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Sports

Celtic goes for SPL title vs. Kilmarnock

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Kilmarnock, Scotland – Celtic has run away with the Scottish Premier League to date as the Hoops enjoy an 18-point lead over Rangers. But they will finally have the chance to clinch the title on Saturday when it heads to Kilmarnock.

It is fitting that Celtic has the chance to claim its first league title since the 2007-08 season against Kilmarnock.

The Hoops started slow this season as Rangers held the edge early on before entering administration. The turning point for Neil Lennon's club came back in October at Rugby Park when they trailed Killie 3-0 at halftime, in danger of falling further behind Rangers.

But Celtic emerged in the second half and bagged three goals to earn a point, which spawned a 20-game winning streak for that catapulted the Bhoys to the summit of the Scottish Premier League.

According to Celtic defender Adam Matthews, the traveling supporters were massive on that October day at Rugby Park. He says that it's only fitting that their loyal support be rewarded with silverware.

"The supporters have been with us through thick and thin," Matthews told the club's website. "We were 15 points behind [Rangers] and they were still backing us in the stadium so I think we owe great credit to them as they have been like a 12th man in parts of the season.

"So if we could win the two competitions we're still in, it would be a great achievement and would be great for the fans as well."

Trailing Celtic by 18 points, Rangers have little hope of catching their fierce rivals. But they will be playing for pride the rest of the way, starting Saturday when it welcomes St. Mirren to Ibrox.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Aberdeen hopes to snap a three-game losing skid when it hosts Dundee United at Pittodrie Stadium, Dunfermline looks for its first win since January when it welcomes Hearts to East End Park, and St. Johnstone meets with Inverness at McDiarmid Park.

On Sunday, Hibernian aims to build upon its 3-2 defeat of Inverness last time out with a tilt against Motherwell at Easter Road.