Killie boss Clarke grateful that match-winner Youssouf Mulumba wasn't lured away
Steve Clarke was left grateful that Youssouf Mulumbu opted to remain at Rugby Park after his second-half strike earned Kilmarnock a 1-0 win over Celtic.
The 31-year-old midfielder had worked with current Killie boss Clarke at West Brom and last November joined his former boss in Ayrshire after leaving Norwich in the summer.
A potential move to French club Bordeaux in the January transfer window fell through and Clarke was glad Mulumbu stayed to score his first goal for the club - and indeed his first at all since March 2014 - as Kilmarnock enjoyed their first home victory against Celtic since 2010.
He said: 'There was a deal that fell through, fortunately.
'It could have happened - but somebody was looking after us.
'You never know what to expect from the transfer window but I was hopeful.
'Once a club came sniffing there was always the possibility that we could lose him
'I said it was important not to lose key players during the window and so credit to the club that we managed to do that and you've seen his qualities.
'You guys probably don't know him as well as I know him, I know him very well so it didn't surprise me, the only thing that surprised me was the goal. He is not a prolific scorer.
'It was a good performance from us.
'With a little bit more quality and composure we could have made it an easier last five minutes for the coach.
'You always know Celtic will get once chance and at the end they had a shot on target.'
Celtic's second domestic defeat of the season came at the cost of more than three points.
First-half injuries to central defenders Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer served as further blows to the league leaders, who play the first leg of their Europa League tie against Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at Parkhead in less than two weeks' time.
Craig Gordon, Leigh Griffiths, Jonny Hayes, Tom Rogic, Anthony Ralston, Stuart Armstrong, Patrick Roberts and Mikael Lustig remain out, as does new signing Marvin Compper due to a calf strain, albeit he is ineligible for Europe.
Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers was reluctant to blame the artificial surface at Rugby Park for the injuries or a 'disappointing' performance and result.
He said: 'I don't want to really go on about the pitch.
'We have won the three other times we have been here and created so many chances, although it is never really a good game of football.
'But of course it (the pitch) can be an issue when you pull up with a groin and an ankle.
'The guys complained about it but we know the pitch we were playing on and we have to cope with it.
'It is just unfortunate that both boys have picked the injuries up but I don't know how serious they are yet. We need to wait and see.
'We were disappointing and there are very few games where I would say that.'