Liam Scales’ reaction at full-time on Sunday has grabbed attention, but it should not distract from what Celtic actually did at Rugby Park.

This was a game that looked gone at half-time. Two down. Second best. Killie had targeted the space behind the full-backs and punished Celtic twice. The response after the break is what matters.

15th February 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Liam Scales of Celtic clears from Joe Hugill of Kilmarnock

Scales was part of that. He stepped higher. He was more aggressive in the air. Celtic squeezed the pitch and forced Kilmarnock back. Once the first goal went in, the game flipped. Killie stopped playing through midfield and started going long. That suited Scales far more.

The flashpoint at the end came after Findlay Curtis celebrated both home goals right in front of the Celtic support. That kind of celebration is always going to stick in the memory. When the game turns and emotions are raw, players remember.

Curtis attempted a handshake at full-time. Scales was not interested. Words were exchanged. Neil McCann stepped in. It looked heated for a moment, then it was done.

It was clearly frustration mixed with adrenaline. Celtic had just dragged themselves off the canvas and won it in stoppage time. You do not switch off instantly after that.

There was no swinging fists. No mass brawl. Just a defender who had taken offence to how the goals were celebrated and chose not to let it pass.

The bigger picture is simple. Celtic showed resilience. They kept pushing, kept the tempo high, and trusted Martin O’Neill’s half-time message. That is why they left with three points.

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