It was the Kasper Hogh show yesterday afternoon at Rugby Park, as Celtic’s Great Dane scored a first half hat trick in a comfortable and emphatic 5-1 win over Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock…
The second half was a mere formality, and goals from Benjamin Nygren, and Luke McCowan either side of a consolation strike from Michael Schjonning Larsen added to the tally to give the game a scoreline it deserved. Although if we are being pernickety, the goal margin should have been by more than four such was the difference in quality between the two sides.
The Danish International showed exactly why the club sanctioned a whopping £11 million plus for his services, as he demonstrated his expertise in front of goal. Kasper looks every inch the goal poacher we have been craving since the departure of Kyogo.
Indeed, he can be happy with a hat trick, but it could have been four if it wasn’t for the upright midway through the second half.
The former Bodo man made way for Callum Osmand 10 minutes from the end, and was deservedly given a rousing reception by the away support as he made his way off the pitch.
It wasn’t all about Kasper though, as his teammates also contributed, and the entire side looked composed and assured on the new rugby park surface.
Arne Engels, making his 100th appearance for Celtic, had his best ever game for the Hoops, and if he is to be sold, it must not happen until he takes that kind of performance into the Champions League play-off matches against Austrian Champions LASK with the first game at Celtic Park next midweek and the return six days later in Linz.
It was evident after Monday’s the 1-0 win in the Premiership opener win over Dundee that Kasper needed much better support from the wider areas, and Shaun Maloney and the rest of the coaching staff have clearly been working on just that as we looked much more dangerous from the wide area throughout the 93 minutes of the match.
It’s still evident we need a few more additions, particularly in midfield, but hopefully that will be rectified in the coming weeks.
'The stuff of dreams for Celtic's record signing!' ✨#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/tCbfFn7LYq
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) August 9, 2026
The splendid Celtic performance would have been a real tonic for Martin O’Neill who delivered his team-talk at the hotel before the Celtic squad left for East Ayrshire. Shaun Maloney was more than capable of handling everything required at Rugby Park, including the manager’s media duties.
It may have been a team effort, but yesterday belongs to one man. Take a bow Kasper Hogh, Celtic’s centre forward.
Whoever chose the tune at Sky deserves a raise https://t.co/3F0iDQz58v
— •A1• (@A1_CELTIC) August 9, 2026
😁 "I'm so happy!"
💚 "I think [Martin O'Neill] feels even better now!"Hear from Benjamin Nygren and new Celtic hero Kasper Hogh after his hat-trick at Kilmarnock ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/CGH4BRUw97
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 9, 2026
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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1 Comment
If Hogh didn’t know it already, a week can be a very long time, especially within Scottish football, with the speed of the changes involved within it imo?
Some eejits, writing him off as an expensive dud, after just 1 game?
To a goal scoring machine, and wondering how, he’s going to be stopped?
All in under the time factor of under a week?
Of course getting a hat trick, as your first goals for our team, is going to grab the headlines?
This despite, where he was unlucky to have only scored 3?
But it was the all round game of Hogh, that was so impressive, along with the connection he has already made within our supporters, that really caught my eye, apart from his own goal contributions imo?
His ability to hold the ball up, and bring others into play, is something that’s been lacking within our overall game, for some time now imo?
Along with being such a team player, he also has the ability to set up great chances, for those around him, with such a high degree of footballing intelligence?
Already looking like a steal for the money paid out, and with his all round game in operation, to add to his potential goals tally?
Then a potential decent European campaign, might be on the cards now?
Suddenly a CL campaign might not be out of reach, altogether this season now?