From The Official Site (or somewhere)

Clinical Celtic in total control

CHRIS ROBERTS AT THE ST DARIAUS AND ST GIRENO STADIUM


FBK Kaunas 0
Celtic4

THE remarkably prolific Celtic career of Henrik Larsson reached a new
milestone in Lithuania last night as he joined legendary forwards Ian Rush
and Peter Lorimer as the joint top goalscorer in European competition for a
single British club. However, any joy to be taken from this achievement was
clouded when the striker limped off in the second-half clutching his leg
with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

It was the one black spot in what was a professional display by the UEFA Cup
finalists as a comfortable 4-0 away victory put this Champions League second
qualifying round tie beyond Lithuanian minnows and all but ensured a third
qualifying round clash with HJK Helsinki or MTK Hungaria.

The incomparable Swede scored his 30th European goal to get the ball rolling
after only 12 minutes in the St Dariaus and St Gireno Stadium, as Celtic
wasted no time in exerting their superiority over the opposition.

Embarking on what will be his final season for the Parkhead club, the
Swedish striker, who was bought for a bargain £650,000 from Feyenoord six
years ago, proved once again what an invaluable addition he has been. He has
scored 202 goals for the club, won the European golden shoe and become
Celtic's top scorer in European competition during his time at Parkhead. Now
he joins Liverpool legend Rush and former Leeds and Scotland player Lorimer
on the 30-goal mark.

However, the injury which saw him trudge off the pitch midway through the
second half will be at the forefront of his manager Martin O'Neill's mind
today.

With Chris Sutton - who scored the second goal last night - suspended for
the first five matches of the Premierleague season, and Welsh striker John
Hartson still injured, Larsson's absence is one that Celtic can ill afford
as they set out to ensure the league title returns to Parkhead after being
pipped by treble-winning Rangers last season.

On the bright side, Scotland Under-21 striker Shaun Maloney made his
comeback and got himself on the scoresheet with Celtic's third early in the
second half. Young Lee Millar completed the rout with the fourth in the 86th
minute as the Scottish side effectively rendered next Wednesday's return leg
a formality.

Robert Douglas started the new season as Celtic's No1 as O'Neill went with
almost the same team that started the UEFA Cup final in Seville just over
two months ago.

The selection of the Scotland goalkeeper came as something as a surprise as
Sweden international Magnus Hedman had looked to have emerged from a
miserable injury-hit first season to take pole position, but he had to make
do with a place on the bench.

The only change from the side which lost 3-2 to FC Porto was Slovakian
Stanislav Varga coming in for the injured Bobo Balde, with regular central
defenders Joos Valgaeren and Johan Mjallby both recovering from knocks.

O'Neill was concerned about coming to Lithuania so early, especially with
their unknown opponents vowing to pull off a shock victory for former
striker Audrius Slekys, who was killed in a car accident on Sunday night.

After a silent tribute, the visitors, in their new black away shirts, almost
got off to a dream start after just four minutes.

Didier Agathe clipped the ball through to Neil Lennon and hit a shot past
goalkeeper Gytis Padimanskas which looked destined for the back of the net,
but Irmantas Zelmikas was quick to spot the danger and got back to put the
ball behind for a corner.

The Kaunas goalkeeper did much better five minutes later to deny Celtic a
deserved lead.

Strikers Sutton and Larsson combined on the edge of the box, after Alan
Thompson's long ball, but Padimanskas threw himself to his left to parry the
Englishman's volley.

But it did not take long for the former Swedish striker to equal that
British club record.

After a mix up from the home defenders after Thompson's corner, Larsson
showed he was as razor sharp as ever as he swept the loose ball home.

Sutton fired into the side- netting before Kaunas warned Celtic when Andrius
Gedgaudas found Ricardas Beniusis before Varga got back to block his effort.
But Sutton then doubled the Scottish side's lead in the 29th minute after he
capitalised on another terrible blunder by Padimanskas to stroke the ball
home from close range.

If the Lithuanians held any hopes of an unlikely fightback, these were soon
killed off as Maloney - who had replaced Lennon at the break - made it 3-0.
A fluent passing move which was started by Thompson's ball out wide to
Larsson.

The Swede in turn steered the ball inside to Maloney, but despite having a
lot to do the youngster comfortably raced beyond the Kaunas defence before
casually guiding the ball past the hand of Padimanskas and into the bottom
corner from six yards.

Larsson was within inches of beating the record with a right-foot shot which
whistled past the upright from the edge of the box in the 70th minute. O'
Neill clearly felt the tie was in the bag as he sent on Miller and Jamie
Smith on for Sutton and Thompson. Then came the moment that had Celtic
followers' hearts in their mouths as Larsson limped off clutching his leg. O
'Neill had already made all his substitutes and Celtic were force to finish
the match with ten men.

Sensing their chance to grab a consolation goal, Kaunas stepped up a gear
and Giedrius Barevicius fired in a rare shot on goal in the 75th minute, but
Douglas was alert to the danger and made a comfortable save.

But Celtic soon reasserted their authority in what was virtually a training
session and Miller was able to score his first competitive goal for Celtic
after converting Maloney's cross from close range with four minutes of
normal time remaining.

Youth played it's part in the latter stages and, with the tie now in the
bag, O'Neill will no doubt give them, and some other fringe players, the
responsibility of seeing the matter out next Wednesday.

FBK Kaunas: Padimanskas, Gvildys, Kancelskis, Petrenka, Regelskis, Papeckys,
Gedgaudas, Sirmelis, Zelmikas, Beniusis, Barevicius. Subs: Stonys,
Sanajevas, Pastva, Opic, Puotkalis, Kunevicius, Karalius.

Celtic: Douglas, Agathe, Valgaeren, Mjallby, Varga, Petrov, Lennon, Lambert,
Thompson, Larsson, Sutton. Subs: Hedman, Sylla, McNamara, Maloney, Smith,
Crainey, Miller.

Celtic suffer as UEFA dream ends

GLENN GIBBONS AT ESTADIO OLIMPICO, SEVILLE


Celtic 2 Larsson (47, 57)
FC Porto 3 Derlei (45, 115) Alenichev (54)
after extra time

IF THERE is such a thing as glorious failure, it was defined by Celtic
in the sweltering, draining heat of the Estadio Olimpico in Seville last
night, the Scottish champions losing the UEFA Cup final in the second
half of extra time after being reduced to ten men with the 102nd-minute
ordering-off of Bobo Balde for a second caution.

Derlei, the Porto’s deadly Brazilian striker, matched the double
completed earlier by the extraordinary Henrik Larsson - the Swede having
brought Celtic level twice after trailing to Derlei’s first and another
from Dmitri Alenichev - with a low shot which the substitute, Ulrik
Laursen, could not prevent from crossing the line.

It was an exasperating end to a final which had begun quietly and turned
into one of unremitting commitment from both sides.

Until Derlei delivered that numbing goal so close to the interval, there
had been reason for both encouragement and apprehension among the huge
Celtic following, the protagonists taking it in turn to declare their
ambition in the vicinity of the respective goal areas.

If Jose Mourinho’s side looked, by and large, the slicker and quicker in
those moments when they opened up, there was also a liveliness about
Larsson and Chris Sutton - assisted by the ever-mobile Didier Agathe and
the prompting of Alan Thompson - which hinted at possible trouble for
the Portuguese defence.

But any player who felt nervous about an occasion that would certainly
be among the loudest ever staged would have drawn some comfort from the
realisation that he was not alone.

Until well into the match, when some semblance of settlement had taken
place, tentativeness and anxiety seemed to course through both teams.

In such circumstances, the truly gifted tend to overcome the
apprehension the quicker, their natural talent invariably giving birth
to a self-assurance the others have to develop gradually, through
diligence, concentration and the avoidance of morale-crushing damage.

In this regard, there was a predictability about the game, especially in
a first half in which Porto’s technically superior group - Deco, Derlei,
Maniche and Capucho could not be denied that assessment - seemed capable
of causing a few scares among the seemingly interminable rows of Celtic
supporters occupying two-thirds of the great stadium.

But, having been frustrated by the attentive work of Balde, Johan
Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren - the big Belgian booked early for a foul on
Deco - and some admirable defensive midfield play from Neil Lennon and
Paul Lambert, the Portuguese themselves were turned from hunter to prey
as Celtic began to push forward with more conviction, and no little
threat.

There was no procession of surging thrusts towards Vitor Baia and no
relentless aggressiveness - nor would those have been expected against
opponents of genuine quality - but there were enough half-chances
created to cause the Porto defenders to have small doubts, especially
when their goalkeeper on occasion flapped at crosses he should either
have gathered or left alone, needlessly conceding corner kicks and
throw-ins.

It was Celtic’s slight misfortune that, during those periods of swarming
around Baia’s area, they did not seriously test the goalkeeper. They
were occasionally denied the opportunity by unkind bounces of the ball.
Larsson did force one save from Baia with a well-struck, low free kick
from outside the box on the left, but the goalkeeper flopped to his left
and held the ball.

It was a wonderful piece of skill that allowed Larsson to take the ball
out of the air and cause it to stick to his toe before feeding Agathe on
the right.

The wing-back’s centre missed Sutton’s head by inches in a moment that
offered the promise of good things from the Scottish champions.

Instead, it was Porto who took the lead, at a stroke dispelling whatever
uncertainty Celtic may have induced.

As Mjallby and Balde converged on the ball in the middle of their own
penalty area, Dmitri Alenichev was left isolated and, when Deco took
possession and chipped towards the Russian, he was looking straight at
Douglas.

The left-footed shot was low and true, but Douglas dived left to push
the ball wide of the goal. Derlei, as deadly in this tournament as
Larsson himself, met it with his right foot and, from an acute angle,
drove it over the line.

That Celtic should equalise so early in the second half, lose the lead
again soon after and restore parity as the Portuguese fans were still
celebrating was typical of the resilience they have shown throughout the
tournament.

The first of the great Swede’s goals was extraordinary by any standards,
including his own. Lennon rolled the ball to Agathe on the right and the
winger sent the cross high to the far side. When Larsson outjumped the
substitute, Ricardo Costa - he had replaced the injured Costinha after
only nine minutes - he appeared to have only one option, to head the
ball across to the waiting Sutton.

Instead, he confounded everyone in the stadium by directing the header,
from an impossible angle, against the far post and over the line for his
200th goal for Celtic.

It was Balde’s slack defensive work that led to Porto’s second, the weak
clearance leaving Deco in possession. The Brazilian-born midfielder
played Alenichev in with a perfect pass, allowing the latter to beat
Douglas in the chase and drive the ball low past the goalkeeper.

Larsson completed his double with the most orthodox of goals, meeting a
corner kick from Thompson on the right and, unchallenged, forcing the
header from eight yards past the right side of the vainly clawing Baia.

That pulsating burst of concentrated fire turned the match from shadow
boxing into the real thing.

Having spent most of the first 45 minutes indulging in what may be
termed a "searching" exercise, both sides suddenly appeared to have a
clear sight of the target and a ferocious urge to pepper it. That
ferocity spilled over as Valente was sent off for his second bookable
offence after a late tackle on Thompson.

The applause and the roars of acclaim which must have blistered the
hands and chafed the throats of the capacity crowd were testimony to the
efforts of two teams who made the UEFA Cup final an exhilarating
experience.

Celtic: Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe, Petrov, Lambert,
Lennon, Thompson; Larsson, Sutton. Subs: Hedman, Sylla, McNamara,
Fernandez, Laursen, Maloney, Smith.

FC Porto: Baia; Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Paulo Ferreira, Nuno
Valente; Maniche, Deco, Costinha; Alenichev; Capucho, Derlei. Subs:
Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Ricardo Costa, Peixoto, Clayton, Tiago, Marco
Ferreira.

Referee: L Michel (Slvk). Attendance: 52,972

Celtic tested to limit

Glenn Gibbons at Parkhead
Sunday May 11, 2003
The Observer

Expectations of a classy, convincing victory turned to gratitude for success by a short head among Celtic fans desperate to close out a third successive championship. But for Alan Thompson's first-half penalty-kick conversion and some sweaty defending in stoppage time, Martin O'Neill's side might have sustained potentially irreparable damage, as opposed to taking a lead of three points and two goals over Rangers, who face Kilmarnock today.
Given Hearts' urgent need to finish third from top, thereby securing the last place in next season's Uefa Cup, Celtic were never likely to enjoy a trouble-free 90 minutes, far less the walk-over predicted in some quarters.

Indeed, the Tynecastle side would have been encouraged by the memory of their victory over the champions in Edinburgh three weeks ago, a match in which the result was the more meritorious for their having to come from behind to win. If nothing else, it will have cleansed their minds of the damaging preconception, common to those who challenge the Old Firm, that the Glasgow giants are invincible.

Craig Levein, their manager, brings a studied resolve to his work and his team reflect his own steely character, not easily intimidated or shrugged off. Even before Celtic took the lead, the visitors had made it clear that any rewards from this match would be thoroughly earned.

Javier Sanchez Broto in the home goal, in fact, had to make an important save to prevent Hearts from poaching an advantage before the champions began to exert and sustain pressure in the vicinity of Tepi Moilanen.

It was from a cross on the right that Kevin McKenna, the defender-cum-striker, played the ball from his right foot to his left, while turning to allow himself a look at goal. His quickly hit low drive would have counted but for Broto's intervention.

Celtic's unusually slow start would have caused at least mild anxiety among a home support who have seen them, in recent weeks, recover much of the verve that has taken them to the Uefa Cup final and back to the head of the Premier League.

Stilian Petrov's powerful 35-yard drive, whistling just wide, and Henrik Larsson's weakly hit drive from close range - Moilanen dived left to touch the ball wide - re-awakened their hopes and beliefs. But it was not until the period of ascendancy five minutes before Thompson's goal that they would have begun to feel a surge of confidence.

Even so, the Parkhead side encountered severe difficulties in creating openings and genuine scoring opportunities before the moment of indecision that brought them the penalty. After Thompson's free-kick from the left had been blocked back out to him by the defensive wall, the wing-back delivered again, this time straight to Chris Sutton.

As the big striker took the ball on his chest, Steven Pressley barged him from behind. The central defender made no protest as referee Mike McCurry pointed to the spot, and Thompson converted by clipping the ball left-footed high to the right of Moilanen.

That was a much-needed break, as Hearts, with Pressley, Alan Maybury, Robbie Neilson and, unusually, Scott Severin - converted from midfield - stood fast in defence, consistently foiling whatever plans Larsson, Sutton and Petrov tried to execute in pursuit of more goals.

Nor were the visitors unwilling to venture forward when the opportunity arose, although that did not happen with enough frequency to offer Bobo Balde, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren the kind of test that could have forced errors.

As a result, there was a pallor about much of the play, as if suffering from vitamin deficiency. Didier Agathe almost provided the most efficacious tonic of all when he came in from the right to collect Larsson's pass after the Swede had been supplied by Sutton. The French winger's drive was ferocious and rising, just enough to hit the underside of the bar and, somehow, stay out.

As for a home crowd who came to realise victory itself was the priority, as opposed to the margin, the colour would not return to their cheeks until the final whistle signalled the acquisition of another three precious points.

Bhoys back

 on top
Stephen Sullivan

Scottish Premierleague,Wednesday May 7, 2003, Fir Park, Motherwell MOTHERWELL… 0    CELTIC… 4

Petrov 36, 56, Lambert 61, 65 

For the first time in 2003, Celtic sit atop the Scottish Premierleague after they leapfrogged Rangers on goal difference with a resounding 4-0 victory at Fir Park.

It was, in the end, no more than Martin O’Neill’s rampant side deserved for rising above the approach of a Motherwell team which, at times, amounted to nothing short of thuggery.
Terry Butcher’s basement boys were, in fact, extremely fortunate to finish the match having seen red on just one occasion, although Stilian Petrov and Paul Lambert ensured they were justly punished in terms of the scoreline by bagging a brace-apiece for the Bhoys.
O’Neill’s side were indeed deserving of much credit because, while the game was played out at a frenetic pace throughout, there was plenty of decent football to admire, and almost all of it was produced by the men in green-and-white hoops. Celtic played with a purpose from the moment the first whistle was sounded and, after an enterprising opening, created their first decent goalscoring opportunity after eight minutes when one of Alan Thompson’s trademark daisy-cutting free-kicks skidded behind off the shins of a Motherwell defender.

Then, from the resultant corner - brilliantly swung in by Alan Thompson – the noisy Fir Park crowd witnessed what was, by Henrik Larsson’s high standards, a glaring miss. True, the Swede was stretching as he made contact with the ball at the back post, but there was little doubt that he should have done better than merely toe-poke the ball wide from a couple of yards.
Larsson persevered, however, and five minutes later he rose to knock down a tempting Didier Agathe cross for Paul Lambert, who in turn forced Stevie Woods into a brilliant reaction save with a well-struck right-foot drive. Celtic appeared to be edging ever closer to an opening goal at this stage and, with 20 minutes played, Larsson was involved again, delivering a cross which Stilian Petrov diverted no more than a foot or so over the crossbar.
Motherwell, meanwhile, had only a half-hearted effort from James McFadden to show for their efforts with half-an-hour played and, as tempers boiled over, Derek Adams further dented their hopes of springing a shock when he was ordered from the field after appearing to elbow Thompson in an off-the-ball incident.

However, Butcher’s side – who had earlier seen young David Cowan stretchered from the field with a broken leg – are nothing if not committed and, just seconds after Adams’ dismissal, they forced their best chance of the half when Martyn Corrigan forced a brilliant one-handed tip-over from Javier Sanchez Broto.
This represented little more than a gesture of defiance, though, from a side who were to fall behind just four minutes later. Predictably, the goal had Larsson at its heart, with the Swede slipping through an incisive pass for Petrov, who, spotting a gap at Woods’ near post, threaded the needle with a drilled right-foot shot. It was the Bulgarian’s third goal within the space of five days and, when he very nearly scored a carbon copy in first half injury time, it became clear that he didn’t intend resting on his laurels.
It was no great surprise, then, when he doubled his tally for the evening 10 minutes into the second half, firing emphatically past Woods after working an intelligent one-two with Larsson in the left channel. It was an excellent goal from a player who appears now to be returning to his best form after a decidedly indifferent spell, and it allowed Celtic to relax and stroke the ball around with ever-increasing confidence.
However, if Petrov had delusions of grandeur about being the only goalscoring midfielder on Celtic’s books, he was soon to be taught a lesson by none either than Paul Lambert. Yes, the Hoops skipper – not exactly renowned for his prowess in the penalty box – clearly didn’t fancy allowing his younger colleague to hog the morning’s headlines, and soon applied his own mark to proceedings

Indeed, it was just six minutes after Petrov had notched his and Celtic’s second goal of the evening that Lambert burst on to the scene, threading a pass wide to Maloney before continuing his run to accept and side-foot the youngster’s cross with the inside of his left boot. The Celtic end erupted, knowing only too well that their side only required one more goal to rise to the summit of the SPL for the first time this year. In truth, it appeared a mere formality and, sure enough, Lambert obliged with a truly sublime strike.
Once again, it was Maloney who – at the end of a tremendous team move - fed Lambert from the right side of the penalty area, and this time the Scotland captain bettered his earlier effort with a looping volley that sailed into the net over the stranded figure of Woods.  Website Man of the Match: PAUL LAMBERT 

MOTHERWELL (5-3-2): Woods; Corrigan, Partridge, Vaughan, Leitch, Hammell; Pearson, Cowan (Kinniburgh 19), Adams; Clarkson (Lehmann 77), McFadden (Offiong 70)Subs: Dubordeau, Lasley

CELTIC (3-5-2): Broto; McNamara, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Sylla 82), Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Thompson (Crainey 88); Larsson, Maloney (Smith 80)Subs: Marshall, Varga

Hoops cash in against Pars
Alison McConnell 

Saturday, 3 May 2003,
Scottish Premierleague
East End Park.

CELTIC…………….. 4(Larsson 21, Petrov 28, 32, Thompson 57 pen)

DUNFERMLINE……..1 (McNicol 80)

It might not be in their own hands, but Celtic ensured that Rangers felt
a little heat with a convincing win at East End Park that gives the
Ibrox side a nervous trip to Dens Park on Sunday afternoon.

There are just two points between the Old Firm at the top of the table,
with both teams having played exactly the same number of games. Rangers
play Dundee on Sunday and Celtic will play their game in hand against
Motherwell on Wednesday night, but there could be plenty of excitement
in between times.

It could yet be one of the most exhilerating campaigns of recent times,
with success on both domestic and European fronts tantalisingly close
and in any case there promises to be a thrilling finale to what has been
an intriguing campaign.

Three first-half goals relived Celtic of any apprehension they might
have been labouring under going into the game, and as the tension in the
Championship race intensifies it promises to be an intriguing final
weeks to the conclusion of the season.

