Glasgow: Australia international Tom Rogic was Celtic’s star man as the champions extended their 100 per cent start to the Scottish Premiership season with a 2-0 win at Kilmarnock on Saturday.
James Forrest marked his 150th league appearance for the Hoops by converting Rogic’s cut-back for a 40th minute opener.
The Socceroos star then provided the killer pass for Callum McGregor to add a late second in the 88th minute.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are now unbeaten in 52 domestic matches and have conceded just once in nine competitive matches this season.
Celtic will now head off to Kazakhstan in good spirits for the second leg of their Champions League play-off match against FC Astana on Tuesday, with the Hoops holding a 5-0 advantage.
Rodgers made six changes from the thrashing of Astana in midweek, with youngsters Anthony Ralston, Kristoffer Ajer and Calvin Miller coming into the defence.
The Hoops, who had put five past Killie in their League Cup defeat a couple of weeks ago, dominated possession as they created a number of early chances.
Despite suffering a head knock in midweek, Rogic started at Rugby Park and saw a shot blocked by Killie captain Steven Smith before sending another effort straight at ‘keeper Jamie MacDonald.
Kundai Benyu was making his league debut and the Zimbabwean midfielder was next to send a bouncing shot into the arms of MacDonald.
Stuart Armstrong, restored to the Celtic starting line-up after ending a stand-off with the club by signing a new two-year contract, found Scott Brown with a corner but the Hoops captain’s header went over.
Celtic had not failed to find the net against Scottish opposition since April 2016 and they ensured that run would continue when Forrest fired them in front.
Rogic spun after collecting a pass from Brown and used his turn of pace to burst into the box and cut the ball back for Forrest, who expertly converted it with a sidefoot finish from close range.
The second half was barely a couple of minutes old when Forrest came close to adding another as he juggled the ball in the box before blasting his effort just over.
Miller was impressing on only his third appearance for the Hoops and fired a shot over before forcing MacDonald into a save after stretching to connect with Forrest’s cut-back.
In a rare foray forward Killie debutant Eamonn Brophy sent a shot narrowly wide from a corner.
Celtic looked to be on course for their third consecutive 1-0 victory at Rugby Park before some more magic from Rogic.
The midfielder showed why he is known as the ‘Wizard of Oz’ as he drove at the retreating defence before sending a perfectly weighted pass into the path of McGregor to slot home.
