Angelo Alessio has provided a positive assessment of his Kilmarnock side’s 3-1 defeat to Celtic.
Eamonn Brophy had put the away side in front at Parkhead, before Odsonne Edouard, James Forrest and Ryan Christie fired Celtic to victory.
It was a spirited display from Killie who certainly didn’t show themselves in a bad light against the relentless Hoops.
Speaking to Killie TV, Alessio has said he was impressed with both his and Neil Lennon’s side, praising each team’s respective strikers in the process.
He said: “We knew this was going to be a tough game, and I thought we played the right way.
“I can finally talk about Brophy, though! He’s a good player and it’s important to everyone that he scores. He works so hard for the team, and I hope he continues in this way.
“The shape was good, and I was happy with our discipline against Celtic. They’re a very good team, and it’s always going to be difficult against good players like Edouard.”
Alessio has the right to be positive about his Kilmarnock side despite Celtic defeat
It was a defensive plan for the Italian at Parkhead and it did frustrate Celtic. The Hoops had 21 shots at goal with 11 on target (BBC) but only managed to score three.
At domestic level this season they have already hit teams for seven and five. Lennon knows how to hand out a thumping but Alessio made sure Killie weren’t their next victim.
Instead he kept them in the game right until the closing stages. Things could’ve been a lot tighter had Alan Power placed his spot kick beyond Fraser Forster five minutes from time.
Despite the defeat, there’s still plenty for the ex-Chelsea assistant to be pleased with. Brophy ended his two-month goal drought, the midfield of Mohamed El Makrini, Gary Dicker and Power were pretty good and the defence were firm in the midst of an onslaught.
Their next game is a cup quarter-final against a struggling Hibs. Killie may just be licking their lips ahead of that clash.