SPL Sunday February 9th

Celtic 2

Livingston 1

0:1 Zarate (52); 1:1 Sylla (77); 2:1 Sutton (85)

Att: 57,169

MIB: Mike McCurry

Celtic: Hedman; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen(Guppy 57); Sylla (Lambert 85), McNamara, Lennon, Petrov, Smith; Larsson (Maloney 17), Sutton

Oh dear, it's stand up and be counted time in the first team dressing room at Celtic Park. The allegation that we're a bit of a one man show will now be put firmly to the test, and although we all remember what happened the last time we sat this test it's fair to say we're better prepared this time. Personally I'd have Sutton over Viduka most days, and Maloney versus Burchill? Don't even start.

Maloney was the star turn of this game, although some very under par performances around him means that could be considered faint praise. But Maloney was the player who constantly ran at them, who committed defenders, and who won and took the free kicks that swung us the game. To be honest we should have been well in front before Henke went off. The man we'll miss most had three chances to score before he had his jaw smashed - two smart saves and one fine tackle had denied him.

Indeed we were playing some nice stuff, Petrov especially was looking good. Which is why the reaction of the team to Larsson's departure was all the more galling. Petrov vanished. No more runs, no more nice through balls, nothing. If he really does want an improved contract he'd better start by giving us some improved performances.

The first half duly petered out without much more by way of incident. The second half was poor in football terms, and positively diabolical in refereeing terms. How Livingston finished the game with 11 m

en on the park could be the subject of the next Taggart. Especially noteworthy was the scything French slaphead at right back. We fell behind thanks to some comic cuts defending from McNamara and Joos Valgaeren. Hedman didn't help, although he can at least point out that any keeper left one on one is on a bit of a loser. After that we fell away. Nothing would come off for us, and Sutton was certainly guilty of some silly petulance (this will have to be curbed in the light of today's events); it looked like it was only a matter of time before the ref sent him off.

Enter stage right young Shaun. His first free kick cracked off the inside of the post, and allowed Sylla to equalise and make up for a seriously frustrating performance. His second brought out an amazing - and largely ignored - save, but happily Sutton was on hand to knock in the winner. Three more points, but they weren't really the main item of the day.