Maguire ruins Keane debut

Robbie Keane
12 April 2012

Robbie Keane's Celtic debut went spectacularly awry as Tony Mowbray's reign hit a new low with the club's first defeat to Kilmarnock in 32 meetings.

On-loan Tottenham striker Keane missed two golden opportunities to score in either half and he was upstaged shortly after the break by Chris Maguire, who celebrated his own debut with a fine winner for Killie.

The result left Celtic 10 points behind Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, but now having played the same number of games, while also giving their opponents' survival hopes a massive shot in the arm.

Ki Sung-Yueng who centre stage in a strong Celtic opening, blasting over in the fifth minute before seeing a free-kick tipped wide by Cameron Bell two minutes later.

Killie's Liam Kelly tested Artur Boruc from long range and Jamie Hamill poked wide from too tight an angle. He then curled a shot straight into the arms of Boruc before Celtic almost scored against the run of play 20 minutes in when Garry Hay cleared Marc-Antoine Fortune's flick from Kamara's corner off the line.

Keane's first attempt on goal immediately followed, the Republic of Ireland captain shooting wide from 15 yards. He sent a cheeky chip over the bar five minutes later but Killie were still enjoying much of the ball, having taken confidence from Saturday's comeback against Dundee United.

Seven minutes before half-time, Keane should have scored but he sidefooted straight at Bell after bursting through one on one with the Killie keeper.

Celtic began the second period much as they had the first, with Fortune seeing a shot deflected behind six minutes in after turning well in the box.

But Killie broke up the other end and scored just over a minute later, Mehdi Taouil exchanging passes with Tim Clancy inside the box and squaring for Maguire to finish low beyond Boruc.

Jamie Hamill missed the easiest of chances to put the game to bed when he shot straight at Boruc and Keane saw a second great opportunity go begging when the outstanding Bell saved with his feet moments later.

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