With Celtic breathing down their necks Rangers can ill afford any
slip-ups and, judging by this display, Martin O’Neill’s side look well
prepared for any battle of nerves that might await.

Henrik Larsson scored his 41st goal this season to give Celtic the lead
just beyond the 20-minute mark, and within a ten minute period the Hoops
had all but taken the points and finished their afternoon’s work.

Stilian Petrov supplemented Larsson’s opener with two quick goals either
side of the half hour mark, and realistically from then on it was a case
of damage limitation for Dunfermline.

Barry Nicholson conceded a spot kick to allow Alan Thompson to convert
from the spot shortly before the hour mark but by then Celtic had
already relaxed somewhat.

O’Neill had been forced to re-jig his team somewhat with Chris Sutton
suspended and John Hartson struggling with a back injury, although both
Ulrik Laursen and Jackie McNamara retained their starting positions
after impressive displays at Ibrox.

Surprisingly it was Laursen who had the best chance when the game was
still in its infancy, but after finding himself in possession deep
inside Dunfermline’s penalty box the Danish defender took a step forward
before releasing a tame shot that was smothered by Marco Ruitenbeek.

In the early stages, however, the most eye-catching performer in Celtic
colours was Javier Sanchez Broto who was twice called upon to make
impressive stops as Dunfermline started the match reasonably brightly.

The Spaniard made a stunning stop from Gary Dempsey and followed that up
with an equally acrobatic stop from a Scott Walker header as he dived
full length to tip the ball around his right-hand post.

However, after failing to make anything of their early chances,
Dunfermline quickly fell out of the game and the pressure that Celtic
enjoyed in the early stages soon translated into a wide chasm between
the two teams.

One of the few worries to emerge from the game for O’Neill was what
appeared to be an injury to Joos Valgaeren. The Belgian was replaced
after just ten minutes by Paul Lambert and as a result McNamara was
pushed from midfield into the right side of Celtic’s familiar back
three.

It was McNamara who started the move that eventually led to Celtic’s
opener. His

long pass up-field was cut out by David Grondin, but as the ball was
hooked across to the right flank, Lambert collected, supplied Petrov and
the Bulgarian’s subsequent delivery was deftly volleyed into the net by
Larsson.

Within ten minutes Celtic had assured themselves of the points and
killed off Dunfermline with two quick goals from Petrov to ensure a
productive afternoon.

Celtic’s second and Petrov’s first arrived just two minutes before the
half hour mark when the Bulgarian capitalised on a clever one-two
between Bobo Balde and Larsson that unleashed him behind the Dunfermline
defence and from inside the box the midfielder seared his shot low into
the net.

Within minutes he had added his second with a diving header past Marco
Ruitenbeek. Larsson was the architect, opening things up for Shaun
Maloney who had sent the ball out towards Didier Agathe, and the
winger’s delivery was converted by the Bulgarian.

By the time Celtic had made it four from the spot, there understandably
wasn’t quite the same urgency about their play although there was always
the impression that more goals could follow.

David Fernandez arrived for Agathe as Celtic chased more goals to slash
the goal difference deficit at the top of the table, but it was
Dunfermline who pulled a consolation back with ten minutes to go when
substitute Scott McNicol beat Broto.


CELTIC (3-5-2): Broto; Laursen, Balde, Valgaeren; Thompson, Petrov,
Lennon (Smith 80), McNamara, Agathe (Fernandez 69); Larsson, Maloney.
Subs: Marshall, Lambert, Crainey.

DUNFERMLINE (4-4-2): Ruitenbeek; Dair, (MacPherson 46) Walker, Bullen,
Grondin (Hunt 46); Dempsey, Nicholson, Mason, Kilgannon; Crawford,
Brewster (McNicol 69). Subs: Murdoch, Campbell.

Bhoys back in the title hunt
Stephen Sullivan

Scottish Premierleague,
Sunday April 27, 2003,
Ibrox Stadium

RANGERS… 1
De Boer 58
CELTIC… 2
Thompson 28 pen, Hartson 43

The race for the Scottish title is once again wide open after Celtic
emerged from the final Old Firm derby of the season with three
precious, and thoroughly merited, points.

It was a match that Martin O'Neill's team knew they had to win and,
thanks to a battling performance which included goals from both Alan
Thompson and John Hartson, they did so to cap one of the most
memorable weeks in the club's recent history.

The fans had arrived at Ibrox in celebratory mood and, having
reminded everyone what they will be doing while their great rivals
watch the May 21st edition of `The Bill', the Seville-bound Celts
greeted the players' arrival with a barrage of beach balls, no less.

It all became serious very soon, however, and the mood of the Hoops
faithful wasn't improved any when Henrik Larsson failed to capitalise
on a promising two-on-one situation inside three minutes.

Indeed, the early signs did not appear promising for O'Neill's side.
Before 10 minutes had elapsed, in fact, the Celtic boss had watched
Claudio Caniggia lob narrowly wide, Lorenzo Amoruso head over from a
Fernando Ricksen corner and, perhaps most worryingly, Rab Douglas
hobble injured from the field.

It left O'Neill with no option but to thrust Javier Sanchez Broto
into his Old Firm debut and, had Ronald de Boer directed on target,
rather than hook wide, a shot from 10 yards, the former Livingston
keeper's first task would have been to pick the ball out of the net.

Yet, while Rangers had unquestionably dominated the early stages,
Celtic gradually established a foothold as the half wore on and, had
Larsson not continually wasted the good work of his team-mates, they
might have taken the lead earlier than they did.

As it was, the opening goal very nearly arrived in the most bizarre
of circumstances when a lofted free-kick from Jackie McNamara
bamboozled everyone, including Stefan Klos, before rebounding back
off the face of the post.

However, while this moment left O'Neill holding his head in his
hands, he would be leaping for joy before another two minutes had
passed. Celtic were awarded a penalty, and only the most ardent of
Rangers fans could have questioned that it was of the stonewall
variety after Amoruso had committed to a clumsy and ill-advised
challenge that left John Hartson sprawling inside the area.

And it was Alan Thompson, rather than Larsson or even Hartson
himself, who stepped up to coolly side-foot the ball beyond Stefan
Klos. Celtic were now very much in the ascendancy and, with 34
minutes played, their lead was almost doubled when only a vital touch
by Craig Moore prevented a goal-bound Larsson shot flying into the
top corner.

The pressure continued, though, and the Hoops got their reward with
two minutes of the first half remaining. It was the erstwhile Didier
Agathe who supplied the ammunition, skipping away from Lovenkrands
before delivering a low cross which, having been flicked on by
Larsson, was guided home by Hartson past the wrong-footed Klos.

It was a brilliant goal, and one which gave Celtic a commanding half-
time lead. Nevertheless, Rangers clearly weren't for giving up the
game quite yet and, following a period of sustained pressure, they
succeeded in halving their deficit in 58 minutes when Ronald de Boer
directed home a pinpoint cross from Arthur Numan.

What followed thereafter was an intensely nervous period for Celtic,
who were for a time merely content to protect their now-slender lead.
However, it wasn't long before the Hoops were once again on the
offensive and, as play raged, Larsson found himself presented with
two gilt-edged opportunities.

Both were fashioned by some brilliant set-up play by Sutton and,
while there wasn't a great deal to fault in either of the Swede's
efforts, Klos was found to be a worthy adversary. Nevertheless, while
Agathe also went close with a 20-yard drive which skidded marginally
wide in the closing minutes, it mattered not.

Celtic had won and, though Seville will continue to loom large on the
horizon, this victory did at least ensure a lasting interest in
domestic matters for the foreseeable future.

Website Man of the Match: JOOS VALGAEREN

RANGERS (4-3-3): Klos; Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan; Konterman
(Arteta 46), Ferguson, de Boer; Caniggia (McCann 72), Mols,
Lovenkrands (Thompson 84)
Subs: McGregor, Ross
CELTIC (4-4-2): Douglas (Broto 9); McNamara, Balde, Valgaeren,
Laursen; Agathe, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson; Larsson, Hartson (Petrov
70)
Subs: Maloney, Smith, Crainey

Hoop Hoop Hurrah!
Alison McConnell

UEFA Cup semi-final, second leg.
Thursday, 24 April 2003.
Estadio do Bessa

CELTIC.....1 (Larsson 78)
BOAVISTA...0
It was tense, it was anxious, and the four and half minutes of injury time
contained more heart stopping moments than the entire 180 minutes of
football that had gone before it, but when the whistle eventually went in
the Estadio do Bossa on Thursday night it sparked astonishing scenes of
celebration.
Henrik Larsson's 39th goal of the season with twelve minutes of the game
remaining ensured Celtic's name was put on the guest list for the UEFA Cup
Final in Seville on May 21st.
Prior to the goal it had been a stifling game with neither side truly
imposing themselves, and for all that Celtic had plenty of possession they
struggled to create genuine openings against a determined Boavista side.
Not that it mattered in the end. Larsson, so vital on too many occasions to
mention, made the one real chance that he got count when he collected the
ball, made use of the space that he had, and calmly slotted past Ricardo.
At times there was a scrappiness about the game as both sides, playing with
three at the back and two wingers, cancelled one another out and there was
little real space for either side to exploit.
It took Celtic nine minutes to fashion their first real opportunity on goal
when Alan Thompson launched a free-kick deep into the Boavista half. John
Hartson knocked the ball down to Larsson, but after breaking free the Swede
sclaffed his shot wide of the target.
Paul Lambert won Celtic's first corner of the evening when his intelligent
cross towards the back post was headed out of play by Martelinho, but Stan
Petrov's delivery from the set piece didn't make the most of the chance.
Pedrosa tried his luck at the other end of the pitch with a searing 30-yard
free-kick that sailed just over Rab Douglas' crossbar.
On the half hour mark Boavista carved open Celtic's back three, and although
the chance eventually came to nothing when Johan Mjallby was able to head
Martelinho's cross clear at the back post, it was an indication of how
potent the Portuguese could be.
Chris Sutton was introduced for Paul Lambert eleven minutes before the break
after the Celtic captain had sustained an early knock in a clash with Silva.
The Englishman didn't take long to get acquainted with the action, winning a
couple of free-kicks and then jostling with Filipe Anunciacao in the
Boavista box.
In between times Pedro Santos had come close beating Douglas minutes later
with a swirling drive from the edge of the box that whirled just past the
top left-hand corner.
The best chance of the evening, however, fell to Boavista three minutes
before the interval and it was down to Douglas to parry the danger with a
vital stop.
A sloppy touch from Joos Valgaeren allowed Santos to nick in, and the
midfielder beat Bobo Balde by sliding the ball past the defender and beating
him for pace before sending a looping ball across the face of the goal.
Silva met it with a header, and Douglas was forced to punch the danger away.
There were no changes at the interval for either side, but as the minutes of
the second period started to tick down there was a bit more urgency about
Celtic's play.
Valgaeren lost the ball in his own half, won it back, and embarked on a
surging forward run before conceding possession once more. Hartson, however,
won the ball back, sent it to Sutton and the striker almost succeeded in
sending Valgaeren through the Boavista defence.
As Celtic probed for openings, it was Boavista who almost took the lead when
Duda beat Valgaeren on the left, his cross eluded Douglas and was met by
Silva whose header was blocked by Mjallby.
For much of the game Celtic found themselves up against a team who showed
all commitment and team spirit and that has so often been the hallmark of O'
Neill's team. While Boavista might not be the best team Celtic have played
against in the UEFA Cup, they were certainly the most hard working.
Avalos was the first player into the book after a cynical foul from behind
on Larsson, while with 15 minutes to go O'Neill gambled by replacing
Valgaeren with Jamie Smith as Celtic tried to keep pushing.
It worked. Within minutes Celtic had grabbed the vital goal, a golden goal
12 minutes from time that orchestrated unrivalled celebrations in the Hoops
camp.
All three of Celtic's strikers played their part in the strike, Larsson,
Sutton and then Hartson combining before the Swede collected in the box and,
in what seemed to take an eternity, casually took a step forward before
sliding a left foot shot past Ricardo and into the net.
The final minutes were anxious ones for Celtic as Boavista put the Hoops
defence under enormous pressure, but when the whistle finally sounded the
scenes of celebration were astounding as Celtic booked their place in the
UEFA Cup Final.
For Celtic and Martin O'Neill, there's one more round to go.
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren (Smith 75); Agathe,
Petrov, Lambert (Sutton 34), Lennon, Thompson; Hartson, Larsson. Subs:
Marshall, Maloney, Smith, Laursen, Sylla, McNamara.
BOAVISTA (4-4-2): Ricardo; Avalos, Eder, Pedrosa (Yuri 85); Martelinho,
Anunciacao, Santos, Erivan (Jocivalter 79), Loja Silva (Claudio 68), Duda.
Subs: Andem, Oscar, Bosingwa, Goulart.

Title hopes come unstuck
Alison McConnell 

Saturday, 19th April 2003,
Tynecastle,
Scottish Premierleague

CELTIC……….1 (Larsson 59)
HEARTS………2 (Stamp 72, McCann 90)

A 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle leaves Celtic’s Championship hopes in tatters
after Hearts came back from a goal down to take three vital points.

Before the game Martin O’Neill had admitted there was little margin for
error, and realistically the scoreline takes the title race well out of
Celtic’s hands. The Hoops need to not only win every one of their
remaining six games, but also now rely on Rangers dropping points
elsewhere if they are to win a third successive Championship.

It was a scrappy, frustrating game for the most part, but when Celtic
did get themselves ahead on the hour mark when Henrik Larsson converted
a dazzling Didier Agathe run, it ought to have been the impetus for the
visitors to impose themselves and hold onto the lead.

Instead, Hearts refused to become dispirited. They stuck to their task,
got back on level terms and as Celtic threw everything forward in search
of a winner in the frantic final minutes, Hearts exploited the space at
the back.

Austin McCann struck a glorious goal when his 20-yard strike from the
right beat Douglas, bounced off the inside of the post and curled into
the back of the net to win the game for the hosts and signal what sounds
like a death knell to Celtic’s title aspirations.

O’Neill stuck with the same starting eleven who beat Kilmarnock last
Sunday afternoon, although there was a place on the bench for Scotland
under-21 defender John Kennedy.

It was a scrappy opening affair, with tackles and passes misjudged while
neither side fashioned any genuine openings in the tense early minutes
that characterised the early exchanges.

Alan Thompson was the victim of a crunching tackle when the game was
still in its infancy, but after receiving treatment the midfielder
returned to the fray and was at the centre of Celtic’s first real
opportunity when he tried his luck with a free-kick from the edge of the
box.

His attempt escaped through the clutches of the wall but posed little
problems for Hearts keeper Tepi Moilanen who collected the trundling
ball with ease.

Mark De Vries ought to have opened the scoring midway through the
opening period when he found himself in Celtic’s six-yard box, but the
colossal striker lifted his shot high over Rab Douglas’ bar.

Johan Mjallby was forced to intercept another of attack from the hosts
immediately afterwards as Celtic struggled to impose themselves on the
Tynecastle side.

It was Thompson however who almost got the goal that Celtic’s nerves
demanded on the cusp of the half hour mark when a slack mistake from
Steven Pressley gifted possession to Henrik Larsson deep inside the
Hearts box.

The Swede strode forward before flicking the ball out to the left for
Thompson to collect and the Geordie’s first time shot was parried by
Moilanen. Minutes later the keeper got down sharply to his left hand
side to thwart a Thompson free-kick.

Next up was John Hartson who hit the side-netting after Didier Agathe
had collected the ball in the middle of the park and slipped the ball
outside to the Welshman, but in truth the striker might have been better
served hitting it across the face of the goal where Larsson awaited
rather than taking the shot.
Hartson tested Moilanen again ten minutes before the break when he tried
to turn and curl the ball round the keeper and into the net in a
cluttered six-yard box, but the stopper turned it around his post for a
corner kick that eventually came to nothing.

Celtic found the second period equally frustrating, and although there
were a couple of half chances for Larsson and Hartson it was Hearts who
almost snatched the lead.

Play was allowed to go on after referee John Rowbotham failed to punish
what appeared to be a foul on Larsson after the Swede was taken down
from the back, and from the resultant move Craig Levein’s side almost
forged ahead.

De Vries laid the ball off to Phil Stamp who was eventually foiled by a
superb block from Bobo Balde, while seconds later Douglas was forced
into a breathtaking stop from Alan Maybury.

The midfielder unleashed a ferocious drive from the edge of the box that
the Scotland keeper palmed over the crossbar with an acrobatic
one-handed stop that kept the scoreline blank.

Within minutes Celtic had opened the scoring. Larsson, inevitably, was
the man who put the ball in the back of the net – the 21st time he has
done so against Hearts in his Celtic career – but Agathe deserved a huge
chunk of the credit for his role in the strike.

The winger not only forged his way down the right flank at speed, but
did so while holding off a number of Hearts challenges before cutting
the ball across the goaline for Larsson to convert.

The lead lasted just 13 minutes, however, before Hearts levelled. A
Hearts corner wasn’t properly dealt with and Phil Stamp was allowed to
ghost in front of Hartson and bury the ball behind Douglas.

It could have got worse. Within minutes Hearts had hit the crossbar and
had a shot cleared off the line as Celtic toiled to recompose
themselves.

Jamie Smith replaced Stan Petrov with eleven minutes remaining, with the
winger stepping onto the left flank and Thompson moving inside before he
was joined on the field by Shaun Maloney at the expense of Paul Lambert.

Celtic strived for a winner, but almost on the final whistle McCann
struck a glorious strike to seal Celtic’s fate.

With Thursday’s semi-final against Boavista looming, Celtic have it all
to do if they are to avoid finishing the season empty handed.

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe, Lambert
(Maloney 83), Lennon, Petrov (Smith 79), Thompson; Hartson, Larsson.
Subs: Broto, Kennedy, McNamara.

HEARTS (4-4-2): Moilanen; Maybury, Pressley, Webster, McCann; Stamp,
MacFarlane (Boyack 82), Severin, Valois (Kirk 88), De Vries, Weir (Wales
83);. Subs: McKenzie, McKenna.

Hoops sink Killie
Alison McConnell
Scottish Premierleague,
Sunday, 13th April 2003,
Celtic Park.

CELTIC……………..2 (Larsson 20, Petrov 71)
KILMARNOCK…….0

After jostling for a place in the Final of the UEFA Cup on Thursday
night, Celtic turned their attention to the home front with a necessary
win over Kilmarnock.

With seven games remaining between now and the end of the season, there
is little question that Celtic will need all the resolve and commitment
that has been the hallmark of Martin O’Neill’s time in charge of the
club if they are to overhaul Rangers and retain the league Championship.

With games in hand to be played at Fir Park and Tynecastle, as well as
the final Old Firm match of the season three days after the second leg
of the UEFA Cup semi-final in Oporto, the Hoops remain poised between
extremes; a major trophy or an empty cabinet.

There were times on Sunday afternoon when Celtic appeared oblivious to
any such pressure with some fluent football in the opening half, however
the longer the game went on at just 1-0, the more Kilmarnock grew in
confidence and the greater Celtic’s – and the crowd’s – anxiety became.

It took Stan Petrov to slam a Larsson back-heel into the back of the net
to ease the tension and allow Celtic to relax after getting the cushion
they needed.

O’Neill stuck to the same starting eleven who took to the field against
Boavista, and in the early minutes of the game Neil Lennon received the
vocal backing of the Hoops crowd after the controversy of Thursday
evening.

Predictably, Celtic dominated the opening exchanges but their
territorial advantage took 20 minutes to translate into an opener when
John Hartson and Larsson combined to beat Gordon Marshall in the Killie
goal.

Alan Thompson started the move on the left flank with a long diagonal
ball into the feet of Hartson, and while the Welshman appeared to have
wasted too much time to take a shot, instead he flicked the ball across
goal for Larsson to sink into the net.

Prior to this Thompson had a ferocious drive tipped over the bar from
Marshall, while Rab Douglas had been forced into an equally impressive
stop from Gary McDonald.

Celtic had a decent claim for a penalty waved away by referee Alan
Freeland five minutes from the break when Didier Agathe looked to have
the feet taken from him inside the box, much to the fury of the Hoops
players.

Gary Locke had already gone into the book midway through the opening
half after a cynical foul on the winger after he skipped his way clear.

Agathe, playing his second game since returning from a hamstring injury
sustained in the last Old Firm league game at the beginning of March,
appeared to have recovered some of his confidence as well as his
fitness.

The winger has been criticised this season for failing to exploit his
pace to full effect, while the quality of his crossing has also been
questioned throughout the campaign.

The 27-year-old was the architect of a number of genuine opportunities,
and would even had got his name on the scoresheet had Marshall not
parried away his volley deep in the first period. Minutes later he took
a chance at goal again after a corner was cleared only so far as the
edge of the box, but his shot blazed over the bar.

