McDonald Gets First Aid

Nov 4 2007 Mark Guidi At Rugby Park

McGeady Helps Aussie Hotshot Gun Down Killie

SCOTT McDONALD continued his superb run of scoring form to gun down Killie but Aiden McGeady was the driving force behind Celtic's win.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan had a few quiet words in the winger's ear recently - and it seems to be paying dividends.

Strachan urged McGeady to be more direct and hurt the opposition instead of concentrating on stepovers and back-heels.

The 21-year-old has responded positively and, middle to front, is the form player in the country.

He dazzled against Motherwell last week and was superb again as Celtic bounced back from their CIS Cup exit to Hearts by seeing off Jim Jefferies' men.

McDonald - who hit a hat-trick against Well - was the goalscoring hero again as his first-half double put the Hoops on easy street.

And although Frazer Wright pulled one back for Killie 10 minutes after the restart the SPL champions held on.

McGeady blew a great late chance to bag a third and Strachan reckons the Irish internationalist can become a superstar if he adds clinical finishing to his game.

The Hoops gaffer was more comfortable talking about McGeady yesterday than he was dealing with the resignation rumours on Friday.

He said: "Aiden is getting more crosses into the box and we need to take this on board and fill the opposition area. Aiden also needs to score goals.

"A good player becomes a great one when he scores goals. Ronaldo was the same at Manchester United but I'm not saying Aiden is like him.

"McGeady was terrific last week and terrific again today."

Celtic started well and McDonald hit the post after a superb run down the left by Scott Brown.

Danny Invincibile then shot over unmarked from 14 yards but the Killie star was offside anyway.

McGeady was causing the Rugby Park defence problems and Alan Combe made a smart save from his long-range shot.

The spotlightwas on Celtic strike pair McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Questions persist about the Dutchman's contribution and he was nowhere to be seen when two inviting crosses arrived in the area.

Not surprisingly the deliveries came from on-form duo Paul Hartley and McGeady.

However, Vennegoor of Hesselink did well after 33 minutes to set up a fantastic opener for his strike pal.

McDonald took the Dutchman's headflick with his back to goal and was surrounded by defenders. But he managed to turn and his 16-yard strike had the power and accuracy to beat Combe.

And just two minutes later the Aussie scored again with the kind of goal every striker works on during training. McDonald attacked the front post ahead of marker Wright and glanced a diving header past Combe from another superb McGeady cross.

Killie couldn't get into the game and it was no surprise to see Jefferies bring on Gary Locke and Craig Bryson for Willie Gibson and Jamie Hamill at the break.

However, there was nothing the Kilmarnock gaffer could do to stop McGeady. He ran at the home defence again after the break and cracked in a left-foot strike that tested Combe.

But the game was turned on its head when Wright pulled one back.

Artur Boruc came out to meet Locke's free-kick but was nowhere near it and Wright nodded home.

Colin Nish should have levelled moments later when he was set up by Gary Wales but Boruc made up for his earlier error by tipping his low shot past the post.

Killie were right back in it and had their opponents on the ropes. Nish was about to deliver a killer blow with a close-range shot but Stephen McManus spread his body to bravely block on the line.

Celtic continued to put in quality crosses - Lee Naylor now getting in on the act - but there were no takers.

John Kennedy did get up well to bullet in a header from a corner but Combe tipped it over.

The pace of the game was ferocious - end-to-end stuff that had you on the edge of your seat.

With eight minutes to go Jiri Jarosik should have made the points safe but fired over from close range.

The final chance fell to McGeady from McDonald's pass but he shot over with just Combe to beat.

Killie boss Jefferies was pleased with his side's second-half fight-back but disappointed they didn't grab a point. He said: "It was a terrific second half because we took part.

"We kept pushing and Nish could have scored to make it 2-2."

REF WATCH

DOUGIE McDONALD is often inconsistent but had a decent game here. Played the advantage rule well throughout. Rating: 6/10.

MATCH STATS

3 SHOTS ON 10

4 SHOTS OFF 9

5 OFFSIDE 6

15 FOULS 12

5 CORNERS 12

3 BOOKING 3