Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer were ‘ran ragged’ during Celtic’s 1-1 draw against a Nicke Kabamba-inspired Kilmarnock on Sunday, according to Killie boss Alex Dyer in conversation with Sky Sports (9 August, 6:00pm).
The Scottish Premiership season might be just two games old but Neil Lennon’s champions already have a deficit to make up on bitter rivals Rangers.
While a rejuvenated Alfredo Morelos led a 3-0 thrashing of St Mirren at Ibrox, Celtic had an afternoon to forget as Ryan Christie’s opportunistic, 40-yard free-kick counted for little in Ayrshire.
A Chris Burke penalty cancelled out Christie’s long-range opener as the Glasgow giants dropped points for the first time in 2020/21.
The star of the show, however, was the bullish and brilliant Kabamba.
A summer signing from non-league Hartlepool United, the 27-year-old twisted and turned Jullien inside out to win the spot-kick which Burke converted before giving the AC Milan-linked Ajer a bruising too.
“The two boys – who are good players – at the back, he ran them ragged at times,” Dyer said at full-time, paying tribute to Kabamba’s exceptional display.
“Obviously no one likes to be playing when balls are being turned but he’s big, he’s strong, he’s got a great touch. And he’s a handful for any defender in this league.”
Jullien, Celtic’s £7 million man mountain, certainly appears to have an Achilles heel in his game; one which was once again exposed by an old-school battering ram of a number nine.
It is no coincidence that his two worst performances in Scottish football have come against Lyndon Dykes and now the 6ft 3ins Kabamba.
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