For all that Celtic controlled the game, a 1-0 lead is always tenuous
and O’Neill would have preferred to go into the break with a more
comfortable cushion. Hartson ought to have given Celtic the second goal
their play craved when he beat the offside flag to break behind the
Killie defence, but instead of squaring to Larsson, the striker took the
shot and was denied by a decent stop from Marshall.

While Kilmarnock didn’t create too many opportunities in front of goal,
they did look capable of getting forward and on the left flank Peter
Canero in particular put in a lively performance.

Gary McDonald had to be replaced by Barry McLaughlin four minutes after
the break after the midfielder injured himself while jostling with
Thompson. McDonald was booked for the foul, a tackle that incensed
Thompson who was clearly irked by its irresponsible nature.

Larsson had two decent second half chances to add to the scoring, but
instead it was Petrov who added the second when he capitalised in a
skilful back heel from the Swede before beating Marshall with a fierce
drive.

Joos Valgaeren could have added the third after a neat one-two between
the defender and Larsson, but after going through on goal the Belgian
hit his shot off Marshall’s legs.

Jamie Smith and Shaun Maloney were introduced with seven minutes
remaining for Agathe and Petrov, with the former immediately embarking
an a glorious run and feeding Hartson inside the box, but the striker’s
attempt was too high and too wide to make an impact.

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe (Maloney 83),
Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (Smith 83), Thompson; Hartson, Larsson. Subs:
Broto, Crainey, McNamara.

KILMARNOCK (4-4-2): Marshall; Canero, Shields, Innes, Fowler; Locke,
Fulton, McDonald (McLaughlin 50), Mahood; McLaren (Boyd 76), McSwegan.
Subs: Stewart, Mclaughlin, Dindeleux, Hay.

REFEREE: Alan Freeland

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Alan Thompson

Celtic ground down but not out

Celtic 1 - 1 Boavista

Kevin McCarra at Celtic Park
Friday April 11, 2003
The Guardian

To Celtic's disappointment the first leg of the semi-final was all too much
in keeping with their stirring Uefa Cup run. Having nursed hopes of a
decisive victory over Boavista they once again find that they will have to
excel in a return match. Their scorer Henrik Larsson also missed a penalty
that would have beaten the visitors but domination had never been achieved
and the Scottish champions had briefly been 1-0 down.
"I feel exactly the same way as I did against Liverpool," the Celtic manager
Martin O'Neill said in response to this setback. "We are capable of scoring
in Portugal and I believe we will." All the same, replicating the 2-0
triumph at Anfield may prove far more tricky against the astute Portuguese
side.
The Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco excused his pragmatic tactics on the
grounds that he was up against a "great" club. It would have been more
candid to say that he doubted Celtic's creativity. His devotion to defence
was so comprehensive that there was no place even on the bench for his best
forward Silva, who is one booking away from suspension.
The centre-half Paulo Turra will be ruled out of the next game but he may
have served his purpose. Better teams than Boavista have come to Glasgow
this season but Boavista were the most resolute. So abrasive were they that
Celtic were often ground down in midfield, reduced to making the most
conservative of passes.
The demonstrative O'Neill used some of his gestures to indicate that the
crowd should be patient. Boavista have committed so many offences that the
team could appear on a "Wanted" poster. Before this tie they had collected
26 yellow cards and two red, incurring seven suspensions. Perhaps their
commitment touches blood-curdling level now and again but even in their own
city they live in the shadows of Porto, 4-1 victors over Lazio in the other
semi-final first leg last night, and appreciate how underdogs must act.
It was only appeals for penalties that made them tremble and there was no
favourable response from the Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere until the
second half. Anunciacao, harassed by the pace of Didier Agathe, tumbled in
the eighth minute and seemed to scoop the ball away with his hand while on
the turf. Later Martelinho appeared to block a shot by Larsson with his arm.
Yet Celtic's frustration did not stem purely from the official's
indifference to those claims. Boavista isolated Larsson and John Hartson
from the midfielders who should have been flooding towards them. Celtic
looked static. Boavista could have opened the scoring much earlier than they
did if Duda had not been so sloppy in his finishing after 17 minutes.
The character of the contest was worrisome to Celtic but the manner in which
it altered in the 49th minute could have left them distraught. Erivan dodged
away from Neil Lennon and sprayed a pass to Luiz Claudio on the right. The
cross he whipped low to the near post was so treacherous that Joos Valgaeren
knocked the ball into his own net.
Boavista's celebrations were understandably extravagant yet they may have
sacrificed con centration in the process. For virtually the first time in
the evening they let the Celtic midfield make inroads and conceded an
equaliser within a minute. Lennon clipped the ball in from the left and a
cushioned lay-off by Stilian Petrov invited Larsson to hold off a defender
and stroke the ball home.
Still Celtic had to fight for every inch of territory. The contest was
attritional and, when Hartson aimed a half-hit attempt that the goalkeeper
Ricardo blocked it was only because the strapping Bobo Balde had been able
to force a free-kick in his direction.
Celtic cared nothing for aesthetics and it was clear that in as grinding a
tie as this they needed to make the most of any piece of fortune. After 75
minutes the referee at last responded to a penalty appeal, ruling harshly
that Eder had chosen to handle an Alan Thompson free-kick that had deflected
towards him.
Larsson's contact from the spot was fairly good but the ball rose slightly
and Ricardo was able to make an excellent save as he leapt to his right.
Later the goalkeeper would drop a cross from the substitute Momo Sylla but
Turra blocked Hartson's attempt to stab the loose ball into the net.
Celtic know how hard it will be to make the breakthrough in Portugal now
required if they are to smash their way into the final.
Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe (Sylla, 74),
Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (Fernandez, 78), Thompson; Larsson, Hartson.
Booked: Lennon, Balde.
Boavista (3-5-2): Ricardo; Turra, Eder, Avalos; Martelinho, Anunciacao,
Pedrosa, Erivan, Loja; Duda, Claudio (Cafu, h-t; Bosingwa, 81).
Booked: Duda, Avalos, Martelinho, Turra.
Referee: F de Bleeckere (Belgium).

Celtic paint the town red

GLENN GIBBONS AT ANFIELD


Liverpool 0
Celtic 2
Celtic win 3-1 on aggregate

THE suspicion that Martin O'Neill was born to make history for Celtic began
to harden into conviction last night, when his extraordinary team added
Liverpool to the growing list of illustrious opponents they have ousted from
the UEFA Cup to reach the semi-finals.

The Irishman's unshakeable will seemed to coarse through his players during
a presentation of spirit that was quite moving. If Alan Thompson's opening
goal just before half-time was the taster, John Hartson's ferocious
right-foot drive high to the left of Jerzy Dudek after playing a one-two
with Henrik Larsson was the coup de grace. You'll Never Walk Alone was,
predictably, sung loudly at the finish but it was a lament for the Kop, a
hymn for praise for the huddle of Celtic supporters who faced them from the
other end of the famous stadium.

That goal from Thompson was hardly needed to confirm the resilience of O'
Neill's side, whose capacity for producing the improbable has been evidenced
often enough throughout the tournament.

But it was required to induce ecstasy in the 2,700 Celtic supporters who had
been promised just such a reward with some of their team's earlier,
threatening attempts on Dudek's net. It was when Djimi Traore fouled Larsson
around 28 yards from goal that the free kick was given.

Larsson ran over the ball, the Liverpool defensive wall seemed bemused and
Thompson rifled the ball low with his left foot far to the left of Dudek,
who appeared to realise from the moment the ball left the midfielder's foot
that he could do nothing to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

If there was no obligation on Liverpool to score, they did not allow that
relative luxury to disrupt their dedication to winning, while Celtic's
quest, determined by the 1-1 draw in the home leg, ensured that the centre
circle, for most of the night, would be a traffic-free zone.

Not many games are played either at one end or the other and this was a
thrilling example of the rarity. If there was a discomfiting suspicion among
the visiting support that the home side were generally quicker and more
accurate in slicing their way through midfield, it would be countered by the
menace which Celtic themselves presented around Dudek on enough occasions to
cause similar anxiety on the Kop.

Indeed, even before Thompson gave Celtic the lead, Dudek had been forced to
make more crucial saves than Robert Douglas. His first came from a terrific
free kick from Larsson after Traore had taken Stilian Petrov from behind as
the Bulgarian received a through pass from Neil Lennon.

Larsson's right-footed effort from 25 yards was sailing into Dudek's
right-hand corner when the goalkeeper leapt to push the ball away for a
corner. He had to dive lower soon after to get the merest touch on another
net-bound drive from Momo Sylla when the right wing-back suddenly spurted
through the middle of the home defence.

Liverpool's most dangerous equivalent to Celtic's shooting during that
period came from Dietmar Hamann. A corner kick from Danny Murphy on the left
was rolled out beyond the 18-yard line and dummied to the in-rushing Hamann,
the German's powerfully-hit drive skimming marginally wide.

Douglas's most effective piece of work was prompted by the extraordinary
volley produced by Steven Gerrard after a long throw had been headed out to
him. From around 25 yards, Gerrard's beautifully-controlled shot had Douglas
flying to his right to punch the ball out of harm's way.

It was after Neil Lennon had taken advantage of an over-hit pass from Sami
Hyppia and supplied him on the right that Sylla ended his diagonal run with
a delicate chip forward to Larsson. The Swede slipped Traore and seemed to
wait an age for the ball to drop to his right foot.

It was enough time for Dudek to leave his line and appear odds-on to gather,
but Larsson suddenly stuck out his right foot and dinked the ball past the
goalkeeper and wide of the latter's right post.

But Liverpool's ferocious attempts to regain parity would be the least
surprising aspect of the second half and some slack play in midfield allowed
Michael Owen to create an opportunity that seemed certain to produce the
equaliser. The striker's precise through ball found Gerrard running clear,
but Douglas sprang from his line to block the shot before the ball had
travelled two yards.

Gerard Houllier's mounting anxiety appeared to manifest itself when he
replaced the disappointing Vladimir Smicer with Milan Baros, the French
manager clearly cognisant of the general lack of menace from the Czech.

Baros did not take long to declare his own threat, bolting into the penalty
area on the right and drive the ball low across the six-yard box, but with
no receivers alert to the possibilities.

Grand National-winning jockeys have been known to claim that the experience
is better than sex; there would be those at Anfield last night who would
know what they meant.

Liverpool: Dudek; Carragher, Hyppia, Traore, Riise; Smicer, Murphy, Gerrard,
Hamann; Heskey, Owen. Subs: Arphexad, Baros, Berger, Diao, Biscan, Cheyrou,
Mellor.

Celtic: Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Sylla, Petrov, Lambert, Lennon,
Thompson; Hartson, Larsson. Subs: Marshall, McNamara, Laursen, Maloney,
Guppy, Smith, Crainey.

Celtic:

UEFA Cup quarter-finals, second leg

Boavista L, Malaga L; Besiktas 1, Lazio 2 (agg: 1-3); Liverpool 0, Celtic 2
(agg: 1-3); Panathinaikos 0, Porto 2 (aet, agg: 1-2).

Liverpool rain on Larsson's parade
GRAHAM SPIERS
Celtic 1 - Liverpool 1

Scorers: Celtic - Larsson (3); Liverpool - Heskey (17)


No-one need remind Celtic about the harsh rigours of these all-British
affairs in the UEFA Cup. Much like Blackburn Rovers' visit here in October,
Celtic for long periods had to delve deep into their character to survive a
severe interrogation from Liverpool in this quarter-final, first-leg at
Parkhead. Just as with Blackburn, too, the tie remains deliciously poised.

Celtic, though, unlike that affair, have suffered the wound of conceding at
home, a result of Emile Heskey's quick feet and despatched shot which left
Rab Douglas sprawling in the early throes of the opening half.

It proved a game in which Celtic, while never letting up on their visitors,
did not quite provoke the anxiety they would have wished. The whole plot of
this match, though, threatened to be lost in the dizzying events of the
opening minutes.

Never let anyone ever again, certainly not any uninformed buffoon from the
media, try to second-guess Martin O'Neill's courage or Henrik Larsson's
healing powers. It was a mere 32 days yesterday, as slim a time as any
surgeon would allow, since Larsson had his jaw impacted with titanium, not
to one, but two fractures. Fat chance, then, of the Swede returning here.

Larsson answered those of us who doubted him within two minutes of play,
with a goal as crucial and scruffy as any he is likely to get. It was just
as well, too, because this became an immensely difficult evening for Celtic.

Unless your heart has walls of stone, it was a European football night to
savour in Glasgow. Much had been made of these two clubs' affinity, their
shared cultural roots and the empathy of their supporters but, until you
witness such a spectacle at Parkhead, much like indulgences of the flesh,
the mere theory seems bland. Celtic Park resonated to the great football
hymn of You'll Never Walk Alone, but much more to Celtic's immediate concern
was how to shackle Michael Owen.

There was apprehension all around this crater in Glasgow's east end whenever
Liverpool's whippet of a striker seized possession. Bobo Baldé, in
particular, has been as unyielding as granite for Celtic in Europe this
season, but at times you had to shield the eyes from the sight of Owen
buzzing around the great monolith of a defender.

To be fair to Baldé, he also had Heskey to contend with and, on at least
four occasions, made the most timely interventions. Baldé, in fact, has
become a remarkable performer for Celtic in the European arena.

Larsson? Pray God, said some Celtic supporters, let the Swede be unleashed.
Yet just four weeks and four days after his fracture of the jaw, few could
have expected as dramatic an entry as this. Before trouble and anxiety had
time to invade the match for Celtic, their supporters were in
Larsson-induced raptures.

If Celtic's opening seemed a good omen, the game would prove to have no end
of eccentric aspects. For a start, following Larsson's mesmerising opener,
Liverpool would be level inside 20 minutes through Heskey, and went on, for
all that Celtic's opening had been bright, to muzzle the opening half.
Liverpool, in fact, in midfield embodied the calm pragmatism that is so
often the making of O'Neill's Celtic.

Celtic's cause wasn't helped by injury to Alan Thompson, caught in an
accidental tangle with Steven Gerrard, and occasional nerves being suffered
by Jamie Smith, who found it a tall order negotiating John Arne Riise.
Thompson was forced to make way for Steve Guppy after 26 minutes, while
Smith, after a breezy start, seemed to stall two or three times on the ball.
Slowly but surely, the young winger clawed his way into the match, but not
to the extent of posing a genuine threat.

No script would have so bluntly produced Celtic's opening salvoes: a Hartson
shot after 12 seconds which bounced off Jerzy Dudek's bar, and Larsson's
lithe reaction a couple of minutes later to put Celtic ahead. The latter
might not be remembered as one of the Swede's more golden moments, but
following Thompson's cut-back, Larsson somehow wedged himself between the
pillars of Liverpool's defence to knee the ball over the line.

To think that Larsson might have notched a second for Celtic within the
hour. Celtic were experiencing no end of interrogation from Liverpool, but
in a swift breakaway, Hartson's barging run towards the box was marred by a
slightly over-hit pass to Larsson. Much like his opening goal at Ewood Park,
the striker attempted a golfer's wedge-shot over Dudek, but the goalkeeper's
firm arms parried the ball away.

Celtic's strength of character was obvious, but Liverpool were never too
elaborate not to be able to produce goal threats themselves. After 16
minutes they were rewarded by one such incision, when Riise's swift run
carried Liverpool into the Celtic box, before the lay-off to Heskey allowed
the striker to rifle his shot low past Douglas and inside his left post. The
goal was no more than the visitors deserved.

Heskey, in fact, should have scored a second after 62 minutes when, released
by El-Hadji Diouf with a clever pass, the England striker blasted the ball
high over Douglas' bar. Had that goal gone in, the task facing Celtic might
then have seemed too arduous.

Liverpool enjoyed the best chance of the second half when Heskey's swift
turn and reverse pass put Owen in the clear behind Baldé. From the acute
angle, Douglas clearly got a left paw to Owen's thunderous whack, though a
goal-kick was awarded.

As it was, this match never failed to wind its way from end to end over the
90 minutes, and it was a pity that such a fine night of good-spirited
competition should have been marred by Diouf, who spat into the home fans
near the end, and is likely to miss the return leg once UEFA view the
incident.

----------------------------------
Advantage Houllier as O'Neill's outside bet just fails to deliver
EWING GRAHAME

When Martin O'Neill took over at Parkhead in the summer of 2000 his aim was
to make the famous old stadium a fortress again and he has certainly
succeeded. Celtic have emerged victorious from 44 of their last 47 home
matches, with the other three being drawn.

Liverpool last night managed to avoid defeat - the only club apart from
Rangers who can make that claim after a visit to the east end of Glasgow in
the last 19 months - and that at least keeps the second leg, at Anfield six
days' hence, alive.

The Scottish champions have, under the Blessed Martin, strong-armed their
way past opposition at home and abroad but, in the men from Merseyside,
found opponents who could match them for height, width and triceps. The
result made for compelling, if not exactly exhilarating, viewing.

Perhaps the major criticism applied to O'Neill - and, as the manager during
the club's most successful period since Jock Stein provided the club with
it's golden era, he hasn't had to duck too many brickbats - is that his team
selections tend to err on the side of caution. That line of argument can no
longer apply.

Earlier in the season club captain Paul Lambert had been dropped against
Blackburn Rovers. At the time, many assumed the veteran midfielder's
usefulness at the highest level was coming to an end.

His subsequent return to form gave the lie to that notion and his composed
display during Saturday's victory over Rangers suggested the 33-year-old, a
European Cup winner with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, would have been a
mainstay for the club's biggest tie since 1980.

The presence of Larsson in the starting line-up - to the sound, one assumes,
of trilbies being munched in some quarters - was by no means the biggest
surprise unveiled by the Irishman. That would have been the inclusion of
Jamie Smith, to the exclusion of Lambert. Smith, at 22, had previously never
started a major European tie or even an Old Firm game but, given the
enforced absence of Didier Agathe, Lambert was sacrificed in the hope that
his replacement would tie up John Arne Riise on the opposition's left flank.

Most people unused to the vagaries and tribulations which accompany gambling
are best advised to keep their sporadic wagers on the small side: the Celtic
manager may now be wishing he had stuck to his instincts and gone with
experience.

While Larsson's appearance, and the immediate impact he made by forcing home
Alan Thompson's driven cross in the second minute - John Hartson had already
hit the crossbar by then - was hardly surprising, nor was the struggle Smith
faced to make the step up in class.

Wide players are, by definition, peripheral to the action but that hardly
means they are bit-part players. Smith has, in his rare outings against the
Premierleague's lesser lights, shown promise but this young man,
inexplicably capped by Berti Vogts against the Republic of Ireland last
month, has a way to go yet.

Many observers believed beforehand that, given the circumstances and
O'Neill's inherent wariness, Jackie McNamara would have been the ideal
player to curb Riise's potential to inflict damage on the flanks.

When Riise burst forward for Liverpool's goal in 17 minutes, Smith was, in
trademark rookie fashion, caught ball-watching. The left-back cut inside his
marker with unexpected ease before sending Emile Heskey through to fire,
left to right, beyond the unprotected Rab Douglas.

This is hardly a criticism of Smith, who was heading into uncharted
territory, but too often he seemed unsure whether to stick or twist,
hesitating between making positive runs and attending to the defensive
duties Agathe now performs by second nature. His crossing, on the other
hand, was woeful.

Celtic's early ascendancy was soon forgotten, then, as Liverpool took
control of proceedings: the home side, by contrast, too often appeared to
operate on a hit-and-hope basis. Their supporters, unaccustomed to their
favourites being starved of possession, were understandably frustrated with
the proceedings but there were comforts to be had, particularly in the way
Bobo Baldé, Celtic's most improved player this season, coped intelligently
with the constant threat of Michael Owen.

His predecessor in the heart of Celtic's defence, Olivier Tébily, earned the
nickname Bomb Scare, but Baldé was strictly bomb disposal last night, making
telling interceptions when not muscling the England striker into areas where
his capacity to inflict damage was minimal.

Equally reassuring was Celtic's ability to create something from nothing and
only a poor touch from Larsson, attributable to ring-rustiness, allowed
Jerzy Dudek to block his shot from Hartson's knock-on. Gérard Houllier's
men, for all their possession, didn't open up their hosts.

Given that their strength is founded on their parsimonious defence, one
wonders just how important Liverpool's away goal may prove to be.
---------------------------------
Heskey and Balde left standing tall
ROB ROBERTSON

FOR a man well known for lacking confidence both as a person and as a
player, scoring early last night was always going to help Emile Heskey.

Up until now, the man Martin O'Neill sold to Liverpool for £11m when he was
manager at Leicester City, has spent most of his time in the shadow of his
diminutive striking partner Michael Owen.

