Celtic give Kilmarnock a Sunday roasting

Newly-crowned champions Celtic restored their 20 points lead over Hearts in the Scottish Premier League with an emphatic 4-1 win at Kilmarnock yesterday.

Two goals from Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, another from Welsh striker John Hartson plus a fourth from substitute Dion Dublin earned the points.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan heaped praise on Nakamura.

"He has the touch of an angel," Strachan told BBC Radio Scotland.

"When I go into training... some of the boys are applauding what he does and he is a brave little man as well. He takes a kick and gets on with it."

Kilmarnock were denied a goal just before half-time at 1-0 with a controversial offside decision.

A seething Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies criticised assistant referee (Frank Cole) for wrongly hoisting his flag for offside.

"When you look at the incompetence of the linesman on that decision, there should be some sort of punishment," he said.

Kilmarnock's Colin Nish raced into the area to drill a low shot home from 12 metres for a last-minute consolation goal.