SPL Saturday Agust 3rd

Celtic 2

Dunfermline 1

1:0 Larsson (41); 2:0 Larsson (66); 2:1 Dempsey (74)

Att: 57,415

MIB: Pooh Dallas

Celtic: Douglas; Mjallby, Valgaeren, Balde; Sylla, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Petta (Crainey 89); Sutton, Larsson (Fernandez 82)

Yellow cards: Hampshire (21 foul); Nicholson 43 (foul); Sylla (89 dissent)

Another league flag set a fluttering by Brian Quinn, who entertained the crowd before the unfurling with his marvellous impression of Rowley Birkin QC, the perma drunk star of The Fast Show.

If Dunfermline were to have anything to do with it, there the entertainment would have ended. The way they lined up (everyone behind the ball, studs newly sharpened) suggested that it would take a decent set piece, or something extraordinary to produce a goal.

In the end we got both, Petta and Petrov setting up Henrik for the opener, Larsson producing an early Goal of the Season contender for the second.

And that seemed to be that. Except that the defence then transformed itself for an instant into the early 90s seive, allowing Rab Douglas to be left one on one. Admittedly he didn't do himself too many favours racing off his line and making the striker's mind up for him, but the defence has to shoulder the majority of the blame.

Rab redeemed, himself with a one handed save in the last seconds of the game that not only saved us two points, but possibly saved his first team spot as well.

Looking a the SPL table after one game it occurs to me that the league hasn't been this close for ages.