While Owen is the Liverpool and England darling, Heskey is the workhorse
whose fragile self-esteem isn't helped by those who believe he doesn't put
himself about enough.

He's so sensitive to criticism he never reads newspapers in case something
bad is written about him, while Gérard Houllier refers to him as his
"sleeping giant". Always defended by the Liverpool coach, the man who signed
him, Houllier believes playing Heskey up front beside Owen is the perfect
striking partnership. Even Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England coach, agrees.

Why, then, are they still a frustrating pair to watch, as it turned out last
night? If you were picking holes in their partnership it would be the fact
that neither are very good at holding the ball up and lose too much
possession, not a good trait in away UEFA Cup ties. On the plus side, Owen
in particular is lightning-fast, while together they can't be left alone for
a second. Bobo Baldé, Johan Mjällby and Joos Valgaeren, who was usually the
extra man, were given the job of closing down the pair.

Mjällby was left for dead in 16 minutes when Heskey turned him to score
before an isolated Baldé could get across to close him down.

His critics say the Liverpool striker has plenty of power but lacks
refinement or commitment. That may be the case in some games but he showed
last night his sheer size can intimidate even the most experienced players.

However, even the biggest boys can get scared now and again. The way Heskey
flicked the ball away quickly with Baldé bearing down on him just before his
goal suggested his fragile confidence may have been about to crash. But once
he scored he was a different player altogether and he nearly scored a second
just after the hour mark.

But what of Owen? His goal at Parkhead five and a half years ago in the UEFA
Cup at Parkhead propelled him into the domestic spotlight and his great goal
against Argentina in the World Cup brought him international acclaim.

Last night he was lively once again but didn't get many chances to add to
his club-equalling record of 20 European goals, which he shares with Ian
Rush - who now works on finishing with both Owen and Heskey at Anfield.

Owen's best chance came 15 minutes from time when a Heskey cross picked him
out but the England internationalist hit the side net from an acute angle
with only Rab Douglas to beat.

The Celtic back three had a reasonable evening marking the Liverpool front
two with the pick of the bunch being big Baldé, who had an outstanding first
half.

It's easy to forget that the man from Guinea was 25 before he made his name
at Toulouse before joining Celtic two years later. If one incident showed
his class and importance on the night it came four minutes into the second
half when he dispossessed Owen, who was bearing down on goal, before
stroking the ball to safety.

His single-minded pursuit of winning the ball at all costs makes for great
entertainment, as long as you aren't the player who is in his line of
vision.

It can also cause him problems, as happened last night when he was so busy
watching the flight of a Liverpool free-kick he let it hit his hand in the
penalty area and was lucky not to concede a spot-kick.

"Playing in Europe is like meeting Rangers and you can feel the atmosphere,"
said Baldé, who stands 6 ft 3in tall and weighs in at 14 stone, and never
gets tired of telling you how much he enjoys playing foreign opposition.

Clearly he relished the occasion last night and kept the Liverpool front two
in check for most of the game. He is slowly losing the tag of a man who
relies on strength and little else to get him through a game and has grown
in stature since he marked John Carew of Valencia out of the game at
Parkhead in the UEFA Cup last term.

Valgaeren and Mjällby - the Swede had marked Owen out of the game on at
least two occasions in matches against England - proved good back up for
Baldé and they looked a solid unit.

However, the winners on the night were Heskey for his goal and Baldé for his
overall performance. When the pair meet at Anfield in the return leg next
week, expect a similar battle.

----------------------------------------
Wheecht along on night of schmaltz
JOHN TRAYNOR

I WAS intoxicated with anticipation and, somewhere inside my cluttered
sensorium, Bodhrans, fiddles and flutes were upping their dideley-dideley
tempo and I was wheecht away on the swirl of a Celtic Hootenanny.

Unfortunately, some schmaltzy kitsch from Carousel gatecrashed the
shenanigans, to be sure.

"Let your dreams be tossed and blown, Walk on, Walk on," the Celtic and
Liverpool fans sang along with Gerry Marsden, who obviously is in better
health these days since there was no need for a pacemaker.

I can't believe I wrote that. Anyhow, one had to wonder if Rodgers and
Hammerstein knew, six decades ago, that You'll Never Walk Alone would be
guaranteed to make many a Scot and Scouser shed a salty tear in a football
stadium. But it was karaoke night at Celtic Park and oh how they sang.

Meanwhile, how anyone from central or eastern Europe, Scandinavian or
African could have understood any of it, let alone figure out why opposing
fans should be singing the same song is a mystery.

Nevertheless, both teams got on with their jobs.

Talking of which, Five's Jonathan Pearce got on with his from his Parkhead
perch and let me tell you something about him: he is the tubby little pest
we all knew, the one who wanted to be Johan Cruyff in every after school
kickabout but got put in goal in exchange for his pocket-money and football
stickers.

No liniment in his nostrils, no dubbin under his fingernails and no
substance. But know what, this seriously annoying talking head could get
Tony Blair off the hook with the UN, daft as that may seem.

The PM should pump the volume on recordings of the chubby duffer's
commentaries from the outskirts of Baghdad, day and night, and Saddam would
surely come out with his hands up. Easy Peasy. Besides, Operation Pearce
Prattle has a catchy ring to it, don't you think?

Perhaps not, but Pearce must have bust a blood vessel when Henrik Larsson
satisfied the Celtic fans need when he kneed the opening goal in just two
minutes.

"He's Hans Christian Andersen," Kenny Dalglish said, but prior to that he
came up with a useful information, courtesy of this nugget. "He's a strong
boy, strong physically and mentally. But if he gets a bang on the jaw, that
could be a problem."

The man has just recovered from a broken jaw and I don't need a weatherman
to say which way the wind blows, Kenny. Talking to the television in Bob
Dylan-speak is a habit I'm trying to break.

One habit I'm happy to mosey along with, however, is telling it as it is
and, let's face it, Liverpool should have had a penalty shortly after the
break when big Bobo Baldé handled a high ball inside the box.

Ray Houghton, Pearce's co-commentator, thought so and he said during the
replay of the incident: "You can see Baldé hitting it with his hand, I don't
know how the referee could have missed it."

Nor do I, but that aside, listening to Houghton was quite interesting. For
did you not notice that he has the same whisky-fuelled nasal tone as Willie
Nelson.

In fact, I thought it was the good ol' country boy himself until he appeared
on the screen with the fat fella at half-time.

But if Houghton sounds like Nelson, then Five's resident Lilliputian, Pat
Nevin, is beginning to look more and more like Gobbo, the naughty goblin of
Toytown who causes Noddy no end of bother.

Walk on, Walk on, etc etc!
-------------------------
Liverpool will walk alone into the semis
KAREN GILES: ENGLISH VIEW

Same old song, same old story. You'll never walk alone, but you can forget
the Uefa Cup. Liverpool have this quarter-final all but wrapped up after
weathering the Parkhead storm whipped up by Celtic's Premiership exiles.

Not enough was made beforehand of the players in the Celtic ranks with a
vested interest in rubbing red noses in the Parkhead turf. Three years ago,
Alan Thompson slipped off the English radar, crossing the border, signing
for Celtic, surrendering all rights to be taken seriously.

A natural leftie, a player who has made a career out of charging up and down
the flanks, delivering crosses with his left boot. But has Sven-Göran
Eriksson, the England coach, so much as cast a sideways glance in Thompson's
direction?

Such is the fate of those who cross the great divide. Chris Sutton, back to
his prolific best in the green and white hoops after going off the boil at
Chelsea, will never play for England again. And judging by the way in which
he set about Liverpool last night, a vision of scarcely disguised contempt,
he will not lose sleep over his lack of caps. England's loss is Celtic's
gain. Along with John Hartson, Sutton could not have wished for a better
opportunity to prove his 'English' detractors wrong.

Or so it seemed in the first few seconds, as the anti-England brigade ripped
through the heart of the Liverpool defence. First Hartson clipped the
crossbar, from a searching Thompson cross. Then the belligerent-looking
Welshman headed the ball back across goal, for Thompson to swipe at and
Larsen to convert, with his knee, between the legs of Jerzy Dudek. Cold and
clinical, you feared for Liverpool's safety. Ruud van Nistelrooy and co were
pussycats compared with these steely-eyed assassins.

Aerial firepower versus speed off the blocks, the Premierleague versus the
Premiership, but what about Michael Owen? The little chap with super-charged
boots, who scored his first ever European goal on this pitch five and a half
years ago, had been expected to strike fear and dread in Celtic's back
three. Having upset Manchester United in the Worthington Cup final a
fortnight ago, with a deftly-taken strike on the counter-attack, this was
supposed to be Owen's night. And he barely got a look in.

Instead it was Emile Heskey, the player Liverpool fans love to hate, who
scored the goal away from home that could yet seal Celtic's fate. And how
fitting that one of O'Neill's former pupils at Leicester should provide the
inspiration for Liverpool's recovery. Anxious to please, as he was at
Filbert Street, the England striker showed no sign of the hamstring injury
that threatened his participation last night. It was a peach of a left-foot
finish.

Five years ago Gérard Houllier snubbed Celtic in favour of his beloved
Liverpool, the club he supported as a young man. This week, he did it again.
"When I came here the facilities were not great. When I looked at Celtic
they were not good either. How are they now? Still not good at Celtic. At
Liverpool we have changed it around, we have made a lot of progress on and
off the field." Four trophies, including the Uefa Cup two years ago.

And the Celtic hurricane blew itself out, as we half-suspected it would.

No-one could keep up that sort of pressure for long, all that bloody-minded
force and fury. Once the element of surprise had been negated, Larsson's
characteristic strike of impudence cancelled out by Heskey's measured
finish, it all became rather predictable. Even without his partner in crime,
Stéphane Henchoz, Sami Hyypiä soon got the measure of the lofted ball.
Steven Gerrard, speechless at the start, found his voice and his range.

Celtic's double penalty claim early in the second half was a nonsense, as
the Norwegian referee confirmed, with a dismissive flourish of his hand. Far
more deserving were Liverpool, after Bobo Baldé's handball in the opposite
box. Curiously, not a single red shirt appealed for the spot kick. It made
you wonder whether Liverpool had taken all the pre-match 'bosom buddy
business' a bit too seriously. All those testimonials and sharing of a theme
tune. At times, Liverpool seemed a bit too squidgy.

-March 14th

Scottish Premier League,
Saturday March 8, 2003,
Celtic Park
CELTIC. 1
Hartson 57
RANGERS. 0
Before this match, all the paper talk had been of white flags and surrender.
However, if this was indeed a must-win game - as Martin O'Neill seemed to
suggest it was - then Celtic served a reminder to everyone that the only
flag they intend hoisting over Paradise is another championship one.

This wasn't a classic Old Firm derby by any stretch of the imagination, but
at the close of play no-one could question that the Hoops thoroughly merited
the three points secured by John Hartson's 57th minute strike.

Celtic had taken the field with the pre-match words of their manager ringing
in their ears, knowing that the challenge was to win - or see their title
hope evaporate. Rangers, meanwhile, were chasing their first victory at
Celtic Park in almost three years and, during a predictably scrappy opening
10 minutes, it was the Ibrox side who made most of the running.

Noteworthy opportunities for either side were conspicuous by their absence
at this stage, however, and, for all the din being created by those within
Celtic Park, it took until the 15-minute mark for either set of supporters
to be given anything in the way of encouragement.
It was then that, from a re-taken Stilian Petrov corner, the ball flashed
across Stefan Klos' goal and, with the Rangers defence statuesque, Hartson
failed to react quick enough and merely sliced his shot harmlessly wide of
the right-hand post.

It was the type of opportunity Celtic could ill afford to let slip, although
O'Neill's men did appear to be establishing a stranglehold on proceedings as
the half wore on. Indeed, both Fernando Ricksen and Craig Moore found their
way into referee Mike McCurry's book inside the opening 20 minutes as
Rangers resorted to illegal means to prevent their hosts carving out any
further clear-cut chances.

Alex McLeish's men weren't entirely without attacking bite themselves,
though, and they very nearly snatched an opening goal against the run of
play in 28 minutes when Mikel Arteta pounced on some negligent defending by
Stilian Petrov to smash a vicious left-foot drive inches wide of Douglas'
right-hand post.

The battle between Petrov and Arteta, the sides' most creatively-minded
midfielders, was a particularly intriguing one, and Celtic's talented young
Bulgarian very nearly made up for his moment of casualness when he cracked
in a long-range drive of his own, only to see it deflected wide off Lorenzo
Amoruso.

This incident typified the frustration O'Neill's side were enduring at this
juncture, and their cause was dealt a further blow on 35 minutes when Didier
Agathe was withdrawn with an injury which could yet keep him out of the club
's forthcoming European and League Cup matches. They also watched as Alan
Thompson was denied what appeared to be a legitimate penalty when the
Geordie midfielder crumpled under the challenge of Craig Moore as he headed
for the by-line.

It had been a dreadful first half in all truth, though, and Celtic fans
demanded better when heir side emerged for the start of the second half. And
better they got, certainly in an opening 10-minute period which offered more
entertainment than the previous 45 put together.

Indeed, Celtic should have broken the deadlock inside five minutes of the
match re-starting when Thompson sought out Hartson with one of his pinpoint
crosses only to see the big Welshman somehow contrive to direct his header
wide from six yards. Yet, while the miss was glaring in the extreme, Hartson
wasted little time in making amends because, just seven minutes later, he
fired the Hoops into the lead.

And what a goal it was. Thompson, picking up the ball just inside the
Rangers half, lofted a diagonal pass towards Sutton at the far corner of the
area and, when the former Blackburn man cushioned the ball on his head,
Hartson was on hand to control it on his thigh before lashing a right-foot
volley beyond the helpless Klos.
It was a terrific goal, and one which bore testament to the burly striker's
composure and technique as well as his renowned power. It also gave Celtic
the initiative in this match and, rather than protecting their slender lead,
the Hoops set about extending it.

Indeed, on the hour mark, a killer second nearly arrived from an unlikely
source when Neil Lennon emerged from midfield to fire a well struck volley a
matter of inches wide of Klos' left-hand post. Celtic's domination was
complete and, recognising this, Alex McLeish threw on both Stephen Thompson
and Claudio Caniggia - increasing the number of Rangers strikers on display
to five.

But it was to no avail. Celtic could, and perhaps even should, have made the
final 10 minutes a little less nervy for their supporters when Sutton failed
to find an unmarked Paul Lambert in the centre when he had space and time on
his side. It mattered little, though, when the final whistle brought down
the curtain on a vital Old Firm victory.
Website Man of the Match: PAUL LAMBERT
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe (Sylla 35),
Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (McNamara 84), Thompson; Sutton, Hartson
Subs: Broto, Maloney, Crainey
RANGERS (4-3-3): Klos; Ross (Konterman 84), Moore, Amoruso, Bonnissel
(Thompson 68); Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta (Caniggia 74); McCann, Lovenkrands,
Arveladze
Subs: McGregor, Malcolm

Celtic 3 Hibernian 2
By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Johan Mjallby grabbed an injury time winner to keep Celtic's Scottish
Premier League title hopes on course after they had been hauled back to
level terms by Hibernian.

The Hoops enjoyed a dream start to the game when John Hartson opened the
scoring after just one minute, before grabbing a second goal midway
through the first half.

Two goals from Tom McManus cancelled out Hartson's brace but Mjallby
ensured the points would be staying at Parkhead when he nodded home in
injury time.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill decided to make changes to his squad for
today's game against Hibernian following Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with
Stuttgart.

The most notable omission for the game at Parkhead was goalkeeper Robert
Douglas - a goalkeeping crisis meant he had been forced to return to
action early from a hernia operation to ensure Celtic's progression in
the UEFA Cup in Germany.

He was given the chance to rest ahead of the impending double-headers
against Rangers and Liverpool and was replaced by reserve goalkeeper
Javier Sanchez Broto, who had been ineligible to play in the European
tie.

Also missing from the starting line-up to face Hibs were Bobo Balde,
Ulrik Laursen and Chris Sutton, who were replaced by Johan Mjallby,
Stephen Crainey and Shaun Maloney.

Injury meant Hibs boss Bobby Williamson was also forced replace first
choice keeper Nick Colgan with Daniel Andersson, while Alen Orman, John
O'Neil and Mixu Paatelainen were replaced by Paul Fenwick, Derek
Townsley and Garry O'Connor.




Celtic could not have asked for a better start to the game when they
took the lead after just one minute.

Alan Thompson spotted John Hartson unmarked on the corner of the
six-yard box and picked out the big striker with the cross, the Welshman
gratefully nodding his 21st goal of the season past stunned Hibernian
goalkeeper Daniel Andersson.

The Easter Road side thought they had levelled seven minutes later when
Tam McManus shrugged off Johan Mjallby to pounce on a long ball into the
area. He nodded past Javier Sanchez Broto from just a few yards out but
the assistant referee's flag was already raised for offside.

Celtic had a great chance to add to their lead after 12 minutes when
Mjallby played a short pass to Shaun Maloney and he tried to squeeze the
ball home from 12 yards, but pulled the effort just wide of the post
instead.

Maloney had the opportunity to make amends a few minutes later when he
met Thompson's cross before trying his luck from the edge of the
six-yard box but this time was denied by Andersson.


A free kick 35 yards out gave Maloney another chance to add his name to
the scoresheet but the set-piece was easily held by the Hibs goalkeeper.

Maloney had to settle for being the provider for Hartson's second goal
of the day.

His corner was met by Hartson at the near post and the big striker left
Andersson with no chance when he bulleted a header home from close range
to extend Celtic's lead after 23 minutes.

Despite the setback, Hibs continued to push forward and they were
rewarded seven minutes before the break when they pulled a goal back.

Garry O'Connor played the ball into the area and the cross should have
been easily held by Broto but he fumbled the ball under pressure from
McManus, allowing the young striker to round him before slotting home
from close range.

Celtic tried to respond quickly and Hartson could have grabbed his
hat-trick a couple of minutes later but his header smacked off the
crossbar under close marking from Ian Murray.

HT: Celtic 2 Hibernian 1

Neither manager decided to take advantage of the half-time interval to
make changes and both sides had chances to find the back of the net
shortly after the restart.

Maloney once again presided over a long-range free-kick but, like his
previous attempt, the 30-yard shot was weak and easily cleared by the
Hibs defence.

The action switched to the other end of the park and the Easter Road
side were unlucky not to level after 49 minutes. Craig James' corner
kick had been cleared by Mjallby but the ball broke to Murray who
unleashed an impressive drive only to be denied by Broto, who turned the
effort past the post.

Hibs were beginning to grow in confidence and Derek Townsley had a
couple of decent chances to find the back of the net.

He met a James cross after 55 minutes only to see his header easily
blocked by Broto and the Spanish goalkeeper was called into action again
three minutes later - this time to block Townsley's diving header from a
Grant Brebner cross.

Brebner did manage to set up Hibs' second goal but the plaudits went to
McManus again when he produced a dazzling 25-yard drive to cannon the
ball past Broto after 59 minutes.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, only the heroics of the
Hibernian goalkeeper prevented Hartson from clinching his hat-trick, and
reclaiming Celtic's lead, when Andersson somehow managed to block his
shot from six yards.

Celtic continued to push forward in a desperate attempt to secure the
three points but they found themselves frustrated by the Hibs defence.

But, with only injury time remaining, Mjallby secured all three points
when he met a corner kick to head home the winner at the far post from
just a couple of yards.

