Premier League Sunday 30th January 2005

Kilmarnock 0

Celtic 1

0:1 Sutton 38

Att: 9,723

MIB: Iain Brines

Celtic: Douglas McNamara Balde Varga Laursen McGeady Petrov Lennon Thompson Sutton Hartson
subs
Camara for McGeady 70

It was back to the top of the league for the Hoops with this win that was a lot more comfortable than the final scoreline might suggest.

It was maybe fitting such a nondescript game that the winner came via a bizarre penalty. It came in the 38th minute when the somewhat inappropriately named Invincibile challenged John Hartson for a high ball but, for some reason, instead of going for it with his head threw his hand at it. MIB Brines was in no doubt about the award and Chris Sutton calmly stepped up to steer the ball beyond Alan Combe and into the net.

Even Jefferies had to concede later that it was a stonewaller, although he did try to point out that Invincible had been pushed before he handled. It wouldn't have helped Jefferies' soor face that Killie had the ball in the net after 11 minutes through Steven Naismith. But the assistant referee correctly indicated that it had gone over the goal-line before Gary McDonald cut it back to his team-mate.

Before the penalty there hadn't been much to get excited about; Bobo nearly scored after a few minutes of the kick-off and Sutton saw a shot from the edge of the box held by Combe but it wasn't a very convincing first half. The second wasn't much better in terms of entertainment or goalmouth action, but it was clear that Celtic wouldn't have to raise much beyond a canter to beat this insipid Kilmarnock team.

Hartson was denied a goal when he pushed Invincibile in the back before heading into the net and there ended the action. Maybe the players' minds were on the possible imminent departure of Bobo to the Premiership. The way he left the pitch certainly seemed to suggest there was more than a hint of closure about proceedings. Yet in the end it was the swansong of substitute Henri Camara, whose parting shot was a weak effort easily saved by the 'keeper. It summed up his short career in the Hoops and it's safe to say that there will be considerably fewer Hoops fans lamenting his going than there would have been if Bobo had hit the trail.