League Cup Wednesaday October 23rd

Celtic 4

Inverness Caley Thistle 2

1:0 Maloney (4); 1:1 Ritchie (10); 2:1 Hartson (20); 3:1 Thompson (43); 4:1 Hartson (60); 4:2 Wyness (72)

Att: 34,592

MIB:

Celtic: Douglas; Boyd (Miller 76), Balde (Kennedy 61), Crainey; Agathe (Wallace 67), Healey, Thompson, Maloney, Smith; Hartson, Fernandez

No going ballistic for Super Caley tonight, and despite trying their best not to build their hopes of a shock result up too much in the pre-match hype, the disappointment in the papers was almost tangible.

No dressing room bust-ups at half-time and no managerial heads on spikes the morning after either. Instead, it was as routine a Celtic victory as we've come to expect at CP, although Inverness did get an equalising goal after Maloney had put Celtic ahead in the fifth minute. You certainly couldn't grudge their supporters a wee Highland fling considering they had brought more fans with them to Celtic Park than any other team this season with the exception of the huns and FC Basel.

Hartson with a double and Thompson were the other scorers, and a Celtic reserve team eventually ran out comfortable winners. Not exactly revenge for their last visit, but then maybe we've got a lot to thank Caley for. After all, if it hadn't been for them we might still have Barnes as manager and we might still be waiting for Rafel Scheidt to reach full fitness. Perish the thought!