FT: Celtic 3 Hibernian 2

Dream start keeps Celtic on path to European glory

Stuttgart 3 - 2 Celtic 2
Celtic win 5-4 on aggregate

Graham Clark
Friday February 28, 2003
The Guardian

It has taken Celtic 23 years to remain in Europe beyond Christmas but the
Scottish champions have clearly taken a liking to this hitherto unchartered
territory.
Martin O'Neill's team are now in the Uefa Cup quarter-finals, following a
first-leg win in Glasgow, and a narrow Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium defeat
against Stuttgart completed an impressive 5-4 aggregate victory.
In recent months Celtic have inflicted defeats on sides from Spain's La Liga
in the shape of Celta Vigo, Blackburn Rovers from the Premiership and now
Stuttgart from the Bundesliga in Germany. Their European credentials can no
longer be questioned. O'Neill declared as much when he said: "We're through
and that is what matters. We also deserve to be in the quarter-finals.
"This was another marvellous effort and although it became more nervous than
necessary for us late on I felt we were in command by and large.
"The start was excellent and exactly what we wanted and from there we should
probably have won the game. But Stuttgart are a quality team. They are third
in the Bundesliga and showed why in the latter stages. We have achieved
another excellent result."
The start had gone far better than manager and players had dared hope as
they weathered the home team's early storm and then struck with deadly
effect not just once, but twice in the opening quarter of an hour. Stuttgart
were caught with sucker-punches that not just laid them low but ultimately
proved to knock them out.
The Germans had started brightly enough. Andreas Hinkel went close and
Steffen Dangelmayr, with a free header after seven minutes from a Krassimir
Balakov corner, should certainly have done better than head wide as well.
Yet Celtic defended stoutly in that vital spell and having soaked up the
Stuttgart pressure they grabbed the opening goal after just 12 minutes when
a brilliant Didier Agathe run and cross, and a header on from John Hartson,
allowed Alan Thompson in to nod past Hildebrand.
It was the ideal start for the Scots and it quickly became perfect when just
three minutes later Celtic added a second through Chris Sutton after more
excellent work from Agathe on the right. That was effectively that as Celtic
held a 5-1 aggregate lead and Stuttgart, even if their pride dictated
otherwise, knew so.
They struggled until it was too late to show any of the form that has taken
them to third in the Bundesliga, although Hinkel might have had a penalty
when he was tripped by Thompson after 31 minutes.
The Englishman was fortunate then but not so lucky seven minutes later when
he was injured as the home side pulled a goal back. Heiko Gerber did well on
the left and when he spotted Christian Tiffert in the area vacated by the
absent Thompson he flighted the cross over and the youngster sent a simple
header past Rab Douglas.
The remarkable first half rendered the second 45 minutes largely redundant
although Stuttgart served notice of their intent when they re-started with
striker Viorel Ganea in place of the central defender Dangelmayr, and while
it was a gamble that never looked like paying the full dividend they gained
some reward.
The Stuttgart manager Felix Magath tried another switch after 64 minutes
when Michael Mutzel went on for Tiffert but the Germans were in disarray by
then and Celtic's huge travelling support weren't slow to remind the locals
of the fact.
Yet there was one last push to come from Stuttgart - desperate to avoid the
humilia tion of a home defeat. Aliaksander Helb burst through after 75
minutes to equalise and while it was no cause for Scottish concern when the
same player hit the post with a searing drive shortly after nerves began to
jangle a little.
They were positively rattling, in fact, when after Shaun Maloney and Jackie
McNamara replaced Lambert and Sutton substitute Mutzel gave his side the
winning lead in the 87th minute.
Stuttgart (4-1-3-2): Hildebrand; Hinkel, Dangelmayr (Ganea, 46), Wenzel,
Gerber (Seitz, 80); Soldo; Hleb, Balakov, Tiffert (Mutzel, 65); Kuranyi,
Amanatidis.
Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe, Lennon, Lambert
(Maloney, 82), Petrov, Thompson; Hartson, Sutton (McNamara, 87).
Referee: J Wegereef (Holland).

Celtic punish 10-man Stuttgart

Celtic 3 - 1 VfB Stuttgart

Kevin McCarra
Friday February 21, 2003

Celtic had one of their finest results in modern times despite the
unpromising circumstances of this Uefa Cup fourth-round tie. As eviction
from the Champions League by Basle showed, a 3-1 lead from the home leg is
not always sufficient but the players can pause to cherish this eventful
win.
Martin O'Neill's men, disadvantaged by injuries and the suspension of John
Hartson, prayed for some rogue event that would tilt the balance back
towards them. They got it, too, with Marcelo Bordon, Stuttgart's Brazilian
centre-back, sent off for a professional foul after 19 minutes.
The red card was a challenge to take command of the game, if not the tie,
but Celtic could not meet it immediately.
The visitors, a man down, were soon a goal ahead and it was an unexpected
achievement for Celtic to gain the lead by the interval. Their character
shone through even in the absence of some of their talent.
Celtic had not been at this modestly advanced stage of a European
competition for 23 years and there were real questions about their merits in
such a context. This was not the ideal juncture for Celtic to field awkward
inquiries.
Once Henrik Larsson had been ruled out with a broken jaw, there was never
any threat to Pierluigi Collina's status as the glitziest figure on the
pitch. As far as Celtic were concerned, the referee was welcome to his
celebrity because this was no night for glamour from the Scottish champions.
They are a pragmatic bunch and tumultuous aggression was the pronounced
element of their repertoire here.
Lacking the enterprise of Larsson, manager O'Neill placed a marked emphasis
on experience as he sought a line-up that could stand its ground against a
currently potent Bundesliga side.
The captain Paul Lambert is often left on the bench at the start of the most
trying fixtures but he was reinstated this time. The long-serving Jackie
McNamara was accommodated as well, even if that meant pushing the midfielder
back into defence.
There was no rhythm to the team at the start and the visitors' attackers
looked predatory. The nature of the struggle changed, all the same, when
Shaun Maloney, Larsson's understudy, sent Stilian Petrov on a run that was
halted coarsely by Bordon 30 yards out. Other Stuttgart players were
hurtling back, but the centre-half had been the last man and Collina had no
reason to excuse him.
Steffen Dangelmayr's introduction as a replacement for the centre-half meant
that Ioannis Amanatidis, one of the forwards, had to be removed. Despite
that reduction in firepower, Stuttgart broke through in the 26th minute when
Kevin Kuranyi headed in a chip from Krassimir Balakov.
The setback dispelled Celtic's inhibitions and, with Didier Agathe dynamic,
they played with the zest of men who had nothing left to lose. Their goal,
in the 39th minute, was thoughtfully constructed as Petrov chested down a
McNamara cross and Lambert slanted a controlled drive into the corner of the
net.
Felix Magath's men were apprehensive and six minutes later Dangelmayr proved
a sorry deputy for Bordon, bungling a through ball by Alan Thompson which
put Maloney in position to accept his opportunity sharply.
That was a piercing blow to Stuttgart but this is a hardened, fit side and
energy only trickled out of them instead of gushing away as Celtic hoped.
Still, Celtic maintained a high tempo and the patterns of their play grew
more marked. Lambert, 34, was restored now as the orchestrator of the
build-up. The captain needed treatment for a foul that left him in a heap
but there was no chance that he would let himself be withdrawn from this
occasion easily.
It was Lambert who delivered a shrewd pass for his side's third goal in the
68th minute. It picked out the run of Petrov and, drilling the ball in from
close to the byline on the right, he beat the goalkeeper Timo Hilderbrand at
the near post.
That finish confounded geometry just as, to Celtic's joy, the night was
defying logic.
Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; McNamara, Balde (Laursen, 88), Valgaeren; Agathe,
Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson (Smith, 69); Maloney, Sutton.
VfB Stuttgart (4-3-1-2): Hildebrand; Hinkel, Meira, Bordon, Gerber; Meissner
(Aundio, 76), Soldo, Hleb (Carnell, 52); Balakov; Amanatidis (Dangelmayr,
19), Kuranyi.
Sent off: Bordon.
Booked: Meira, Meissner.
Referee: P Collina (Italy).

Maloney can be silver lining as Larsson cloud falls on Celtic Stand-in shows he is ready to take over, writes GRAHAM SPIERS
Celtic 2 - Livingston 1
Scorers: Celtic - Sylla (77), Sutton (85); Livingston - Zarate (52).
There was nothing routine about this desperate Celtic victory yesterday,
save for a reminder once more for Martin O'Neill that, in Shaun Maloney, he
has in his possession a little gem of a footballer. For a more garish
reason, though, there is at Parkhead today a terrible sense of trauma.
The loss of Henrik Larsson, who departed after 13 minutes with a
double-fracture of the jaw, is surely still too horrible to contemplate for
O'Neill. Larsson, who was immediately whisked off to hospital and operated
on last night, will be out for as long as two months, landing a savage blow
on Celtic's domestic and European ambitions.
If there is a shaft of light at all for Celtic, it surely surrounds little
Maloney. Replacing Larsson yesterday, he gradually unravelled a gutsy and
skilful Livingston side and, more pertinently, cracked in two sumptuous
free-kicks, neither of which Alan Main or his Livingston team-mates were
capable of coping with. It was as a direct result of these two devilish
Maloney efforts, in the 77th and 84th minutes, that Celtic finally grabbed
the points.
At 5ft 5in there is nothing physically intimidating about Maloney, but this
wasn't the first time that either O'Neill or the rest of us were presented
with his array of talents. Not only is his dead-ball aptitude an appliance
of art, but he can run with the ball at pace and spread dizziness among
def-enders.
While Larsson's loss is shocking to Celtic, Maloney did nothing but
emphasize to O'Neill that there need be no debate about the Swede's
replacement to play beside either Chris Sutton or John Hartson.
"I thought Shaun was sensational, utterly magnificent," said O'Neill of the
striker whom he rushed to warmly embrace at the final whistle. "Before he
inflicted his blows we were beginning to think it might not be our day." On
an afternoon of various festering issues for O'Neill, he was entitled to a
huge sigh of relief.
This outcome, while being critical to the SPL still having a championship
race to speak of, still seemed a bit of a brutal injustice to Livingston.
The West Lothian side had been tactically excellent under Jim Leishman and
Davie Hay, with Francisco Quino and Stuart Lovell, in particular, both
regularly grasping the play in midfield. Prior to their opening goal after
53 minutes, indeed, Livingston might well have been ahead, and it was only
in the final six minutes that Celtic could feel assured of plucking all
three points.
It is hard to know what to make of this Livi team, a colourful brigade of
Spaniards and South Americans who seem utterly out of kilter in sleepy West
Lothian. Even more remarkable at Parkhead yesterday was the re-appearance of
Eugene Dadi, the great non-specialist in the art of scoring goals, whose
January of hawking himself around some of the clubs of the Gulf States was
so unproductive, and doubtless so goalless, that he has wound up back where
he started - with Livingston.
Amid this list of characters and more, a man such as Dominic Keane, the Livi
chairman, has been nothing if not creative and original in building his
football club. It has, though, had a disorientating effect on those of us
who were used to Scotland's smaller clubs being packed with Rabs and Bobs.
Rolando Zarate, though, looked a sterling striker. He had already whacked in
a screaming free-kick which Magnus Hedman acrobatically tipped round a post
before grabbing Livi their lead after 53 minutes. The goal followed some
shambolic Celtic defending, during which the home side twice failed to clear
the ball properly, resulting in Joos Valgaeren being horribly short with a
pass-back, which allowed Zarate to round Hedman and prod the ball home.
With John Hartson dropped by O'Neill, Celtic could have done without the
misfortune of Larsson's loss. The incident was felt all the more by the
Celtic manager, given that Larsson and Sutton, restored beside each other in
Celtic's attack, had seemed to be enjoying all their old understanding
together. The cross from Sutton, indeed, from which Larsson was injured
while attempting his header, was the third such manoeuvre concocted between
the two in those brief opening minutes.
While Livingston were astute in their play, Celtic, through Maloney in
particular, slowly turned the screw. After 77 minutes Sutton was upended,
following which Maloney shooed away anyone who showed an interest in the
dead-ball before licking a shot which crashed back off Main's right post.
The rebound slammed down into the path of the on-rushing Momo Sylla -
himself no slouch for Celtic - who bundled the ball home.
Seven minutes later Celtic secured their heart-felt win. This time it was
Valgaeren, sprinting forward and rather cleverly inviting a challenge in
order to win a free-kick in Maloney's range, who crashed to earth amid a
thicket of Livi defenders. Again, Maloney stood over the ball while Main
constructed his wall. Seconds later, another free-kick zipped towards the
Livi goalkeeper, who this time slapped it back into the path of Sutton, who
shot into the net.
Celtic ended the match by playing for time in the corners, with two
substitutes, Paul Lambert and Steve Guppy, using their old pros' cynicism
and cunning to make sure the game was killed. It was a mere symptom of how
much this was a salvage job for Celtic.
-Feb 10th

Balde double gives Celtic the final word

Graham Clark at Hampden Park
Friday February 7, 2003
The Guardian

Bobo Balde proved an unlikely hero, Henrik Larsson a predictable one, as
Celtic made sure of another Old Firm fixture in the shape of the CIS
Insurance Cup final on March 16.
Celtic against Rangers will surprise no one, yet this semi-final scoreline
was in some ways astonishing. Dundee United, displaying new character and
commitment under their recently appointed manager Ian McCall, did not
deserve to lose by three goals.
The Tannadice team, in fact, had the better of the first-half chances, Derek
Lilley being twice denied by Joos Valgaeren and Ulrik Laursen, but their
brave challenge evaporated in the face of Balde's opener after 52 minutes
and the sending-off of Jim Lauchlan for a wild tackle on Larsson four
minutes later.
The prolific Swede, with a good finish on 80 minutes, and Balde, with an
injury-time header, completed the picture but Celtic's manager Martin
O'Neill was left afterwards to deny again speculation linking him with
Liverpool rather than celebrating victory.
"This is embarrassing," he said. "I don't know how many times we have to go
through this. It is simply not true." He went on: "We were a bit sloppy in
the first half but came through. We have a lot to look forward to now." That
includes two Old Firm matches in eight days next month, with the possibility
of a Uefa Cup tie between.
There is no such glamour for McCall, who had no argument over Lauchlan's red
card, which was part of a litany of indiscipline that saw Charlie Miller and
Jim McIntyre from his own team booked as well as Jamie Smith, Paul Lambert
and John Hartson.
Celtic (3-5-2): Hedman; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Sylla, 81),
Lambert, Lennon, Sutton, Smith (Fernandez, 72); Hartson (Thompson, 72),
Larsson.
Booked: Lambert, Hartson, Smith.
Dundee United (3-5-2): Combe; Wilson, Lauchlan, McCracken; Duff, Miller
(O'Donnell, 73), Easton, McIntyre, Paterson (McCunnie, 69); Lilley, Dodds
(Hamilton, 62).
Booked: McIntyre, Miller.
Sent off : Lauchlan.
Referee: S Dougal.

Sunday 2nd February 2003

CELTIC.........2 (Sutton 7, 33)
PARTICK THISTLE...0
A first-half brace from Chris Sutton ensured that the biting cold at Firhill had little effect on the Hoops as Martin O'Neill's side kept the heat turned
up on Rangers.
With the Ibrox side taking all three points from their encounter with Aberdeen almost 24 hours earlier, it was imperative that Celtic claimed victory in Maryhill. Neil Lennon made his first senior appearance in almost eight weeks after recovering from a torn hamstring, while Ulrik Laursen
stepped into the injured Johan Mjallby's shoes. There were also starting places for Jackie McNamara and Jamie Smith, while John Hartson and Paul Lambert were both rested.
Hartson sustained a knock in the Lisbon Lions benefit game against Feyenoord, and although he played and scored against Dundee United midweek, the injury was causing him a little pain.
With a blizzard coinciding with kick-off it was the kind of afternoon when football often becomes a bystander, but it was to the Hoops' credit that
they started the game full of energy and commitment, despite the torrid underfoot conditions.
Within seven minutes Sutton had found the net for the first time in the game. Immediately prior to the goal the striker had an appeal for a penalty
turned away by referee Kenny Clark as he tumbled under a Kevin McGowne challenge. No spot-kick was given, and instead the whistler sounded for a corner. Stan Petrov swung a deep ball from the right into the back post where Larsson got a touch before the ball was partially cleared to Jackie McNamara at the edge of the box.
The midfielder hit a fierce shot that Sutton, cleverly beating the offside trap, pounced on to turn high into the net and beyond the despairing arms of Thistle keeper Kenny Arthur. It was the start that Celtic had aimed for, and although Thistle tried to force themselves into the game as the minutes ticked by the resolve of O'Neill's side was firm.
Magnus Hedman was forced into two decent stops in three minutes from David Rowson and Alan Archibald midway through the opening period, while Petrov
was the first name into the book on the brink of the half hour mark when he was found guilty of a late challenge on David Lilley. Although Thistle restricted Celtic to limited chances inside the box, Sutton's second goal 12 minutes before the break was a critical strike and from which is was difficult to envisage Thistle overturning.
Lennon shuffled the ball out to Didier Agathe on the right flank and the winger's forward dash followed by a low cross across the face of the goal wasn't properly dealt with by the Thistle defence. The ball fell into Sutton's path and the striker slipped the ball under Arthur and into the bottom right-hand corner.
It could have got worse for Thistle before the break. Larsson struck a free-kick that dipped narrowly wide of the left-hand post, while the Swede also scorned a chance to add to the scoreline after he was out through by Sutton.
The Englishman ought to have secured his hat-trick just before the hour mark when Lennon's ball escaped through a ruck of legs and fell to the striker, but from eight yards out he blazed his shot high over the bar. Kenny Milne almost grabbed a sensational goal back for the hosts when he tried to lob Hedman from deep inside the Celtic half, but although his attempt ballooned over the keeper it fell onto the roof of the net and the Swede's blushes were saved.
Celtic could have added to their tally as the game wore on with Smith, enjoying chances in front of goal, but despite the missed opportunities there was plenty of satisfaction with another three points.
CELTIC (3-5-2): Hedman; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe, McNamara, Petrov,
Lennon (Healy 86), Smith; Larsson, Sutton.
Subs: Broto, Maloney, Crainey, Guppy.
PARTICK (4-4-2): Arthur; Lilley, Craigan, McGowne, Archibald; Rowson,
Paterson (Walker 68), Hardie (Gibson 81), Milne (Buchan 78); Britton, Burns.
Subs: Budinauckas, Waddell.
WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Sutton
ATTENDANCE: 7,119

Wednesday 29th January 2003

Routine for Celtic's deadly duo Panache not required as poor United are
dispatched, writes EWING GRAHAME
Celtic 2 - Dundee United 0
Celtic's continued success on their own midden is in danger of becoming a
bore. Prior to last night, they had gone 40 matches unbeaten at Parkhead
against domestic and continental opposition, scoring on each occasion.
Promisingly enough for the few neutral observers present, they struggled for
long periods here to impersonate a potent force but eventually their
quality - and, it should be said, the lack of same from United - told.
Martin O'Neill's side had looked sluggish enough in dispatching St Mirren at
the weekend and, as Hearts found out at Brockville, rust never sleeps. Of
course, the gulf in class between these two sides was such that betting on
anything other than a home win was always going to be the preserve of David
Icke and his turquoise-bedecked ilk.
These are dark times for those who follow United. Two decades have passed
since their only championship success but that achievement must seem as far
away as the reign of Queen Victoria to the unfortunate schoolchildren born
too late to witness it.
The pale shadows who filled (barely) the tangerine jerseys here did their
best. That, in itself, is sad enough. For a club who once considered leaving
Parkhead with a draw as a bad result, this two-goal defeat was a moral
victory. Celtic could have done with them what they wished and a landslide
appeared on the cards. As it was, it took 25 minutes of largely undignified
huffing and puffing here before the champions were able to move out of
neutral and finally take the lead against the SPL's most ineffectual side.
Jamie Smith, keeping his place in the starting eleven ahead of Steve Guppy,
was the architect with a tempting cross which John Hartson, escaping the
attentions of new signing Gary Bollan, headed firmly behind Paul Gallacher
from six yards.
Referee John Underhill might as well have drawn proceedings to a close right
there. In most leagues, matches which are abandoned - or not even started -
due to a team not having the required amount of players tend to be awarded
to the opposition by a 3-0 scoreline.
United certainly fielded the requisite number of players but whether they
constituted a team is another matter entirely; their resistance was low and
their quality lower.
Ian McCall, the Falkirk manager, rejected overtures from Eddie Thompson when
Alex Smith was dismissed several months ago but, should the Bairns be denied
promotion for whatever reason, the chairman intends to renew his attempt to
lure him north.
Paul Hegarty has been appointed caretaker manager at Tannadice by new owner
Thompson but he would be well advised not to invest in any hire-purchase
agreements. While his efforts behind the scenes have been prodigious, the 11
players on duty hardly constituted an advertisement for him.
Celtic's second, in the 29th minute, was the result of a slick one-two
between Stilian Petrov and Chris Sutton, with Henrik Larsson sidefooting
home the latter's pass for his 33rd goal of the season.
With the exception of Smith, who clearly felt he had a point to prove to the
manager, the home side seemed content to play themselves gently back into
the second part of the campaign. Then again, since the visitors were by then
about as threatening as Jehovah's Witnesses, taking their feet off the pedal
was a risk-free strategy for Celtic.
The second 45 minutes, indeed, saw them dragged down to United's level and,
with the outcome beyond doubt, torpor set in.
Even when allowed all the possession they could have wished for, however,
Hegarty's men failed to make a fist of it, giving the ball away cheaply on a
regular basis. To the frustration of the home crowd, Celtic seemed
uninterested in turning the screw.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Colin Healy, who started against St Mirren at
the weekend, was not included in last night's squad, with Everton currently
haggling with Celtic over a fee for the 22-year-old.
David Fernandez was another absentee from Saturday. The Spaniard, whose
debut season at Parkhead has been a stop-start affair, must wonder, if he is
left out of contention for games such as this, when he can ever expect to be
given the run of games O'Neill claims he needs.
The one blight on the evening for the home side was the recurrence of Johan
Mjällby's knee injury, the Swede leaving the field after 28 minutes to be
replaced by the ever-willing Jackie McNamara. However, United failed even to
draw succour from the withdrawal of John Hartson - replaced by full back
Stephen Crainey - nine minutes from time. By then the die had been cast and
it's difficult to see how the visitors, for whom even the irrepressible
Billy Dodds appeared muted, can climb off the bottom.
Magnus Hedman was not required to make a single save: nor, for that matter,
did Paul Gallacher. It was that sort of evening.
Celtic (3-5-2): Hedman; Mjällby (McNamara 28), Baldé, Valgaeren; Agathe,
Lambert, Sutton, Petrov, Smith; Hartson (Crainey 81) Larsson. Subs: Broto,
Maloney, Guppy
Dundee United (4-4-2): Gallacher; McCracken, Chiarini, Bollan, Paterson
(O'Donnell 59); Duff (Tod 46), Miller, Wilson, McIntyre; Lilley, Dodds.
Subs: Combe, Lauchlan, Hamilton Booked McCraken, Tod
Referee John Underhill

Saturday, 25 January 2002.
Scottish Cup third round.
CELTIC.....3 (Larsson 48, 56, Sylla 70)
ST MIRREN...0
In the end it was, as expected, a comfortable victory that propelled Celtic
into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, but the bare statistics shouldn't
veil the fact that St Mirren caused some anxious flutters in the Hoops
defence before the progression was assured.
St Mirren, languishing at the wrong end of the First Division league table,
were full of vim and determination in a tousy opening half, but when Henrik
Larsson put Celtic ahead three minutes after the break it was difficult to
envisage a way back for the Love Street side.
To their credit, St Mirren fashioned some decent opportunities in the first
half but when Celtic broke the deadlock there was a palpable feeling from
the Saints that their involvement in the competition was nearing its end.
Within eight minutes of the opener Larsson had added his second of the
afternoon while Momo Sylla added the third midway through the second half.
It was an experimental side that Martin O'Neill put out, with starting
places for Colin Healy, Jamie Smith, Momo Sylla and Jackie McNamara. Larsson
and Chris Sutton were the familiar faces leading the frontline, but there
was no involvement for John Hartson.
Smith in particular impressed, most notably in the second period when his
runs down the left flank and his deliveries into the box caused all sort of
problems for the visitors and could well have led to a higher scoreline.
Celtic's best opportunity in the early stages came when Healy threaded a
ball from the middle of the park through to Sutton on the edge of the box.
The striker turned before firing a fierce attempt towards goal, but his shot
was well held by Ludovic Roy.
Sutton was at the heart of Celtic's next genuine chance in front of Roy's
goal when he rose to convert a Smith corner, but his header was palmed away
by the Saints keeper.
At the other end Martin Cameron had a glorious opportunity to give the First
Division side a shock lead when he barged Joos Valgaeren off the ball, but
after skipping into the 6-yard box his shot was deflected into the
side-netting and bounced out of play for a corner, which ultimately came to
nothing.
In typical cup-tie fashion, the action moved to the opposite side of the
park when Healy hit the post after Smith had slipped the ball across the box
and into his path.
Larsson, too, came close after Alan Thompson launched a long ball from deep
inside his own half towards the Swede who galloped into the box and holding
off Kirk Broadfoot, but Roy managed to get a leg to the shot and steer the
ball wide of the post.
Sutton was forced to retire after just 27 minutes after collecting an injury
following Greig Denham's challenge and David Fernandez arrived as his
replacement.
As Celtic continued to pepper St Mirren's goal with shots, and it was
Thompson who was next denied by Roy. Fernandez got a toe in the way to poke
the ball through to Larsson, the striker bore his way into the box and
slipped the ball across goal to the Geordie whose attempt was tipped around
the post by the Saints stopper.
Martin Cameron was replaced by Jamie Dunbar on the cusp of the interval
after the forward pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury.
Three minutes after the restart a clinical finish from Larsson broke the
deadlock as well as St Mirren's spirits. Fernandez slipped the ball through
to the striker who gleefully slotted home his 31st goal of the season.
The Swede almost added a second two minutes later when Smith had the crowd
roaring their approval when he beat Graham Guy for pace and crossed into the
box, but Larsson's shot was stopped by Roy.
It simply delayed the inevitable, however, and four minutes before the hour
mark Larsson more or less cemented Celtic's path into the next round when he
collected a pass from Fernandez and hit a sweet, curling shot into the top
left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
With Celtic in the comfort zone, Shaun Maloney was introduced for Thompson
and within a few minutes had teed up Sylla for the third goal of the
afternoon.
CELTIC (3-5-2): Hedman; Mjallby, Valgaeren (Crainey 70), Laursen; Sylla,
Healy, McNamara, Thompson (Maloney 65), Smith; Larsson, Sutton (Fernandez
28). Subs: Broto, Boyd.
ST MIRREN (4-4-2): Roy; Baker, Denham, Broadfoot, Guy; Lappin (Robb 83),
Gillies, Murray, Mendes; McGinty (Lowing 75), Cameron (Dunbar 45). Subs:
Robertson, Yardley.

Larsson the saviour on bad day for Celtic
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 1
By Chris Roberts
02 January 2003
Celtic slipped three points behind the leaders Rangers with this draw at
Pittodrie and will endure three weeks of frustration during the Scottish
Premier League's winter break before they can try to deal with the deficit.
They did not deserve their half-time lead through Henrik Larsson's 30th goal
of the season but, once in front, Celtic are usually difficult to catch.
However, Russell Anderson rewarded the home side's bold endeavour with a
second-half header that earned their new manager, Steve Paterson, his first
point against the Old Firm since taking charge.
Aberdeen appeared to be inspired by the unfurling of their centenary flag
and the lighting of red flares before kick-off as they twice went close in
the first two minutes with Darren Mackie headers, from crosses by Kevin
Rutkiewicz and Jamie McAllister. Then they might have had a penalty after
five minutes when Kevin McNaughton went down under the clumsy challenge of
Joos Valgaeren from Mackie's cross, but the referee, Mike McCurry, waved
play on.
Celtic, looking off-colour, continued to live dangerously and survived
another appeal for a penalty when Mackie went down again, this time under a
challenge by Bobo Baldé.
Typically, Celtic finally responded by putting the ball in the back of
Aberdeen's net from their first quality passing move of the game after 24
minutes. Although a linesman had ruled out Larsson's finish from Stilian
Petrov's pass with an offside flag, Celtic went ahead six minutes later.
John Hartson, who like Larsson had recovered from illness to play, did well
to find Chris Sutton and from his ball over the top the Swede flicked the
ball over the goalkeeper, David Preece, and beat Philip McGuire to it to
head home at a cost. While his team-mates celebrated, Larsson remained
grounded after colliding with McGuire and he lasted only four minutes longer
before being replaced by David Fernandez.
It did not look like being Aberdeen's day until the 51st minute when
Anderson rose unmarked in the box to glance McAllister's corner into the
corner of the net from five yards, with Magnus Hedman on the ground after
coming out but failing to claim the ball.
Celtic's manager, Martin O'Neill, was not too downhearted by his side's
deficit behind Rangers. He said: "It's not the end of the world - far from
it. We have still taken a point and it's still in our own hands. We still
have to play Rangers twice and it's still within our own grasp.
"We know that matches are always going to be difficult against them. But we
are definitely looking forward to the break now."
Aberdeen: Preece; Anderson, McGuire, McAllister (Payne, 82), McNaughton,
Deloumeaux, Rutkiewicz, Derek Young, Clark, Mackie, D'Jaffo (Michie, 82).
Substitutes not used: Esson (gk), Mike, O'Donoghue.
Celtic: Hedman, Valgaeren, Baldé, Mjallby, McNamara, Lambert, Petrov (Smith,
77), Sutton, Thompson, Larsson (Fernandez, 34; Maloney, 88), Hartson.
Substitutes not used: Gould (gk), Crainey.
Referee: M McCurry. 

Sure-fire Larsson to rescue as Celtic hang on

GLENN GIBBONS AT CELTIC PARK


Celtic 1    Dunfermline 0


ON THOSE days when even a victory is an ordeal, the seemingly impossible
happens. It is that Celtic supporters' gratitude to Henrik Larsson actually deepens. Without the quick improvisation and deadly finishing of the most
prolific striker in the game, Martin O'Neill's uninspired side would surely have sustained damage to their championship campaign which they can ill afford.

That the three points would be hewn rather than plucked from a resolute
Dunfermline was obvious from a long way out. In one of those curiously
subdued atmospheres which would have prompted Alex Ferguson to claim that
"there was more noise at my granny's funeral", a goal from either side was
desperately required to give the occasion a pulse.

It was hardly a million-to-one chance that Larsson would provide it, the
extraordinary Swede once again demonstrating that he is unchallenged as the
most effective resuscitator in the business. Unfortunately, perhaps
predictably, his expertly-executed strike had only a short-lived effect, the
big crowd lapsing back into somnolence when it became clear that it would
not be followed immediately by another.

Those who had attended Celtic's match with Hearts three days earlier spoke
of an electrically-charged stadium throughout the 90 minutes, doubtless the
result of the visitors taking an early lead and demanding a response from
both the home players and their huge support.


That three points would be hewn rather than plucked from a resolute
Dunfermline was obvious from a long way out



In this respect, perhaps it would have enlivened the match if Stevie
Crawford had converted the opportunity which Dunfermline enjoyed long before
Larsson's intervention. Craig Brewster reached a long ball from defence and
glanced the header into the inside-left channel, where Crawford took it in
his stride and finished with a controlled, low, left-foot drive which forced
Magnus Hedman to dive full-length to touch the ball round his right-hand
post.

In fact, Dunfermline looked much livelier in forward areas than Celtic
during that opening 15 minutes, and Jimmy Calderwood must be demented by the
demoralising blows he seems to have to tolerate regularly from the Old Firm.

The Larsson goal was a classic of the genre, coming out of nothing.

A long ball from Hedman was headed on by John Hartson and reached Chris
Sutton, who headed it across the penalty area towards Larsson. The striker
took it on his chest, beat the rushing Derek Stillie in the chase and
clipped it to the right of the goalkeeper from six yards' range.

Appropriately inspired by this fillip - it hardly seemed warranted at the
time - Celtic became much more adept in retaining possession and in menacing
the Dunfermline defence. A series of crosses and corner kicks, most notably
from Alan Thompson and Stilian Petrov, frequently made further goals appear
inevitable in the ten minutes that followed Larsson's, but Dunfermline had
redoubtable defenders in Andrius Skerla, Scott Wilson and Scott Walker, a
back three who were even, on occasion, augmented by the diligent and
vigilant Gary Mason.

Calderwood, ever ready to deploy his forces in a formation he considers
apposite, this time matched up to Celtic's 3-5-2 and, for most of the time,
it proved to be a sound tactic. In midfield, Dunfermline frequently had an
extra man, thanks to Sutton's tendency to play in a more forward area, as an
auxiliary forward.

The crowdedness of that region made it difficult for anyone to operate at
leisure, but Thompson was often a clever and perceptive exception, the
Celtic player apparently able to see, create and exploit space more astutely
than most of his team-mates and opponents.

O'Neill's surprise for the home support was the restoration of Johan Mjallby
after an injury-enforced absence of four months and there were times when
the big Swede's understandable rustiness was exposed by the quick
skirmishing of Chris McGroarty wide on the Dunfermline left.

But, having appeared capable of equalling the champions in most departments,
Dunfermline's gradual retreat - not voluntary, as Celtic's growing
aggressiveness caused it - had a visibly diminishing effect on the number of
occasions on which they were able to thrust towards the home goal. Celtic's
surging brought territorial gains, but not as many opportunities as their
followers might have hoped for. They were slightly unfortunate, however,
when Hartson's powerful header from Thompson's corner kick on the right was
blocked on the line - partly, it seemed, by the lurking Sutton.

With the life once again ebbing out of the match in the second half,
Calderwood replaced Mason with Gary Dempsey and O'Neill removed Petrov - the
Bulgarian, uncharacteristically, having made little impact - and sent on
Steve Guppy, clearly in the hope of a more plentiful and accurate supply of
crosses from wide areas.

That latter manoeuvre brought loud disapproval from the stands, the majority
clearly of the opinion that Didier Agathe, by and large a pedestrian,
uncoordinated shadow of his former self, was a more deserving cause for
concern.

As if provoked and insulted, Agathe soon after produced two of those
hot-footed runs for which he became famous, although his final delivery
managed on both occasions to elude a team-mate. If those were scary moments
for the visitors, they did not compare with the incident that temporarily
stopped the hearts of the home fans, when Lee Bullen ran clear on a
brilliant through pass from Crawford and, shockingly, drove wide.
Dunfermline probably knew then that they were in for another second prize.

Celtic: Hedman; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe, (Guppy 62), Lambert,
Thompson; Sutton; Hartson (McNamara 76), Larsson. Subs not used: Gould,
Maloney, Crainey.

Dunfermline: Stillie; Skerla, Wilson, Walker (Dair 79); Bullem, Nicholson,
Mason (Dempsey 54), Thomson, McGroarty; Brewster (Hampshire 84), Crawford.
Subs not used: Ruitenbeek, Karnebeek.

Hartson takes full advantage
Celtic 4 Heart of Midlothian 2
By Calum Philip
26 December 2002
The hot breath of John Hartson on your neck is enough to put anyone off
their stride. The burly Welsh striker managed to unnerve both Hearts and
Rangers yesterday as he put Celtic back into the Scottish Premier League
title race with a stunning hat-trick to narrow the gap between the Old Firm
to just one point.
With Rangers losing at Motherwell, it was important that Celtic did not
stumble as well, but they almost did, having to come back from behind and
then reclaim their lead after Mark de Vries had scored a 66th-minute
equaliser for Hearts.
Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, said: "At 2-2 the game was still in the
balance but the effort we put in to get back in front was tremendous. What a
fantastic goal from Hartson to make it 3-2. This was a big win for us. There
was no point in someone else doing us a favour if we could not do ourselves
one.''
The day had not begun promisingly for O'Neill. He saw his team concede a
lead after just three minutes when De Vries stole in at the back post to
meet a cross from Steven Boyack and power a header past Magnus Hedman.
Celtic worked tirelessly in the pursuit of an equaliser and were rewarded in
the 22nd minute when Hartson met a corner from Alan Thompson and thumped a
header past the Hearts goalkeeper, Roddy McKenzie.
Celtic now had their tails up and went in front just a minute before
half-time. Hartson controlled a pass from Stilian Petrov and turned before
rounding McKenzie and steering in an angled shot.
Intense Celtic pressure almost brought a third goal early in the second half
with McKenzie showing great alertness to deny Henrik Larsson's left-foot
volley, but it was Hearts who struck next, drawing level on 66 minutes. A
fluent passing move saw Boyack eventually thread a pass into the path of De
Vries and the Dutch striker slid a low shot under Hedman.
Celtic were at the crossroads. They either had to respond quickly or watch
the advantage slip back to their Glasgow rivals some 20 miles away at Fir
Park.
Hartson conjured up a stunning goal to restore the lead just two minutes
later. Thompson picked out his run with a searching diagonal ball and the
Welshman met it on the volley, which he lashed past McKenzie from the edge
of the box.
Larsson ensured victory by finally scoring himself in the 73rd minute. Chris
Sutton's clever pass from the centre circle released the Swede and he
skipped past the keeper before finding the empty net with the winner.
Celtic (3-5-2): Hedman; Valgaeren, Baldé, Laursen; Agathe, Lambert, Sutton,
Petrov, Thompson; Hartson, Larsson. Substitutes not used: Maloney, Mjallby,
Smith, Crainey.
Hearts (4-4-2): McKenzie; Maybury, Pressley, McKenna, McCann (Mahé, 82);
Boyack (Simmons, 74), MacFarlane (Hammill, 79), Stamp, Valois; De Vries,
Weir. Substitutes not used: Gordon (gk), Severin.
Referee: H Dallas

Dec 21st 2002

Light relief as Hartson makes Duffy's dawdlers pay penaltyLight relief as Hartson makes Duffy's dawdlers pay penalty EWING GRAHAME
Celtic 2 - Dundee 0
The outcome was predictable, the atmosphere somewhat muted and the football
on offer was, for the most part, less than thrilling. However, after the
chaotic five days Celtic's players had just experienced, a little
mundaneness was probably welcome.
After dropping five points in their two previous fixtures, normal service
was resumed here but not without a struggle; Dundee should have been two
goals up before John Hartson opened the scoring but the visitors' ambition
was undermined by the lack of a cutting edge.
That, of course, is rarely Celtic's undoing. They have now gone a year and
50 matches since they last failed to score against domestic opposition. Such
a record would soothe the nerves of the shakiest defence and, while Martin
O'Neill's rearguard again looked vulnerable against pacy opponents who kept
the ball on the deck, their ability to inflict damage remains unimpaired.
Even so, there was a stodginess, a predictability even, about this display
and while, given the circumstances, the result was always going to be more
important than the quality of the play a little more flair and imagination
would have been welcomed by the home support.
As it was, the strike-force of Hartson and Henrik Larsson were forced to
feed off scraps for the bulk of the duration here. Didier Agathe, with one
exception, struggled to provide ammunition from the right flank, while Alan
Thompson had one of his quieter afternoons on the left. As a consequence of
that lack of penetration from wide positions, Celtic were mainly reduced to
playing through the middle.
When that happens, it often highlights the team's lack of a playmaker with
the guile and ability to turn games with a single pass or a touch of genius.
Lubomir Moravcik may have come to Parkhead during the twilight of his career
but the absence of the Slovakian - or anyone remotely resembling him -
within the champions' ranks has left not so much a hole as a gaping wound
for O'Neill to treat. David Fernandez, benched again on Saturday, has
clearly failed to convince the manager that he is the answer to that problem
and so, presumably, the search for a replacement continues.
In the meantime, the enforced absence through injury of Neil Lennon and the
subsequent return of Paul Lambert has at least added more mobility to a
midfield which, when not firing on all cylinders, can appear pretty
pedestrian at times.
Even so, Dundee's quick, one-touch passing moves threatened for a while to
cause a major upset (for those who care about such things, Ladbrokes quoted
no fewer than 17 Celts - including Johan Mjällby, who hasn't made an
appearance since August - before a Dundee player popped up in their odds for
the first goalscorer).
As it was, Steve Lovell, who wasn't even given a price ahead of 80-1 shots
like Lee Wilkie, passed up a glorious opportunity to increase the pressure
on the home side. Fabian Caballero's through ball caught the Celtic defence
flat-footed and allowed Lovell a clear run on goal. Rab Douglas,
commendably, stood his ground and made a fine save low to his right, but it
has to go down as a glaring miss.
As does Caballero's attempt from the penalty spot. Bobo Baldé, who
presumably won the sponsors' Man of the Match award for heading the ball
further than most people can kick it, needlessly upended Lovell as both ball
and player were running out of pitch and Caballero, having wrestled the ball
away from Nacho Novo, who converted the club's only previous award this
season, made a hash of his attempt, sidefooting the ball weakly to Douglas's
left and allowing the goalkeeper to fall on it.
The unseemly tussle between the two strikers did not amuse manager Jim
Duffy, who said afterwards: "In future I'll nominate who takes the penalties
because I don't want to see our players having arguments on the pitch. To be
honest, you don't really expect to get a penalty at Parkhead and, in any
case, I just assumed that Nacho would take it."
Galvanised by those reprieves, Celtic finally moved up a gear and took the
lead through a magnificent overhead kick from Hartson after Julian Speroni
had flapped at Thompson's corner - the goalkeeper had made a superb reflex
save to turn over the Welshman's point-blank header immediately beforehand -
and when Larsson firmly headed home from Agathe's cross in the 54th minute
the outcome, if not the performance, was assured. The victory was also
merited.
"Winning was important for a number of reasons," O'Neill admitted. "Firstly,
because we dropped points at Kilmarnock last week and, more importantly,
because of the week we've just had. Dundee played very adventurously and
could have been in front before we scored but big Rab made some terrific
saves."
Celtic now entertain Hearts and Dunfermline before finishing the first stage
of this campaign against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on January 2. A midwinter
break in Florida, during which visits to Hooters will surely be ruled out of
bounds when it comes to the R and R aspect, will give O'Neill and his
players some much-needed breathing space in which to plan their strategy for
the next four months. The manager's intentions for the longer term should
also become apparent by then and any further delay in making an announcement
on that topic would surely destabilise the dressing room.
Finally, at half-time Celtic flashed a copy of a tabloid's front page from
Thursday on their giant screens at half-time, announcing to the crowd that
this was how that newspaper chose to wish the Celtic diaspora. Going to war
with newspapers is a messy and counter-productive business and the club's
directors would be well advised not to follow that course of action.
- Dec 23rd

