Celtic are back doing what they do best. Winning.

Celtic left Rugby Park with more than just three points on Sunday — they left with heart, late drama, and a debutant proving exactly why he was signed.

After the 0-0 draw with Sevco, this one was never going to be easy. But the Hoops edged out Kilmarnock 2-1 in stoppage time, courtesy of a dramatic penalty, restoring their place at the top of the Premiership table and sending the away fans roaring.

The first half was a cagey affair. Celtic did the lion’s share of possession, swirled the ball around nicely, but lacked cutting edge. Kilmarnock sat deep, defended stoutly, and tried to frustrate. Carter-Vickers had possibly the best chance before half-time, flicking on a corner that troubled the home defence but didn’t quite test keeper Max Stryjek enough. The score remained 0-0 going into the break.

As the second half kicked off, Celtic pressed with renewed urgency. Just after the interval, Daizen Maeda rose highest to head home from a teasing cross. It was exactly the sort of goal Celtic needed — asserting dominance, showing purpose. The visitors were ahead and looked like they could control the pace. But with Celtic ahead, the game grew anxious.

Kilmarnock were digging in, trying to find the way back. They soaked up pressure, blocked shots, and forced corners. The tension built as the clock ticked down. The 83rd minute saw how quickly things can turn: David Watson powered in a header from Greg Kiltie’s corner, levelling the match and sending Rugby Park into renewed hope. Suddenly, the pressure was back on Celtic — nerves were jangling.

Enter the VAR check and the drama of stoppage time. After a handball call surfaced following a video review, John Beaton pointed to the spot.

On as a substitute, Kelechi Iheanacho (making his debut) stepped up and slammed the penalty high into the net in the 96th minute — effectively the last meaningful kick of the match. Cue pandemonium from the Celtic end; you could almost feel the relief radiating from the players themselves. Celtic 2-1.

That late winner says a lot — character, belief, patience. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch. The finishing in periods was loose, the tempo sometimes sluggish, and Kilmarnock’s resilience (and defensive discipline) made Celtic pay for not putting them away sooner. But when it counted, Celtic had the steel to see it through.

From the start, you could see how much this win mattered.

Brendan Rodgers’ side lined up with a strong XI — solidity at the back, with Carter-Vickers and Scales holding firm, Saracchi overlapping, feeding quality into the front. The midfield tried to dominate, though still lacked that final ball at times. Paulina would say Celtic “needed more zip up top,” and she’s not wrong.

Maeda’s goal was a sweet one: timing, movement, aerial threat — all in one. But even after that, Celtic allowed Kilmarnock back into it. The goal Watson hammered in from a set piece reminded everyone just how dangerous corners can be if you switch off. Give them an inch, and they’ll take a yard. Celtic’s defensive lapses at those moments are habit-forming, and they’ll want to clean that up fast.

Still, praise where it’s due: Iheanacho’s entrance changed the atmosphere. New man stepped up under pressure, didn’t shirk. That kind of impact is the sign of someone ready to wear the green and white. And the patience shown in the final minutes, the composure in front of goal when everything else felt like it was bracing for disappointment — that’s something you build into a title-challenging side.

The reaction from the Celtic fans said it all. You could sense in their voices that this one would hurt for Kilmarnock unless someone produced something special. For Celtic, it felt like breathing again: that last-gasp winner, snatched from the jaws of what could easily have been humbling. Because make no mistake — had that penalty not come, this one might’ve gone very differently.

Celtic return to top spot in the Premiership — yes — but more important than the table is the message this sends: that when things are tight, when the air is heavy, this squad still believes. They can dig in. They can deliver. They can find winners when none seem obvious.

Final whistle, final score: Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic. Not vintage, maybe not prettiest, but utterly satisfying.

And for anyone who thought Celtic might buckle under pressure — sorry, but they reminded us who they are.