2005-01-02: Celtic 2-1 Livingston, Premier League

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Review

Celtic almost took an eighth-minute lead when Hartson flicked on Aiden McGeady's corner at the near post and although the ball found its way to Stanislav Varga under the crossbar, his header sailed over.

But it was not long before they were ahead. Alan Thompson clipped a free kick into the box from the right and Hartson's glancing header flew past Colin Meldrum and into the bottom corner of the net.

Celtic would have increased their lead in the 36th minute had it not been for the bravery of Meldrum. McGeady cut in from the left and threaded the ball through to Stilian Petrov, but the keeper raced off his line to make a crucial challenge at his feet.

Rab Douglas was let down by his defence as Livingston equalised. Goran Stanic struck a harmless-looking shot from the edge of the box, but the unmarked Hamilton latched onto the ball to slide it into the net from close range.

McGeady sent a free kick just past the post and into the side-netting and then Meldrum produced a top-class save just two minutes later when Hartson got on the end of a Thompson corner only for the goalkeeper to fling himself to his right to push the ball over. Hartson should have scored again in the 55th minute when he controlled Sutton's cross superbly on his chest and blasted the ball towards the target but Meldrum once again turned the ball behind for a corner. But a minute later Hamilton was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Sutton stepped up to casually send Meldrum the wrong way from the spot.

Teams

Celtic team:-
Douglas, Balde, Laursen, Varga, McNamara, Thompson, Petrov, Lennon, McGeady (Juninho Paulista 84), Sutton, Hartson.
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Lambert, Maloney, Wallace, McManus.
Goals:- Hartson 18, Sutton 54 (pen).
Booked:- Thompson.

Livingston team:-
Meldrum, McNamee, Dorado, Rubio, Bahoken, O'Brien, Lovell, Hamilton, Brittain, Stanic (Adam), Snodgrass (Libra).
Subs Not Used:- Fleming, Harding, McPake, Easton.
Goal:- Hamilton 39.
Booked:- Hamilton, McNamee.

Att:- 57,593
Ref:- C Thomson.

Articles

Match Report (BBC)
Manager Interview (BBC) – O'Neill takes 'hard-earned' win.

Pictures

Match Pictures

Celtic 2-1 Livingston

Celtic celebrate Hartson's opening goal

A Chris Sutton penalty gave Celtic all three points against Livingston to send them clear at the top of the SPL.

John Hartson gave the home side an early lead with a trademark glancing header from Alan Thompson's free kick.

But Jim Hamilton equalised before half time with a close-range effort as the Celtic defence were caught out.

Hamilton, though, was penalised for hand-ball, which he hotly disputed, and Sutton kept a cool head to place the spot-kick past Colin Meldrum.

But it was not long before they were ahead. Alan Thompson clipped a free kick into the box from the right and Hartson's glancing header flew past Colin Meldrum and into the bottom corner of the net.

Chris Sutton almost got to the ball inside the area moments later but the Livingston goalkeeper was quick off his line to collect.

Celtic keeper Rab Douglas was almost caught out when he casually cleared a pass-back with Hamilton close to embarrassing him.

Celtic would have increased their lead in the 36th minute had it not been for the bravery of Meldrum.

McGeady cut in from the left and threaded the ball through to Stilian Petrov, but the keeper raced off his line to make a crucial challenge at his feet.

Douglas had to be alert moments later when he acrobatically tipped over Gus Bahoken's cross-***-shot from the touchline.

But the keeper was let down by his defence as Livingston equalised. Goran Stanic struck a harmless-looking shot from the edge of the box, but the unmarked Hamilton latched onto the ball to slide it into the net from close range.

Thompson tried to revive his team-mates from a dangerous dead-ball situation a minute later but his left-foot effort was comfortably saved by Meldrum at his left post.

Hamilton blazed a speculative left-foot volley over the bar from 30 yards from Robert Snodgrass' knock-down just 30 seconds after the restart.

Hartson should have scored again in the 55th minute when he controlled Sutton's cross superbly on his chest and blasted the ball towards the target but Meldrum once again turned the ball behind for a corner.

But a minute later Hamilton was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Sutton stepped up to casually send Meldrum the wrong way.

The keeper threw himself to his left to keep Sutton's header out after Hartson had picked him out before, at the other end, Brittain whistled in a shot that grazed the woodwork.

Douglas made a late important save to deny Bahoken from close range as Celtic held on for the win.

Celtic: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Juninho Paulista 85), Sutton, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Lambert, Maloney, Wallace, McManus.

Booked: Thompson.

Goals: Hartson 15, Sutton 57 pen.

Livingston: Meldrum, McNamee, Bahoken, Rubio, Dorado, O'Brien, Lovell, Brittain (Dair 87), Stanic (Adam 87), Snodgrass (Libbra 66), Hamilton.

Subs Not Used: Fleming, Harding, McPake, Easton.

Booked: Hamilton, McNamee.

Goal: Hamilton 39.

Att: 57,593

Ref: C Thomson

O'Neill takes 'hard-earned' win

O'Neill felt his side relaxed at times
Celtic 2-1 Livingston
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was relieved to get the three points at the end of a close match with Livingston.

"Those were very hard-earned points. We never could get away from them," said O'Neill afterwards.

"I thought when we scored the first we might be able to get a second, but they equalised and had a good spell.

"But we regrouped, got the second goal, but we couldn't get away and Rab Douglas has had to make a wonderful save at the end."