Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kühn continued their goalscoring form to ensure Celtic emerged from a difficult test at Kilmarnock with three points and top spot in the Scottish Premiership.

McGregor’s cross drifted into the net in first-half stoppage-time and Kühn sealed a 2-0 victory at Rugby Park when he finished from a tight angle in the 71st minute. It was the Celtic captain’s fifth goal of the season and Kühn’s 10th.

Marley Watkins hit the post for Kilmarnock with the game goalless and the Celtic goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, had one his busier days. The home team managed 18 shots at goal, six of them on target and another six blocked.

The pre-match Remembrance Sunday silence was cut short by referee Nick Walsh as a number of Celtic fans sung a song about the death of Aidan McAnespie, who was shot by a British soldier at an Army checkpoint in County Tyrone in 1988. Supporters had already raised a series of banners which read: “From Balfour to Starmer, the crimes of the empire live on, Britain is committing genocide in Gaza.”

Celtic’s wingers made some positive runs in the opening stages but it soon became clear that the visitors would face a tough test and Schmeichel made the first of many saves when he pushed away Corrie Ndaba’s long-range drive. There were plenty of opportunities at both ends. David Watson and Watkins were off target for the hosts and Kyle Vassell was twice denied.

The hosts came closest when Matty Kennedy’s one-touch through ball set up Watkins, who dinked the ball over Schmeichel, only to see it hit the post. Adam Idah could not get hold of shots from two decent chances and Robby McCrorie made an excellent fingertip save from McGregor’s long-range strike.

The breakthrough came when McGregor tried to find Idah with a teasing lofted ball four minutes into stoppage-time. The ball was just out of reach of the striker’s outstretched boot but nestled in the far corner of the net.

Innes Cameron replaced Vassell and was quickly involved as Schmeichel saved from the substitute and Brad Lyons before Ndaba headed wide, all in the opening four minutes of the half. Kilmarnock kept the pressure on but Kühn was proving a threat on the break and he was denied by Wright’s last-ditch challenge and a brilliant stop from McCrorie. Schmeichel was soon back in action to deny Cameron and then Kennedy with a brilliant one-handed stop after the winger had waltzed into the box.

The clincher came following a lofted ball down the wing by Alistair Johnston. Kühn’s pace took him away from two opponents and, with two against two in the middle, the wide player had the chance to head towards goal, placing the ball just inside the far post. Kilmarnock kept plugging away but it was Celtic who came closest to a late goal when McCrorie saved well from the substitute Kyogo Furuhashi.