Celtic centre-half Jozo Simunovic paid his own fitting tribute to Billy McNeill by heading in the winner against Kilmarnock. An emotional day, following the death of the man who captained the side that won the European Cup in 1967 and later went on to manage the club, did not quite go to plan for over an hour.

Despite being mostly on the back foot Kilmarnock arguably had the better chances before the break while Celtic had numerous and mostly inaccurate efforts on goal. Simunovic, wearing the number five so closely associated with McNeill, headed in a Callum McGregor cross with 67 minutes showing on the clock.

With three fixtures remaining, Celtic moved 12 points ahead of second-placed Rangers, and they could secure an eighth successive title as early as tomorrow if Rangers slip up at home against Aberdeen.

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There was as an appropriate 67-second round of applause in McNeill’s honour before the game and when the action got under way Celtic, wearing black armbands with the number five on them, looked most likely to make the breakthrough. Scott Brown, Emilio Izaguirre, Odsonne Édouard and Tom Rogic all had efforts on goal of varying quality.

However, in the 14th minute there was a Kilmarnock penalty claim when Brown challenged Stephen O’Donnell inside the box but referee Willie Collum waved play on.

Four minutes later Kilmarnock had a great chance when Chris Burke found himself clean through on goal after the break of the ball but Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain made a crucial block. Bain then had to make good saves from Liam Millar and Conor McAleny as Kilmarnock grew in confidence.

In the 27th minute, Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer gifted Eamonn Brophy possession but made a fine recovery tackle as Brophy took too long to get his shot away. It was another let off for the home side but Kilmarnock still had plenty of defending to do before reaching half-time goalless.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Celtic fans pay tribute to Billy McNeill. Photograph: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

More attempts on goal by both sides followed early in the second half, most notably when Bain had to stretch to tip Burke’s curling effort over the bar after Celtic’s Mikael Lustig had passed straight to him.

Amid increasing Celtic frustration, Édouard curled a shot wide, Kilmarnock keeper Danny Bachmann made a great save from McGregor and O’Donnell stopped Édouard getting on the end of Rogic’s pass. But that frustration was replaced with joy when Simunovic leapt to power a header past the flailing Bachman.

The game stretched further as the visitors threw men forward in search of the equaliser – but perhaps the match was destined to be decided by Celtic’s number five.

Celtic’s interim manager, Neil Lennon, said: “That was a perfect way to win the game I suppose under the circumstances, with everything that’s happened this week and today.”

Opposing manager Steve Clarke felt his side were denied a penalty. “As he [O’Donnell] goes to play the ball he gets pushed in the back. Soft but a penalty. I don’t think I should speak anything else about referees.”