What will happen over the International Break who knows?

I wondered why Celtic v Kilmarnock kick off time at Celtic Park was moved an hour later to 4pm but I was happy to be able to get out of bed at a reasonable time to head to Dublin Airport for an 11:55 flight to Edinburgh. I have since been told that Police asked for the game to played an hour later because of a walk or a parade taking place earlier in the day.

I met a good pal on the aeroplane and we caught the 1:10 bus to Glasgow and got a pre-match pint with another mate before making our way to Celtic Park. I made it to my seat just after kick off. The last I heard before kick off was that the rangers were 2-0 up and Hearts were 1-0 up. Not what I wanted to hear but that was the news.

We needed to win and get the 3 points to keep in touch with league leaders Hearts and stay ahead of the chasing pack. Confidence was high before the game among Celtic supporters I spoke to in the run up to the game even though we had been beaten in Denmark in Europa League.

Martin O’Neill made a few changes to the team that started in Denmark. Saracchi Maeda, Hatate, Cowan started as did Simpson-Pusey finally made his debut after sitting a few rows in front of me at games since his arrival on loan from Manchester City. They replaced Tierney, Engels, Ralston, Nygren and Forest who all started in the Europa League.

Kilmarnock only real chance was  a shot that crashed off the bar apart from that it was a comfortable afternoon for Celtic. The Green Brigade Ban was enforced but they managed to get tickets and took up there place in the North Curve and along with the Bhoys in the opposite corner they sang for 90 minutes.

Empty seats were noticeable throughout the ground during the game and with the game out of sight before the final whistle many fans had made there way to the exits and the small Kilmarnock support maybe wished they hadn’t bothered. It looks like it could be a long season for them and they could be in a scrap at the bottom with Dundee and Livingston.

It was a good day for the Parish with Johnny Kenny scoring the opener his fourth goal in four games since the arrival of Martin O’Neill. I bumped in Johnny in Dublin airport after his late call up to the Ireland squad. His career has took the turn for the better in the past few weeks.

Kieran Tierney replaced Saracchi in the first half after he picked up an early injury  and he scored a rare goal to make it 2-0 Daizen Maeda got the third before second half substitute Arnie Engels wrapped up a 4-0 win and sending everyone home happy.

The rangers game finished 3-0 and Hearts could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Dundee United which allowed  Celtic to narrow the gap at the top of the league to 7 points and the chasing pack Hibs and the rangers are 5 points behind us and 12 off Hearts.

A post match pint with good friends before heading for the bus back to Edinburgh. An accident on the motorway stopped traffic and after sitting in traffic on the bus for an hour we finally got diverted and thankfully made the last flight back to Dublin.

What will happen over the international break who knows? Have we seen the last of  Martin O’Neill in that splendid Adidas Retro Tracksuit with Shaun Maloney beside him in that coat which is a few sizes too big for him who knows? Are the Celtic board looking far and wide for a permanent manager or is Dermot Desmond going to call someone from his little phone book of managers and offer them the job before informing Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson? Communication is not his strong point so who knows!

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast