Bitton wants Celtic to cut out defensive mistakes

Nir Bitton insists Celtic will work on the sloppiness that cost them two Ladbrokes Premiership points against bottom side Kilmarnock last night.

Hoops striker Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring in the second minute at Rugby Park but the visitors missed a series of chances before Killie striker Josh Magennis levelled just before the break.

Bitton’s wonderful 30-yard strike restored the champions’ lead and it looked like the points were heading back to Glasgow until four minutes from the end, when the home side were awarded a spot-kick.

And after Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre brought down Greg Kiltie inside the box, Kallum Higginbotham cheekily dinked the ball over Craig Gordon for a 2-2 draw and Killie’s first point of the season.

The result also meant the Parkhead side finished the night two points behind leaders Hearts, as Celtic move closer to the Champions League play-off against Swedish side Malmo.

Parkhead boss Ronny Deila described Celtic’s defending as sloppy and lamented the missed chances, a view with which Bitton concurred.

“We were sloppy, we need to work on it and we will work on it,” he said. “We didn’t play smart, we didn’t play quick.

“We should have kept the ball and let Kilmarnock run after it, we didn’t do it and when you don’t do it you concede and that’s what happened.

“We created a lot of chances and we missed a lot of chances and their goalie had a great day. I am just disappointed.

“It was a great goal but it doesn’t matter if we lose points.

“We should have finished the game but that’s what happens when you miss chances.”