Celtic are a point away from eight in a row but they need better players

You could even say it was Billy McNeill-like. Every morsel of this goal for the ages.

Okay, it wasn’t quite a last-minute winner against Vojvodina but, sheesh, it felt as important as that header by the captain all those years ago which sent Celtic into their first ever European Cup semi-final on the way to Lisbon.

There was surely quite a few at the end of this match planning to go their nearest place of worship for the first time in decades. Billy McNeill would have been delighted with all of it.

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Celtic sit 12 points ahead of Rangers who play Aberdeen at Ibrox this afternoon. Anything other than a win for Steven Gerrard’s men seals eight in a row.

Indeed, for Celtic to blow this, it would need for them lose their remaining three games and Rangers winning all four. And then it would be decided on goal-difference. That’s not going to happen now.

But before Simunovic’s intervention, perhaps the most poignant goal in Celtic history, things were not going well for Neil Lennon. Up until 66 minutes it was all to play for.

Kilmarnock were the better team. They had created more chances, should have been ahead at half-time by at least one goal, played terrific football at times and had a shout for a penalty which would have been soft but hardly the worst decision you've ever seen.

Celtic are going to limp to this title. In recent weeks they have put their supporters through more stress than any of them could have foreseen

This is a tired football team. There are reasons for that.

From those signed during last three transfer windows, only Scott Bain started this match, the goalkeeper had to be excellent, which tells its own tale. So much money has been spent over the past two years on sub-standard footballers quickly despatched to the outer fringes.

It’s the same players Brendan Rodgers and now Lennon has been forced to rely upon. Is it any wonder there is no steam left.

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As for Lennon, the past month has done little for his hopes of getting the big job on a permanent basis. He hasn’t lost a game but he’s lost the confidence of supporters. This isn’t all his fault of course, but his is a side without imagination and lacking sharpness.

Bain made half a dozen good saves as Kilmarnock, hardly at full strength, found getting through the Celtic backline an easy task.

Midfielder Gary Dicker filled in at centre-back alongside Alex Bruce because Stuart Findlay and Kirk Broadfoot were suspended. He was excellent.

Chris Burke had terrific game, as did Stephen O’Donnell and Liam Miller. It was hard on the Ayrshire men.

There are quite a few at Celtic who need to be moved on. It’s just wrong that Emilio Izaguirre is second choice left-back. Scott Sinclair should have been put out to pasture a long time ago. So, too, Mikael Lustig. Those three have made huge contributions but all have well had their day.

Kilmarnock played with spirit and a freeness which is impossible not to admire. Celtic crossed the ball a lot to Odsonne Edouard, who really needs someone playing closer to him, and at 21 the Frenchman is not yet good enough to score goals from such average service.

At least Celtic had Bain. That’s 21 clean sheets from 27 starts. He’s conceded only seven goals.

This was his best game. It began on 11 minutes when Burke superbly pirouetted with the ball at his feet on the edge of Celtic’s box, then skipped past one tackle which put him through on goal. He should have scored but Bain read his body language and made the save.

Within minutes, the dangerous Miller got through the middle of Lustig and James Forrest, tried to deceive Bain by aiming for the near post, which Celtic’s goalkeeper read and pushed wide.

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On 21 minutes, from a Burke short-corner, Conor McAleny eased past Scott Brown with ease and got off a shot from 20 yards which again brought out the best of Bain.

Kristoffer Ajer has been excellent for months but this was not his best afternoon.

With 27 minutes gone, his lack of control allowed the ball to bobble between his legs when he was last man. Eamonn Brophy got on the loose ball and had 20 yards or so to run before getting into a shooting position, which allowed Ajer enough time to get back and make a goal-saving tackle.

The home support was far from impressed. Once the singing of Billy McNeill’s name stopped, what was happening on the park sucked the atmosphere out of the stadium.

In defence, Kilmarnock were as disciplined as the North Korean army and while Rogic and Forrest asked some questions, it was a poor first-half for Celtic. It could have been worse.

On the quarter hour mark, Kilmarnock right-back O’Donnell made a superb run into the Celtic area and hit the ground when Brown put a hand on him.

“A penalty,” was Steven Clarke’s take. “Soft but a penalty. As he goes to play the ball, he gets pushed in the back so it's a penalty. I think I shouldn't speak anything else about referees.”

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Celtic were slightly better in the second-half but then on 54 minutes a lack of communication at the back was highlighted by Lustig’s pass to nobody. Burke took advantage and his left foot effort had to be tipped over by the busy Bain.

McGregor had a shot saved at close range by Danny Bachman. The ball rebounded to Edouard but there were to many red shirts in his way.

Then before the hour, and this is when the Celtic fans began to really worry, Rogic for the first time got behind the Kilmarnock defence but instead of shooting squared to Edouard who had made not real effort to get himself in position, and another chance was gone.

If not then when?

However, Simunovic was to have his moment. And what a moment it was. Celtic are going to be champions again.