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I watched Celtic rout Kilmarnock and noted club-record signing silence early critics + hosts' defensive disaster Three talking points from Celtic’s 5-1 rout of Kilmarnock at a dreich Rugby Park Kasper Hogh silenced his early critics with a sublime first-half hat-trick to help Celtic ease past hapless Kilmarnock on the new hybrid grass pitch at Rugby Park. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill was absent from the away dugout as he continues to recover from surgery earlier this week, but it did not hinder his side as they recorded an emphatic success in Ayrshire. Lewis Anderson watched proceedings unfold for The Scotsman and picks out three main talking points: Kasper clicks into gear You don’t pay the type of money Celtic shelled out to bring Kasper Hogh to Glasgow without expecting big things from the Danish international. The club-record £11 million signing arrived at Parkhead last month with a weight of expectation on his shoulders. Despite an encouraging showing, he drew a blank on his competitive debut against Dundee last week and was guilty of spurning a couple of chances. But it didn’t take long for the towering 25-year-old to put to bed any frustration carried over from Monday night and silence some of his early critics. It was dispelled immediately at Rugby Park as the Hoops’ new number nine bragged three goals in 35 minutes to give his side a comfortable cushion in the match. Kilmarnock doubt-ridden backline, still licking their wounds after conceding four times against St Johnstone last time out, simply couldn’t live with the centre-forward. This is a player for the big occasion, who has scored goals at the highest level, including some important Champions League strikes against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid during his time with overachieving Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. He looked capable of hitting the target with every opportunity that was presented to him. On this evidence, Hogh will thrive in the Scottish Premiership. He appears to be forming a strong partnership with Camilo Duran and fellow Scandinavian Benjamin Nygren in attack. Capable of finding space in crowded areas, Hogh undoubtedly knows where the goal is and will gave supporters off their seats. Duran finding his feet out wide Martin O'Neill openly acknowledged that playing Colombian striker Camilo Duran on the right flank was experimental, less-than-ideal tactical solution born out of a lack of practice time together with fellow frontman Høgh during Celtic’s 1-0 win over Dundee. Following his prolific pre-season form as Celtic’s central striker, Duran came in for some criticism after his effectiveness dropped sharply out wide against Steven Pressley’s men. However, this was a far more encouraging performance. Duran was involved in much of Celtic’s positive counter-attacking play in Ayrshire. He produced a delightful cross to pick out Hogh for the third goal and almost got on the scoresheet himself early in the second half when curling a rasping shot onto the crossbar, having been thwarted by Max Stryjek in the first-half. While he still looks to be adjusting to an unfamiliar position, Duran looked sharp from the outset and linked well with the players around him. To get the best out of both Duran and Hogh, Celtic’s coaching staff will likely need to tinker with their formation to a two-striker system through the middle in time rather than forcing a natural number nine out wide. Defensive disaster for Killie on new pitch Kilmarnock’s new £1.4m hybrid playing surface dominated much of the build-up to this match, but the mauling Neil McCann’s side suffered at the hands of the reigning champions will be a real cause for concern. McCann took personal responsibility for the result after urging his players to plan an open, expansive game, with Kilmarnock now conceding nine goals in their opening two league fixtures of the new campaign. Their leaky defence parted like the Red Sea at times in the first-half, with Hogh allowed to help himself to the match ball. Early signs are worrying and Kilmarnock will need to tighten up at the back if they are avoid a repeat of the relegation fears that lingered over them until the final few weeks of last season. Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.