EWING GRAHAME
Celtic 2 - Dundee 0
The outcome was predictable, the atmosphere somewhat muted and the football
on offer was, for the most part, less than thrilling. However, after the
chaotic five days Celtic's players had just experienced, a little
mundaneness was probably welcome.
After dropping five points in their two previous fixtures, normal service
was resumed here but not without a struggle; Dundee should have been two
goals up before John Hartson opened the scoring but the visitors' ambition
was undermined by the lack of a cutting edge.
That, of course, is rarely Celtic's undoing. They have now gone a year and
50 matches since they last failed to score against domestic opposition. Such
a record would soothe the nerves of the shakiest defence and, while Martin
O'Neill's rearguard again looked vulnerable against pacy opponents who kept
the ball on the deck, their ability to inflict damage remains unimpaired.
Even so, there was a stodginess, a predictability even, about this display
and while, given the circumstances, the result was always going to be more
important than the quality of the play a little more flair and imagination
would have been welcomed by the home support.
As it was, the strike-force of Hartson and Henrik Larsson were forced to
feed off scraps for the bulk of the duration here. Didier Agathe, with one
exception, struggled to provide ammunition from the right flank, while Alan
Thompson had one of his quieter afternoons on the left. As a consequence of
that lack of penetration from wide positions, Celtic were mainly reduced to
playing through the middle.
When that happens, it often highlights the team's lack of a playmaker with
the guile and ability to turn games with a single pass or a touch of genius.
Lubomir Moravcik may have come to Parkhead during the twilight of his career
but the absence of the Slovakian - or anyone remotely resembling him -
within the champions' ranks has left not so much a hole as a gaping wound
for O'Neill to treat. David Fernandez, benched again on Saturday, has
clearly failed to convince the manager that he is the answer to that problem
and so, presumably, the search for a replacement continues.
In the meantime, the enforced absence through injury of Neil Lennon and the
subsequent return of Paul Lambert has at least added more mobility to a
midfield which, when not firing on all cylinders, can appear pretty
pedestrian at times.
Even so, Dundee's quick, one-touch passing moves threatened for a while to
cause a major upset (for those who care about such things, Ladbrokes quoted
no fewer than 17 Celts - including Johan Mjällby, who hasn't made an
appearance since August - before a Dundee player popped up in their odds for
the first goalscorer).
As it was, Steve Lovell, who wasn't even given a price ahead of 80-1 shots
like Lee Wilkie, passed up a glorious opportunity to increase the pressure
on the home side. Fabian Caballero's through ball caught the Celtic defence
flat-footed and allowed Lovell a clear run on goal. Rab Douglas,
commendably, stood his ground and made a fine save low to his right, but it
has to go down as a glaring miss.
As does Caballero's attempt from the penalty spot. Bobo Baldé, who
presumably won the sponsors' Man of the Match award for heading the ball
further than most people can kick it, needlessly upended Lovell as both ball
and player were running out of pitch and Caballero, having wrestled the ball
away from Nacho Novo, who converted the club's only previous award this
season, made a hash of his attempt, sidefooting the ball weakly to Douglas's
left and allowing the goalkeeper to fall on it.
The unseemly tussle between the two strikers did not amuse manager Jim
Duffy, who said afterwards: "In future I'll nominate who takes the penalties
because I don't want to see our players having arguments on the pitch. To be
honest, you don't really expect to get a penalty at Parkhead and, in any
case, I just assumed that Nacho would take it."
Galvanised by those reprieves, Celtic finally moved up a gear and took the
lead through a magnificent overhead kick from Hartson after Julian Speroni
had flapped at Thompson's corner - the goalkeeper had made a superb reflex
save to turn over the Welshman's point-blank header immediately beforehand -
and when Larsson firmly headed home from Agathe's cross in the 54th minute
the outcome, if not the performance, was assured. The victory was also
merited.
"Winning was important for a number of reasons," O'Neill admitted. "Firstly,
because we dropped points at Kilmarnock last week and, more importantly,
because of the week we've just had. Dundee played very adventurously and
could have been in front before we scored but big Rab made some terrific
saves."
Celtic now entertain Hearts and Dunfermline before finishing the first stage
of this campaign against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on January 2. A midwinter
break in Florida, during which visits to Hooters will surely be ruled out of
bounds when it comes to the R and R aspect, will give O'Neill and his
players some much-needed breathing space in which to plan their strategy for
the next four months. The manager's intentions for the longer term should
also become apparent by then and any further delay in making an announcement
on that topic would surely destabilise the dressing room.
Finally, at half-time Celtic flashed a copy of a tabloid's front page from
Thursday on their giant screens at half-time, announcing to the crowd that
this was how that newspaper chose to wish the Celtic diaspora. Going to war
with newspapers is a messy and counter-productive business and the club's
directors would be well advised not to follow that course of action.

Dec 15 2002

KILMARNOCK..... ....1 CELTIC.............. ...... 1


 THESE are bittersweet
days for Celtic. Just back from a clubbing in Spain, the Parkhead side's
fans saw their team being mugged for two points at Rugby Park yesterday.
Kilmarnock took the lead within 20 minutes and an awful lot of sweating and
grunting was required before Celtic managed to draw level - but woeful
finishing and a lack of control meant they could do no more than that.
Four points now separate Celtic from Rangers at the top of the SPL table and
Martin O'Neill's face throughout the second half told the whole sorry story
of missed opportunities and perhaps also provided the first real signs of a
faltering challenge in the league.
O'Neill was not happy, especially at the end when he had to drag John
Hartson and Henrik Larsson away from linesman Wilson Irvine.
The more Celtic jet around Europe in search of UEFA Cup glory, the more
their hopes of winning three successive domestic titles look like a flight
of fancy.
No one was cracked over the head here but Celtic fans, who made up around
half of a paltry 9225 crowd, still looked slightly dazed as they made for
home.
They'd have been smoking, too, such was their frustration after having
witnessed Celtic's inability to subdue Kilmarnock.
Watching as their side surged at a Killie side that invited trouble by
defending too deeply after Andy McLaren's 18th-minute opener, they groaned
repeatedly as chance after chance was frittered away.
Midway through the second half and only a couple of minutes before Celtic
did equalise, both Chris Sutton and Larsson took advantage of mass panic in
the Killie defence and hit woodwork.
It seemed then that the fates were with the Rugby Park side.
However, Joos Valgaeren appeared in the middle of Kilmarnock's box to head
in Hartson's knockdown from an Alan Thompson cross from the left and hope
began to spread again that Rangers' lead at the top would be cut to two
points.
But erratic and wild play as well as one or two bizarre decisions by Willie
Young contributed to a frantic, untidy finish.
The referee seemed to be the only person on the pitch unhurried or
harrassed, even when it was clear he was calling it wrong.
In the closing seconds, for instance, Hartson was hacked down by James
Fowler on the edge of Gordon Marshall's box.
But the whistler didn't even give a free-kick as every Celtic player and
fan, not to mention O'Neill, demanded a penalty. In fact, the offence was
outside the box but Young didn't even see it as a foul.
Instead he gave Celtic a throw-in and it was hardly surprising really that
one or two Parkhead people would want a word at the end.
Not that Young would have been concerned. He tends to laugh as people around
him are losing their heads.
Even when he scuttled over to the Kilmarnock dugout to deal with Jim
Jefferies and Billy Brown, who had been having a go at one of his linesmen,
it looked like pantomime stuff.
At least Neil Lennon was spared the frustration of a match littered with
errors but his injury meant Paul Lambert had to endure.
O'Neill made one other change from the Battle of Vigo, Jackie McNamara
taking over from Ulrik Laursen, and when Sutton's header from a Hartson
cross struck Marshall's right- hand post after a mere five minutes, Celtic
appeared to be in the mood.
Sutton had another header five minutes later and made the ball sit up nicely
for Bobo Balde, who had lingered after a cleared corner, but the defender's
downward header was eventually smothered by Marshall, although he was so
slow to react that the ball almost crossed his line.
A little later, Sutton turned Stevie Fulton and then Larsson wheeled away
from Greg Shields but Marshall saved the Swede's stab at goal, leaving
Jefferies and Brown fearing the worst as they paced the technical area.
But Balde fouled McLaren wide on Killie's right and when Shaun Dillon's
delivery arrived in the penalty box, McLaren rose before Valgaeren and
glanced the ball beyond Rab Douglas.
Celtic were stung and had more purpose about their play for a spell.
During this period, Ally Mitchell was yellow-carded for a foul on Thompson
and Kilmarnock made it to the break still ahead.
However, it was inevitable, despite Celtic's uncontrolled play, that
Marshall would be beaten.
Kilmarnock were allowing Celtic to push forward without enough resistance in
midfield and after Larsson had just failed to connect with Sutton's low
cross, the goal came.
Celtic's fans were still shaking their heads in disbelief after Sutton and
Larsson had struck the post with headers when Thompson lifted the ball from
the right to the far post where Hartson waited.
His nod to Valgaeren was one of the few perfect moments in the 90 minutes
and the away support celebrated big time.
Then they settled down to await further strikes but Hartson, Larsson and
Steve Guppy, who had taken over from an almost anonymous Stilian Petrov, all
missed good chances.
Killie fans were also stunned by a dreadful miss at the other end in the
closing minutes. Fulton's cross was delightful, although McNamara blundered
by letting it pass, and Canero couldn't hit the target from close range.
It was even more frenetic in the final moments and even as they left the
pitch the players seemed still in a high state of agitation, especially one
or two in Celtic's colours.
Larsson struggled to contain himself but then he had worked harder than
anyone else and done some remarkable things with the ball, only to be let
down by lesser mortals around him. On more than one occasion after he had
made smart runs, he had to trudge back in disgust because no one read his
intentions.
It was one of those days for the little genius but this result could cost
him and his side dearly.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Greg Shields (Kilmarnock)
KILMARNOCK CELTIC
43%
POSSESSION
57%
1
GOALS
1
2
SHOTS ON TARGET
2
SHOTS 0FF TARGET
10
2
BLOCKED SHOTS
6
4
CORNERS
12
20
FOULS CONCEDED
13
1
OFFSIDES
3
1
YELLOW CARDS
1
0
RED CARDS
0

Bhoys triumph in battle of the Celts
Stephen Sullivan

UEFA Cup 3rd round, 2nd leg

Thursday December 12, 2002,

Estadio Balaidos

CELTA VIGO. 2

Jesuli 24, McCarthy 53

CELTIC. 1

Hartson 36

3-3 on aggregate, Celtic go through on away goals

To say it was nervy doesn't nearly do it justice. At times, watching
this match unfold was a physically painful experience. However, for
those with hearts strong enough to withstand it all, there came a
reward for enduring 90 minutes of almost undiluted torture.

Indeed, while this UEFA Cup tie was intensely frustrating at times,
Celtic were, in the main, `astonishingly brilliant'. They certainly
advance to the fourth round of the UEFA Cup very much on merit,
creating history in the process by progressing at the expense of
Spanish opposition.

Few were expecting radical changes from the team that were edged out
at Ibrox on Saturday, and they weren't to be surprised. Rather,
Martin O'Neill chose merely to tinker, including Alan Thompson at the
expense of Steve Guppy in his starting XI. And, against a Galician
side weakened considerably by the absence of talismanic midfielder
Alexander Mostovoi and the prolific Catanha, the Hoops began
brightly, forcing a succession of half-chances inside the opening 10
minutes.

The best of these arrived in the fifth minute when, having stretched
his legs to stride purposefully away from Juanfran, Didier Agathe
measured a cut-back for Sutton, who, from 14 yards, should perhaps
have done better than merely direct his shot off the legs of the
covering Berizzo.

It was to prove a minor turning point for Celta, who, after spending
the opening stages camped in their own half, began to show that it's
not by fluke that they've risen to third in Spain's renowned Primera
Liga. Indeed, the first signal of the danger which was to follow was
posted when Caceras, their captain, returned towards goal a half-
clearance by Laursen only to see the ball skid little more than a
foot wide of the left-hand post.

However, undeterred and backed by a boisterous home support, Miguel
Angel Lotina's side continued to jab at holes in their visitors'
armoury and, with 22 minutes gone, very nearly drew blood. Benni
McCarthy, teasing and tormenting Bobo Balde, drifted in from the
right flank before teeing up Jesuli for a right-foot snapshot, which
certainly brought out the best in Robert Douglas.

However, Celtic's defence was creaking beneath the pressure of
Celta's incessant attacks and, just two minutes later, the same
McCarthy-Jesuli combination linked once again, this time to deadly
effect.It all stemmed from a short throw-in on the right which,
having been worked to the feet of the South African internationalist,
was then flicked on to Jesuli, who, having stepped inside his marker
beautifully, then enjoyed a bit of luck when his left foot drive
deflected into the net off the legs of Laursen. It was a stunning
blow to Celtic and, at this stage, they looked as good as dead in
this tie.

However, after weathering a subsequent storm of Celta attacks, the
Bhoys began to broaden their horizons and plan attacks of their own.
There was certainly no question that O'Neill's offensive triangle of
Sutton, Larsson and Hartson was causing the Galicians no end of
consternation and, supported by a revitalised-looking Agathe, a goal
appeared a distinct possibility. And, sure enough, when it did
finally come, nine minutes before the break, it was solely the result
of the strength and physical presence of two of the aforementioned
forwards.

Credit first of all must go to Sutton for rising brilliantly to apply
a textbook flick-on to Alan Thompson's flighted free-kick. From then
on, however, it was all about John Hartson, who, after using his
backside to barge his marker out of the way, smashed a magnificent
right-foot drive beyond the reach of an incensed Pinto.

It was a tremendous finish from the burly Weshman and, with the away
goal they so craved now in the bag, the fear disappeared from
Celtic's game. Indeed, Balde was unfortunate not head them in front
from another pinpoint Thompson cross as the half drew to a close.

However, it was Celta who emerged from the interval the more potent
attacking force and, having laid siege to the Hoops' goal in the
moments immediately after the re-start, they re-established their
lead in the 53rd minute. The inventive Gustavo Lopez claimed much of
the credit, although Martin O'Neill will no doubt be asking why the
Argentinian was not closed down quicker before he rifled in a cross
that McCarthy somehow managed to divert home with a flick of his
right boot.

For the 4,000-plus Celtic support inside the Estadio Balaidos, not to
mention the countless thousands on the edge of their living room
seats, it was to signal the start of a forty minute spell so nervy it
hurt to watch it. Celta prodded, but O'Neill's side appeared to be
holding firm. They even created the odd opportunity of their own and,
with 78 minutes played, Sutton might again have done better than
blaze a left foot volley high over crossbar after an indecisive
clearance from Pinto.

Yet so nerve-ridden was the match at this stage that neither side
appeared capable of retaining their composure long enough to mount a
serious attack.However, it mattered not when the referee ended the
mass biting of nails and tearing of hair with a final whistle which
sounded sweeter than any in recent memory.


Website Man of the Match: DIDIER AGATHE

CELTA VIGO (4-4-2): Pinto; Mendez (Vagner 57), Caceras, Berizzo
(Jandro 84) Juanfran; Jesuli, Luccin, Jose Ignacio, Lopez; McCarthy,
Edu

Subs: Cavallero, Sylvinho, Giovanella, Jandro, Coira, Coudet

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe, Lennon
(Lambert 54), Petrov, Sutton, Thompson; Larsson, Hartson (McNamara 62)

Subs: Gould, Fernandez, Maloney, Guppy, Sylla

Rangers make their inflexible friend O'Neill pay EWING GRAHAME, AT IBROX
Rangers 3 - Celtic 2
Scorers: Rangers - Moore (10), de Boer (35), Mols (40); Celtic - Sutton (1),
Hartson (61)
When the final whistle sounded at Ibrox on Saturday - at the ungodly hour of
2.20pm - joy was unconfined around three-quarters of the famous stadium as
Rangers players and their supporters celebrated what may prove to be a
momentous victory. Lorenzo Amoruso, a front runner for the unwanted title of
least effective player on view, felt elated enough to exhort his admirers to
reach uncharted decibel territory, pumping his arms up as he did so.
That, when it all came down to it, was probably the main difference between
the sides. Rangers, for 45 minutes at least, were pumped up while their
opponents looked tired and uninspired. Deflated, in fact.
Towards the end of his tenure as Celtic manager, following yet another
Rangers' smash-and-grab success at Parkhead, Tommy Burns - who saw himself
as the guardian of the club's traditions as much as anything else - vowed
that he would not alter his attacking style. His counterpart, Walter Smith,
said nothing publicly but was delighted by his rival's statement.
Burns' inability or unwillingness to change led to Rangers equalling
Celtic's record of nine titles in a row and, hardly as a coincidence, his
own departure from the hot seat.
Now it's Martin O'Neill's turn to have his flexibility called into question.
Four trophies in his first two seasons in charge has put him in a much
stronger position than Burns, who had much less to spend, ever found himself
in, but six successive Old Firm matches without a win against Alex McLeish
is in danger of staining his reputation as the club's best manager since
Jock Stein.
On Saturday Celtic, as always, lined up in their 3-5-2 formation. Rangers,
meanwhile, continued with McLeish's favoured 4-3-3 in order to exploit the
ponderousness of the champions' defenders. The ploy was successful: then
again, they rather suspected it would be.
"We've opted for pace up front in recent matches against Celtic and it's
posed them problems," said defender Craig Moore by way of an understatement.
It would seem that the days when O'Neill's men simply muscled their way past
Dick Advocaat's less robust Rangers may not be due to return for some time,
if at all.
"They are a big, physical side, although they can play good football, too,"
added Moore. "We don't have the personnel to play as directly as them."
Which is one way of saying that Rangers tend to play more football than
their rivals and, for the first half of this encounter - when the outcome
was effectively decided - his contention was inarguable.
In spite of losing the fastest goal in Old Firm history, Chris Sutton
forcing the ball over the line from John Hartson's cutback after only 18
seconds, Rangers took charge.
They were helped in that regard by Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas coming for,
and missing, Fernando Ricksen's corner, thus allowing Moore to head home the
equaliser. Douglas, at fault for each Rangers goal in the 3-3 draw between
the clubs at Parkhead in October, has performed well for club and country
since then but, in his 31st year, he is unlikely now to learn how to
dominate his penalty area in the way a man of his stature should. For all
his prowess as a shot-stopper, that failure is likely to continue to have a
negative impact on Celtic's ambitions.
Not that the new league leaders will lose any sleep over this. Under
McLeish, they have lost only one of the 48 domestic matches in the first
year of his stewardship. His appointment may have been due to a combination
of O'Neill's domination of Advocaat and a belated sense of fiscal prudence,
but it is proving to be one of David Murray's sounder investments.
Moore alleged afterwards that training at Murray Park has been unchanged
since Advocaat's departure: what went unsaid was the man-management McLeish
has brought to a club which had fallen into cancerous cliques under the
Dutchman. Of course, being personable and intelligent, which McLeish
undoubtedly is, counts for little in management without results and his
record suggests the manager has the necessary nous to continue reshaping his
club.
He again exposed Celtic's glaring lack of mobility when Rangers took a
34th-minute lead. Bobo Baldé, who had earlier compromised himself by being
cautioned for a needless foul on Amoruso in the Rangers half, failed to keep
pace with, or bring down, Neil McCann as he burst along the left wing and,
with three Celtic players ball-watching, Ronald de Boer stole in to volley
the winger's cross past Douglas.
The visitors were again in disarray when Michael Mols fired home five
minutes later - credit due here to Ricksen's decoy run which took four
opponents away from Shota Arveladze's pass, deflected by Baldé into Mols'
path - and were unable to convert considerable territorial advantage after
the interval into anything more palpable than Hartson's crisp finish from
Larsson's perfectly-judged lay-off.
Poor Didier Agathe's afternoon summed up the malaise inflicting his club.
Described earlier this season by O'Neill as "indispensable" the winger now
appears to view crosses with as much apprehension as Douglas. When not
hitting the first defender with his deliveries, he often holds play up from
promising positions in order to pass the buck - sorry, ball - for team-mates
to cross instead, thus depriving Hartson and Larsson the early balls
strikers thrive on. Agathe, alas, has become the fast Bobby Petta.
The balance of power has swung back to Ibrox, then, at least for the time
being, and that impetus could yet take McLeish's men to the title. Whatever
else could be drawn from Saturday's match, the evidence suggests that the
next Celtic manager, whenever he may be appointed, will have a real job on
his hands.
-Dec 9th

Sunday,1 December 2002.
SPL.

CELTIC..............3 (Larsson 53, Leitch 67 og, Valgaeren 72)
MOTHERWELL...1 (Lehmann 74)

Celtic made life difficult for themselves in the opening half of a tousy encounter against Motherwell before finally finding the net in the second period to ensure they relinquished no ground in the Premierleague.

