules. If the ball hits up at such close proximity and the ball is not going into the net, I was told they weren’t going to give them as penalties.
‘I need to watch what I’m saying before they start throwing out sanctions or match bans.
‘I’m immensely proud of the players. But I need somebody to answer that question.
Daizen Maeda celebrates after giving Celtic a 1-0 lead with a diving header
The Parkhead side were hauled back, however, when David Watson scored a fantastic header of his own
Scorer Watson leaps for joy but Kilmarnock ultimately lost game to a controversial penalty
‘I’ll make the phone call tomorrow to find out why that’s been given as a penalty based on what I’ve been told at the start of the season.’
Kettlewell said he didn’t even look for a replay of the incident initially as he felt sure no infringement had taken place.
He added: ‘I rely on four guys that sit behind me I trust implicitly and every one of them had said “no, we’re alright because of the rule”.
‘So, I didn’t even go and have a look myself. I looked after the penalty was given and awarded, but that was curiosity.’
Immediately after the match, the SFA explained the reason behind the decision, stating: ‘The penalty was awarded for handball by the Kilmarnock defender whose arm is in an unnatural position. A deflection doesn’t always negate a handball offence. He doesn’t know where the ball is going and his arm is up in an unnatural position to block a shot.’
On a day that the vast majority of visiting supporters remained outside the ground for kick-off in protest at the way the club is being run, Rodgers felt his side showed immense character to deal with a difficult situation.
On the celebrations at full-time, he said: ‘That’s what this club is about, that Celtic spirit that keeps you going right to the very end and it paid off for us.
‘I’m delighted for the players, first and foremost, with all eyes on them today. A lot said and written and talked about, but ultimately, if we get onto the pitch, we can control that.’
