Sport

Ronny's Roar greets Celtic's late, late victory at Kilmarnock

Manager Ronny Deila celebrates Celtic's late winner during Saturday's Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park<br />Picture by PA&nbsp;
Manager Ronny Deila celebrates Celtic's late winner during Saturday's Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park
Picture by PA 

CELTIC boss Ronny Deila admitted he would remember Tom Rogic's brilliant last-minute winner at Kilmarnock for the rest of his life after celebrating in X-rated fashion.

Deila reintroduced the 'Ronny Roar' to fans after Rogic netted from almost 30 yards to earn Celtic a 1-0 win at Rugby Park, and Sky Sports had to apologise after their microphones caught him using the f-word as he performed his traditional post-match celebration, which has been absent for several months.

Celtic struggled to break down Killie but substitute Rogic turned Julien Faubert before curling an unstoppable left-footed effort past Jamie MacDonald and into the top corner seven seconds before the 90 minutes elapsed.

"It's good to celebrate victories," Deila said.

"That's why you do this. The fans were so good and there was so much emotion for me and all the others. You can't control your words in those situations but I don't think I'm the only one in Britain who has been caught using those words on television."

Deila, who once described a last-minute winner at Aberdeen as "orgasmic", added: "It was a very important goal at an important stage in the league. It was a glimpse of magic, when you win like that you will remember it for the rest of your life.

"I don't want to use that word again, but it was a very, very good feeling."

Rogic ensured Celtic would finish the day top of the Ladbrokes Premiership but their overall performance lacked inspiration: "It was very frustrating," Deila said. "We didn't play well at all. But in the end when you get three points, the day is perfect," he said.

"I'm so pleased with Tom coming on and doing this, and the fans were fantastic. They are always good but today they were even better because we didn't play well but they just stood by the team all the way and they get their reward. It was a fantastic feeling."

Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark's emotions were at the other end of the spectrum: "Galling, really, because if any team deserved to win the game it was us," he said.

"So for us to not even say we got a hard-earned point with a clean sheet, is really hard to take. We didn't deserve to lose that game by any stretch of the imagination and if anyone sees it differently they have been watching a completely different game.

"Sometimes you have got to hold your hand up when a world-class goal goes in against a keeper who has been outstanding. Everything we did, our game plan, our shape when we didn't have the ball, how we stopped Celtic creating opportunities, my players to a man were superb.

"I have experienced defeats in my time as a player, coach, manager but that's probably the hardest one I've ever had to take. When you think we deserved something from the game, the position we are in the league, all those things thrown in together, it's very, very hard to take."

Killie were without Steven Smith, who is set for surgery, and striker Josh Magennis, who injured an ankle in training: "Steven is out for the rest of the season with a hip problem and Josh is reporting for Northern Ireland," Clark said.

"He had a scan and it will be a minimum of 10 days."

Meanwhile, Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney suffered an ankle injury during the game, a problem which casts doubt on his involvement in Scotland's friendly against Denmark on March 29.

Deila said: "We will have to see tomorrow. I don't think it's a very big one. Hopefully he will reach the national team but he has to be 100 per cent."