SPL Sunday 24th November

Livingston 0

Celtic 2

0:1 Larsson (6 pen); 0:2 Larsson 83

Att: 10,000

MIB: Stuart Dougal

Celtic: Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde Laursen; Sylla, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (McNamara 9), Thompson; Larsson, Sutton

The trip to Pleasantville suddenly turned sour as the Livi Lions, mauling anything in a Celtic shirt ,did a passable turn as a reincarnated Airdrie. Petrov suffered most, in a bizarre incident in the first five minutes. Lambert managed to put the ball in the net off the back of a Livi defender, only for the MIB to blow for a penalty, which Larsson duly converted. The penalty incident consisted of Andrews' body slamming Petrov, smashing open his face and leaving him with a dozen stitches in the mouth. Andrews wasn't even carded by MIB Dougal, in a lodge-worthy display of incompetence.

Celtic strolled through the first period, despite not having the majority of possession, limiting the home side to the middle of the park, where they hacked remorselessly at Lambert and Mc Namara, who was on for Stan, with Sutton singled out for special attention. Branquin deserves mention for persistent clogging at Larsson, whom he clearly pushed down in the box. MIB Dougal, again in a display of incompetence, ignored it.

Both Sylla and Henke should have made it 2-0 before the break but both fluffed their chances.

The second period was little better, though Celtic looked only to be going through the paces prior to the home time against Vigo and had clearly taken their foot of the pedal. Livi pounced on this and managed to hit the bar and a post, before Larsson pulled the rug from under their feet. Rab D got in on the act with a superb save from Dadi as Celtic were stretched by the home side, Henke, however waltzed lazily by the Livi reaguard and sent a low shot in for number two, from all of 16 yards out. Broto managed a hand to it, but couldn't keep the ball out.

Cue the relief on the terraces and despair amongst the denizens of Mt Doom in Govan. Celtic go top again-about time too!