THE switch was routine, the results spectacular and the significance dramatic.

Neil Lennon has always been an almost closet advocate of playing three at the back and his decision to do so on Saturday laid the foundation for a substantial performance for his team and also gave due, if slightly belated notice, that Celtic are ready to stretch their legs at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The deployment of Efe Ambrose, Kelvin Wilson and Charlie Mulgrew at the back allowed Adam Matthews and Emilio Izaguirre to be placed further forward on the flanks and Kilmarnock, who have of late proved awkward opponents for Celtic, were undone, losing all three goals to crosses from the right, where the Welshman was in superb form.

"It was my best game for Celtic so far," said Matthews, who created two goals and was a constant irritant to Kilmarnock. "The team was magnificent today."

The side also emphasised that league business will be conducted by due diligence in advance of the last-16 tie in the Champions League.

"We haven't been at our best in the league, so that's our main aim now, to put a run together," said Matthews of a side that is already three points clear with a game in hand. Any potential difficulty at Rugby Park was brushed aside by a confident Celtic performance.

Ambrose, guilty of the occasional lapse in concentration, was quick to the tackle and quicker in bringing the ball from defence. Scott Brown, who later cut short a press conference because of his annoyance at questions over his hip injury, was strong, committed and determined not to be substituted. He seems certain to be retained in the team until injury intervenes again. Joe Ledley, though, may face a spell out as he is suffering from a similar ailment.

With Gary Hooper sharp in movement up front and Victor Wanyama formidable in the holding role, Celtic were strong, determined and slick in possession. The third goal, scored by substitute Georgios Samaras, followed a spell of more than 20 passes and ended, almost inevitably, with Matthews sprinting clear before delivering an excellent cross.

Kilmarnock never fully became comfortable with Celtic's formation, though Jereon Tesselaar did exploit space on Celtic's right flank early in the second half, but Paul Heffernan scorned a chance to score the equaliser.

"It was a big moment in the game," said the striker. "If we had equalised straight after half-time, then it's a different game. I got it down and got a shot off, but Charlie Mulgrew got in and made the block. I was disappointed not to score."

Instead, Celtic, leading through Brown's first-half stab on target, took the game away from Kilmarnock through goals by Ledley and Samaras.

Kenny Shiels, the Kilmarnock manager, and Heffernan were both blunt about the strength of the champions. "I wasn't surprised by how Celtic played," said the forward. "They are a very good side and that's the best I've seen Celtic play against us since I came to Scotland. Celtic were even better than when they beat us 6-0 here last season to clinch the title. They were better than us in most departments of the pitch, it was a tough day for us."

Celtic await the identity of their opponents in the knockout stages of the Champions League later this month but the first leg of that tie will not be played until February. It gives the champions some time to concentrate on domestic matters.

"I think they can go on a good run now and blow teams away, to be honest," admitted Heffernan. "It's not great for the league, but Celtic are miles ahead of the rest. That's just the way it is."

The task for Kilmarnock, in contrast, is to move up from a league position that does not reflect their technique or potential. Cillian Sheridan's smart finish in injury time was ultimately irrelevant as to the destination of the points, but it was an indication that he and Heffernan can provide goals, and there is enough in both midfield and defence to suggest that Kilmarnock are in a false position at ninth in the league.

For Celtic, thoughts of Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund or Malaga can be placed in cold storage. The next challenge is Arbroath at Gayfield on Wednesday night in a Scottish Cup replay.

oneminute

pundit

27' 0-1 Scott Brown lunges at an Adam Matthews cross – Cammy Bell can't stop the ball crossing the line

65' 0-2 Joe Ledley drifts in at the back post to convert a Brown pass

74' 0-3 A deft flick from Brown and a fine run and cross from Matthews ends with Georgios Samaras heading in

90' 1-3 Cillian Sheridan volleys in after a cross from Jeroen Tesselaar

THE switch was routine, the results spectacular and the significance dramatic.

Neil Lennon has always been an almost closet advocate of playing three at the back and his decision to do so on Saturday laid the foundation for a substantial performance for his team and also gave due, if slightly belated notice, that Celtic are ready to stretch their legs at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The deployment of Efe Ambrose, Kelvin Wilson and Charlie Mulgrew at the back allowed Adam Matthews and Emilio Izaguirre to be placed further forward on the flanks and Kilmarnock, who have of late proved awkward opponents for Celtic, were undone, losing all three goals to crosses from the right, where the Welshman was in superb form.

"It was my best game for Celtic so far," said Matthews, who created two goals and was a constant irritant to Kilmarnock. "The team was magnificent today."

The side also emphasised that league business will be conducted by due diligence in advance of the last-16 tie in the Champions League.

"We haven't been at our best in the league, so that's our main aim now, to put a run together," said Matthews of a side that is already three points clear with a game in hand. Any potential difficulty at Rugby Park was brushed aside by a confident Celtic performance.

Ambrose, guilty of the occasional lapse in concentration, was quick to the tackle and quicker in bringing the ball from defence. Scott Brown, who later cut short a press conference because of his annoyance at questions over his hip injury, was strong, committed and determined not to be substituted. He seems certain to be retained in the team until injury intervenes again. Joe Ledley, though, may face a spell out as he is suffering from a similar ailment.

With Gary Hooper sharp in movement up front and Victor Wanyama formidable in the holding role, Celtic were strong, determined and slick in possession. The third goal, scored by substitute Georgios Samaras, followed a spell of more than 20 passes and ended, almost inevitably, with Matthews sprinting clear before delivering an excellent cross.

Kilmarnock never fully became comfortable with Celtic's formation, though Jereon Tesselaar did exploit space on Celtic's right flank early in the second half, but Paul Heffernan scorned a chance to score the equaliser.

"It was a big moment in the game," said the striker. "If we had equalised straight after half-time, then it's a different game. I got it down and got a shot off, but Charlie Mulgrew got in and made the block. I was disappointed not to score."

Instead, Celtic, leading through Brown's first-half stab on target, took the game away from Kilmarnock through goals by Ledley and Samaras.

Kenny Shiels, the Kilmarnock manager, and Heffernan were both blunt about the strength of the champions. "I wasn't surprised by how Celtic played," said the forward. "They are a very good side and that's the best I've seen Celtic play against us since I came to Scotland. Celtic were even better than when they beat us 6-0 here last season to clinch the title. They were better than us in most departments of the pitch, it was a tough day for us."

Celtic await the identity of their opponents in the knockout stages of the Champions League later this month but the first leg of that tie will not be played until February. It gives the champions some time to concentrate on domestic matters.

"I think they can go on a good run now and blow teams away, to be honest," admitted Heffernan. "It's not great for the league, but Celtic are miles ahead of the rest. That's just the way it is."

The task for Kilmarnock, in contrast, is to move up from a league position that does not reflect their technique or potential. Cillian Sheridan's smart finish in injury time was ultimately irrelevant as to the destination of the points, but it was an indication that he and Heffernan can provide goals, and there is enough in both midfield and defence to suggest that Kilmarnock are in a false position at ninth in the league.

For Celtic, thoughts of Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund or Malaga can be placed in cold storage. The next challenge is Arbroath at Gayfield on Wednesday night in a Scottish Cup replay.