Celtic 3 - 0 Kilmarnock: Celtic chalk up nine in a row to tighten grip on league summit

IRRESPECTIVE of the number of key components they have been without in recent weeks, Celtic have remained a well-oiled machine in the defence of their domestic title, and they motored smoothly to a ninth successive SPL victory last night.

Cillian Sheridan enjoyed the most impressive outing yet of his fledgling first-team career, the 19-year-old Irish striker netting twice in a facile win over a toothless Kilmarnock side. Shunsuke Nakamura wrapped up the scoring as Gordon Strachan's team took full advantage of Rangers' draw at Motherwell to open up a four-point gap at the top of the table. Since losing to their Old Firm rivals at the end of August, Celtic's championship form has been flawless, and their odds on securing a fourth consecutive crown under Strachan will have shortened this morning.

The first signs of Celtic's injury crisis easing were evidenced by Strachan feeling able to make two changes to the side which defeated Motherwell on Saturday. Paul Hartley and Barry Robson were replaced in midfield by Massimo Donati and Nakamura, the Japan international defying initial medical diagnosis to return less than a week after suffering a tear to his left knee in training.

There was further good news for the Celtic manager in the presence in the starting line-up of Shaun Maloney, who had limped off at the weekend, while Georgios Samaras was deemed fit enough for a place among the substitutes.

Maloney had been unable to train on Tuesday, but he was the home side's liveliest player in the early stages. One of six Celtic players in the Scotland squad for next week's friendly against Argentina, Maloney provided Alan Combe with his first test of the evening when the Kilmarnock goalkeeper comfortably held his low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Nakamura has perhaps tormented Kilmarnock more than any other club during his time with Celtic, and a piece of typically deft footwork saw him beat makeshift left-back Gavin Skelton with ease to set up Celtic's next opportunity. His cross found its way to Maloney at the back post, but he dragged his shot wide.

Tim Clancy, the Irish defender recruited from Millwall, was one of three changes to the Kilmarnock line-up which lost 4-0 at home to Rangers on Sunday, but he found himself undone by his young compatriot Sheridan when Celtic made their 18th-minute breakthrough. Making his first starting appearance of the season, Clancy mistimed his leap in challenging Sheridan for a long clearance from Celtic goalkeeper Mark Brown. The striker was able to nod the ball down to Scott McDonald, who sent him clear on goal with an instant return pass. Sheridan displayed admirable composure as he strode on and guided an unerring finish low to Combe's right into the corner of the net.

Celtic felt they were denied an opportunity to double their advantage ten minutes later when Donati went down under James Fowler's challenge in the penalty area. To the fury of Strachan and first-team coach Neil Lennon on the sidelines, referee Mike Tumilty waved play on.

Skelton, one of those players cited for dishing out unfair treatment to Nakamura in the recent Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final between the teams, earned the howling disapproval of the Celtic supporters and the first booking of the night when he left the same player crumpled in a heap. Nakamura recovered quickly as Celtic controlled the match with a degree of comfort, although Medhi Taouil engineered space for himself on the edge of their penalty area and drove a low shot narrowly wide.

Taouil's effort apart, there was precious little encouragement for the visiting supporters.

Celtic did not carry the urgency of a team who believed they would require the insurance of a second goal, but even in cruise control they were able to carve out some decent opportunities to put the game to bed. McDonald would certainly feel he should have done better than drive a close-range shot the wrong side of Combe's left-hand post early in the second half. Andreas Hinkel, finally producing the kind of form expected of a £2million Germany international, then played Nakamura into a promising position on the right edge of Kilmarnock's penalty area but his wayward shot failed to trouble the goalkeeper. Midfielder Taouil was replaced by striker Allan Russell, but the change did nothing to interrupt the steady flow of play towards the visitors' goal.

With 15 minutes remaining, Celtic finally added a second goal. Combe could not hold a 20-yard Donati shot, spilling the ball into the path of Sheridan, who lashed home a left-foot shot from close range. The delight of the home support was further heightened before play restarted as Strachan sent on Samaras for McDonald to a huge ovation.

Celtic, however, saved the best for last, Nakamura playing a delightful one-two with Scott Brown before firing a left-foot shot across Combe into the roof of the net with six minutes remaining.

Celtic: M Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura, S Brown, Donati, Maloney (Mizuno 83), McDonald (Samaras 76), Sheridan (Caddis 90). Subs not used: Fox, Robson, O'Dea, Hartley.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Corrigan, Clancy, Wright, Skelton, Pascali, Taouil (Russell 58), Fowler, Bryson (Flannigan 75), Gibson, Simmonds (Cox 70). Subs not used: Harpur, Hay, Murray, Sammon.