Larsson edges Celtic ahead

GLENN GIBBONS at Celtic Park


Celtic 1 Larsson (52)
Celta Vigo 0
Referee: C Colunbo (Fr). Attendance: 53,726

CELTIC doubled up on wish fulfilment at Parkhead last night, securing victory over Celta Vigo without conceding a goal.

On a night when their ultimate superiority over the Spaniards in the first leg of this UEFA Cup third-round match entitled them to better, it could also have been worse.

Even the ordering of Martin O'Neill to the stand by the French referee, Claude Colunbo, whose judgment seemed seriously impaired at times, would not dilute the manager's satisfaction at the goal by the peerless Henrik Larsson which gave his team a deserved edge.

Like golf, football matches at this stage of a European tournament were never meant to be easy. Like the Royal and Ancient game, too, they often do not seem fair, each unkind bounce of the ball exaggerated by the momentousness of the occasion.

Unsurprisingly in the circumstances, Celtic were presented with an assignment as relentlessly demanding as any they have had to carry out in the past two years of their expeditions into Europe as Scottish champions.

As befits opponents from the upper echelon of the Spanish League, Celta were fit, quick, technically blessed and physically rugged. They were also committed, making a cocktail of qualities which guaranteed O'Neill's players a hard night's work.

They responded as creditably as their manager has come to expect, applying themselves with vigour and a sense of purpose which Miguel Angel Lotina, in the neighbouring dug-out to O'Neill, would find, at times, unnerving.

Even if goals were mercilessly difficult to find, Celtic did enough probing and testing of goalkeeper Jose Pinto to hint at the possibility and would experience that feeling of injustice when Celta escaped undamaged from a precise and incisive manoeuvre which could have brought the home side a lead.

Neil Lennon played the ball forward to Henrik Larsson, who supplied Didier Agathe with a perfectly-weighted pass down the right. By the time the big winger reached the dead-ball line and pulled the cross back, Larsson had bolted into position. Challenged by the attentive Sergio, the Swede still managed a scoring effort that was blocked.

But the ball appeared to be heading straight for Steve Guppy, following up from the left. The winger could clearly not believe his misfortune when the ball hit him at an awkward angle and spun straight into the air and over the bar.

If that was the first of Celtic's little misfortunes, however, they had enjoyed their first break much earlier. Indeed, they could have been behind to what would have been one of the fastest goals ever scored in Europe.

There could have been no more than ten seconds on the clock when Joos Valgaeren played a very slack pass down the right that was picked up by Silvinho.

The former Arsenal full-back streaked into position level with the 18-yard line and squared the pass straight to the advancing Gustavo Lopez. It was to the relief of the enormous crowd that the ball came to the Argentine's right foot, the weaker. He sent the comparatively feeble drive straight at Robert Douglas.

But Celtic did manage to keep Celta at bay for most of the first half thereafter, the visitors appearing in the vicinity of Douglas only in the closing five minutes.

The industriousness of Lennon and Stilian Petrov in central midfield, and the linking physicality of Chris Sutton, reprising his Blackburn role, ensured that most of the territorial gains went to the home side.

O'Neill had opted, predictably, to repeat the line-up and the tactics - once again excluding Paul Lambert - which were so successful at Ewood Park and they appeared once again to suit his team, even if there always lurked the danger of a deadly counter-thrust from formidable opponents.

Those earlier hints that Celtic had the wherewithal to beat Pinto were - this is becoming a law of nature - thrillingly confirmed by Larsson, although the Parkhead side had shown just a few seconds before his goal that they were getting hotter.

It was Sutton, chesting down a through ball and striking a powerful volley on the turn, who forced the corner when the ball was deflected by a stretching leg, and it was from this set piece that the home side took the lead.

Guppy once again spread alarm among the defenders with the pace and accuracy of his delivery, this time the towering Bobo Balde making the leap to head the ball down and towards the goal line. To nobody's surprise, Larsson's was the most agile of the clutch of bodies who challenged, and his leap allowed him to head it past Pinto from close range.

Next to victory, O'Neill's most fervent wish, to complete the match without losing a goal, could have been snatched from him within seconds of establishing that advantage, thanks to the terrifying nonchalance of Balde in defence.

His lackadaisical pass straight to Alexander Mostovoi soon after allowed the Russian a clear run at goal from just outside the box on the left. But the Celta captain was, by then, out of energy and he stopped before sending the ball across to substitute Edu, whose shot was blocked by Ulrik Laursen.

Having survived the scares, however, Celtic had opportunities to extend their advantage, most notably one that was denied them by the referee and another that was, surprisingly, not exploited by Larsson. It was when Mendez whipped the feet from John Hartson that they should have had a penalty, but the claims were dismissed.

When Hartson headed Balde's long ball out of defence down to Larsson, however, there was palpable disappointment when, clear inside the area and running diagonally right to left, he left-footed the ball straight at the legs of Pinto.

Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Agathe (Sylla 86), Lennon, Sutton, Petrov, Guppy (Thompson 84), Larsson, Hartson. Subs not used: Gould, McNamara, Fernandez, Lambert, Maloney.

Celta Vigo: Pinto, Silvinho, Berizzo, Sebastian Mendez, Sebastian Mendez, Sergio, Lopez (McCarthy 83), Luccin, Jose Ignacio, Juanfran, Mostovoi, Catanha (Edu 49). Subs not used: Cavallero, Caceres, Giovanella, Coudet, Jandro.

24th November 2002

Larsson carries Celtic to summit Champions back on top after unexpected scare
IAN PAUL
Livingston 0 - Celtic 2
Scorers: Larsson (6 pen, 83)
NOT for the first, or 50th time, it was a case of Henrik larceny by Celtic.
With almost perfect symmetry, the Swede scored a goal in six minutes and a
goal seven minutes from the end to tow his team to another three points.
This enabled them to take their turn at the leap-frog game which has been
the feature of this season, and they go back to the top of the Premierleague
by a point a from Rangers.
They didn't look like champions at Almondvale on a bright sunny afternoon
when 10,002 turned up to see a game of contrasting fortunes.
Celtic, having been calmed by Larsson's early penalty goal, went into cruise
mode, dominant in every phase bar scoring, and it seemed only a matter of
time till they put the gallant but ineffective home side to the sword.
Thus, as the sun blazed down from a blue heaven, it was a jolt to the
temptation to doze to see a completely altered pattern after the break.
Livingston decided, under severe guidance from their management team, that
their sycophantic compliance with the general assumptions of what would
happen next had to be ditched.
Happily for their fans, their change of attitude proved so successful that
they might well have scored two or even three goals before the goal thief
from Helsingborg picked their pockets again.
"His second goal was sublime" said manager Martin O'Neill, "and saved us
from even more anxiety than we did suffer in the closing minutes."
The Larsson ability to score goals in a moment of splendour amidst an hour
and more of frustration, when he has been well marked and generally kept in
check, is perhaps his finest asset.
It was thus again this time. He did have a major part in the move that led
to the penalty which he put away with aplomb, but from then until the 83rd
minute the stalwart back three of Livingston, Oscar Rubio, Marvin Andrews
and Gary Bollan, had been quite magnificent in containing him, Chris Sutton
and Momo Sylla.
In fact, Rubio was unlucky to slip just as Larsson gave him one of his
bewildering body swerves en route to the second goal, but the end product, a
searing low shot into the far corner of the net, was vintage Larsson.
Before that, with Lee Makel very impressive indeed in the midfield,
Livingston had brought out a couple of great saves from Rab Douglas, had hit
the bar and been defied only by some desperate, if excellent, last-ditch
defending.
Even that will not be enough to save the day for Celtic against Celta Vigo
whom they meet in the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie at Parkhead on
Thursday, however.
O'Neill agrees. "If they had someone watching us today he won't have gone
away quaking in his boots,"he said, "but we can play a lot better than
that."
In fact, there was a Vigo representative on site and he might well have gone
off dancing in his boots.
He will have been even jauntier at the prospect, as it appeared at the time,
of an injury ruling out Stilian Petrov from the tie. The Bulgarian was
flattened by a late challenge from Andrews which led to the opening
penalty --although his pass by then had reached Paul Lambert who popped it
into the net via a deflection.
Petrov went off with a badly cut lip which needed 15 stitches inside and
out - "He didn't look too good when we saw him at half time" said Ulrik
Laursen". However, the word from the manager is that, unless there is an
infection, the Bulgarian should be ready for Thursday.
Andrews did not want to comment on whether the penalty was justified or not
but did feel that the clash of faces was down to the momentum of both
players rather than anything else.
Jim Leishman was rightly proud of his team's showing after the interval.
"I can't fault the players. They showed in the second half not only ability
but great belief. If you have that you can tackle teams like Celtic. No one
could say there was a big gap between us in the second half."
There were few instances of the kind of football that Celtic have been
playing recently.
The fact that they scored early on took some of the edge off their play,
perhaps, albeit that it was a touch bizarre. A bad clearance by Livingston
'keeper Javier-Sanchez Broto was knocked out to Larsson who made ground on
the left before laying the ball inside to Petrov and when he sent it on to
Paul Lambert the captain shot home via a Livingston defender.
Lambert had just pressed the celebration button when it became clear that
referee Stuart Dougal had blown for a penalty kick. He had done so after
seeing Petrov knocked over by Andrews who had careered into the Bulgarian
after he had released the ball.
It was a reasonable enough decision but the ref no doubt quietly thanked the
fates for allowing Larsson to put the ball into the net from the spot. Had
he missed . . . ah, well.
Having held on till half time, Livingston, from being a game but outclassed
lot, became far more aggressive and creative.
At long last they caused the Parkhead defence some serious disturbance. A
free-kick by Cherif was punched out by Douglas; an even better and harder
hit effort from 35 yards by Bollan went narrowly over the bar: and, closest
of all, a header by Andrews came off the bar and only a despairing dive
blocked Cherif's attempt from the rebound.
Inevitably, almost, Larsson, who had been working away as well as ever
without much reward, suddenly darted onto centre stage again. Picking up a
long pass from Sutton, he cut inside Rubio and then Brinquin before
unleashing a splendid shot past Broto.
That was it, then. Another day, another win and more hoorays for Henrik.
- Nov 25th

SPL, Sunday, 17th November, 2002.
Celtic Park
CELTIC........4(Whyte og, 10, Petrov 31, 68, Larsson 89)
PARTICK THISTLE.0
Celtic rounded off a successful week by returning to the summit of the
Premier league after a comfortable 4-0 win over Partick Thistle at Celtic
Park.
An own-goal from ex-Celtic defender Derek Whyte kicked off the scoring,
before Stan Petrov added a double and Henrik Larsson cemented the win with
the final strike of the afternoon.
After their exertions against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Thursday
night that secured a passage into the third round of the UEFA Cup, Celtic
displayed no signs of any lethargy as they showed their superiority over
John Lambie's side.
With Rangers slipping up at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon, the Hoops went
into the game knowing that three points would give them a narrow cushion
over the Ibrox side at the top of the league.
It wasn't quite so long ago that Celtic would have floundered in the face of
such pressure, but the hallmark of Martin O'Neill's reign has been their
ability to thrive when the heat is on.
There was never any legitimate suggestion that all three points wouldn't be
collected, a theory that was cemented from the opening minutes of the game
when Celtic started full of vim and vigour, an approach that was to last
until the victory was beyond doubt.
Paul Lambert returned to the middle of the park as John Hartson, Steve Guppy
and Ulrik Laursen were rested while Jackie McNamara was recalled to the
starting line-up.
With minutes Celtic had posted warning of their attacking potency, with
Thistle keeper Kenny Arthur, who was to go on to have a busy afternoon,
denying Chris Sutton with an excellent block after the striker had taken the
ball on his chest from Larsson and directed his shot goalwards.
However, Celtic's pressure was infinite and within the opening ten minutes
they had established an inevitable lead that was prove insurmountable to
their Firhill opponents.
Petrov supplied Sutton and the striker's ball across the face of the Thistle
goal was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Whyte.
Celtic attempted to build on their lead and had the ball in the net six
minutes later after a glorious move involving Henrik Larsson, Lambert and
Petrov, but the move was declared void by the linesman's offside flag.
Not to be dissuaded, Celtic continued to launch wave after wave of attacks
on the Thistle goal, with Sutton almost scoring a spectacular second with a
roasting left-foot volley that was just wide of the target before Petrov
doubled the Hoops' advantage.
Shortly after the half hour mark the Larsson supplied the Bulgarian on the
edge of the box and after taking a slight step forward he sent his shot
scurrying into the bottom right-hand corner.
Larsson could have given the scoreline a more emphatic look before the break
but after racing through on goal, he skewered his shot as high as it was
wide.
The break afforded Thistle a little respite, but immediately after the
restart Celtic resumed where they had left off, with Petrov coming close
before Sutton had a header spectacularly tipped over the bar by Arthur.
Further goals were always likely though, and midway through the second
period Petrov added a third. The midfielder started and finished the move,
beginning on the half-way line when he ushered the ball out to Sutton, who
in turn supplied Larsson before Petrov collected on the six-yard line and
paused for a second before beating Arthur with a glorious chip.
David Fernandez, Shaun Maloney and Stephen Crainey were all introduced after
the third goal, but it was Larsson who sealed the win with a fourth in the
final minute.

Men against boys
Stephen Sullivan

UEFA Cup Second Round, Second Leg,
Thursday November 14, 2002,
Ewood Park

BLACKBURN ROVERS. 0
CELTIC. 2
Larsson 15, Sutton 67

Years from now, the record books will tell you that Celtic defeated
Blackburn by two goals to nil tonight. Those who were actually at
Ewood Park, however, will recount a very different story.

They will tell of a Blackburn side that was not so much beaten as
annihilated, and of a Celtic team which confounded every one of its
critics and doubters with a performance of which any team in the
club's history would be rightly proud.

By the end, the arrogant and hugely complacent comments which had
emanated from the Blackburn camp following the first leg had been
exposed as misplaced confidence from a team which clearly talks
better than it plays. Hoops fans even went so far as to chant for
Graeme Souness to return to Ibrox!

Leading from the front for Celtic was, of course, Henrik Larsson,
also captaining the side yet again in the absence of Paul Lambert,
himself omitted as O'Neill opted for a Lennon-Petrov-Sutton trio in
central midfield. Yet, despite some promising early touches from
their talismanic Swede, it took some time for Celtic to pose
Blackburn any significant problems.

The best early chance, in fact, fell to Rovers' own prolific
frontman, Andy Cole, who, with seven minutes played, sprung the
Hoops' off-side trap only to be denied by some alert goalkeeping by
Rab Douglas. Celtic weren't completely devoid of attacking bite,
though, and twice within the space of a few minutes, only wayward
shooting from Messrs Hartson and Agathe prevented a greater threat
being posed to Brad Friedel's goal.

However, with 15 minutes played, Friedel was not only threatened - he
was beaten. Predictably, Larsson was the Celt on hand to supply the
deft finish, latching on to a Chris Sutton pass, which had originally
been destined for John Hartson, before dinking a delicate shot over
the advancing keeper and into the net.

The 8,000 Hoops fans packed Rab Douglas' goal, and many more who had
managed to acquire tickets for the main stand, erupted in an
explosion of colour and noise and, at this stage, their celebrations
appeared likely to continue long into the night. After all, though

Thompson shaved Douglas' crossbar with a rasping 20-yard free-kick,
the anticipated Blackburn backlash simply didn't materialise.

If fact, Larsson's goal only served to relax Celtic, who, as the
first half progressed, stroked the ball around the pitch with ever-
increasing confidence. Douglas did need to be alert on occasion,
though and, on 36 minutes, he displayed fine agility in re-adjusting
his positioning to deal with a deflected drive from David Dunn.

However, there was no doubting that the two teams had switched roles
from the first leg, with Blackburn now cast as the stuttering hosts
and Celtic their confident, composed visitors. And, despite a half-
time tactical reshuffle from Graeme Souness, the balance remained
unchanged after the break.

Steadfastly refusing to retreat into their defensive shell, Celtic
poured bodies forward in search of a second goal. Henrik Larsson was
steadily growing in influence at this stage, and it was he who very
nearly doubled his and his team's tally for the evening with a right
foot shot which skidded into the side-netting.

Chris Sutton also saw a header of his suffer the same fate, and yet
the best chance of them all fell to the erstwhile subdued John
Hartson. Again, it was Larsson who proved the most painful thorn in
Blackburn's side, evading the attentions of his marker on the left
flank before slipping through a pass which left Hartson and Sutton in
a two-on-one situation inside the box. The latter of the two couldn't
apply a telling touch but, when the ball fell to Celtic's in-form
Welshman, he should really have done better than slicing his shot
wide harmlessly wide of Friedel's left-hand post.

Celtic were no to be denied, however, and on 67 minutes their overall
play had more than merited. The ball touched to him by Guppy, Stilian
Petrov curled in the most inviting of crosses, and there was Sutton,
darting in at the near post to bullet in a header too powerful for
Friedel to keep out.

Celtic had done it, and done it in some considerable style.

Website Man of the Match: STILIAN PETROV

BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-4-2): Friedel; Neill, Johansson, Short, Curtis
(Gillespie 46); Thompson, Dunn, Tugay, Duff; Cole, Yorke (Jansen 65)
Subs: Todd, Grabbi, Ostenstad, Douglas, Kelly
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Sylla
83), Petrov (Thompson 77), Lennon, Sutton, Guppy; Larsson, Hartson
(Lambert 68)
Subs: Gould, Crainey, Sylla, Maloney, Fernandez

Attendance: 29,698

Celtic 7 Aberdeen 0
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

John Hartson made it almost impossible for Martin O'Neill to leave him out
after taking his tally to 10 in four starts with a stunning four-goal haul
at Parkhead.

Henrik Larsson also kept his own scoring record ticking along nicely after
becoming Scotland's all-time top scorer in Europe by hitting the net for his
20th goal of the current campaign before Bobo Balde, the Welshman and Shaun
Maloney completed the rout.

The Glasgow side were without Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon and Didier Agathe so
in came Hartson, Momo Sylla and Steve Guppy.

Mid-table Aberdeen were back in action after a flu bug wiped out their squad
and forced the postponement of their CIS Insurance Cup match with Motherwell
in midweek.

Manager Ebbe Skovdahl made two changes from the side which lost to Hibernian
with Scott Michie being handed his first start and he came in with
goalkeeper David Preece.

Pittodrie number one Peter Kjaer was still struggling with a hamstring
problem and Darren Mackie failed to recover from a bug.

Despite the subdued atmosphere inside the ground, Celtic started brightly
and had the Aberdeen defence in trouble early on.

Space opened up for Sutton, playing behind Larsson and Hartson, to try his
luck and he sent a dipping right-foot shot fizzing just over the bar from 25
yards.

Sylla then hit the outside of the upright from a tight angle after Hartson
had sent him away down the right flank.

But Celtic needed more heroics from Robert Douglas, after his impressive
display in midweek, to keep them on level terms in the fifth minute.

Russell Anderson flicked on Roberto Bisconti's corner into the path of Derek
Young and his shot was kept out by the Scotland number one from point-blank
range.

Celtic seemed to have a good shout for a penalty four minutes later when
Anderson appeared to pull Hartson back in the box from Alan Thompson's
free-kick, but referee Hugh Dallas further hampered his relationship with
the home fans by rejecting their appeals.

But the frame of the goal again came to Aberdeen's rescue in the 11th minute
after Petrov's shot was deflected over the bar.

From the resulting corner Sutton got the deftest of flicks from Petrov's
ball, but his header came back off the upright.

Douglas again came to Celtic's rescue in the 19th minute after Aberdeen had
sprung the off-side trap.

Philip McGuire picked out Nicolas Fabiano with a long ball through the
middle and he pulled the ball into the path of Michie in the centre, but the
keeper reacted quickly to save at his feet as the youngster looked poised to
round him and score.

But Hartson ended the frustration of the home fans when he opened the
scoring in the 26th minute.

Thompson did well to pick out Guppy on the left and the Englishman swung an
inviting cross into the box for the Welshman to head past the outstretched
hand of Preece.

Celtic became a different team after that goal and just nine minutes later
the striker doubled his and the home side's tally for the afternoon.

Larsson sprung the off-side trap to run onto Guppy's throughball and he
centred for Hartson to side foot past Preece from close range.

The Swede almost joined his partner on the scoresheet in the 37th minute
when he got on the end of the Welshman's cross, but he was unable to keep
his effort down.

Hartson again threatened two minutes later when he lost his marker to reach
Petrov's corner, but he headed just past the upright.

Thompson was the next Celtic man to hit the post moments later after being
found by Guppy, but his shot shaved the outside of the post.

But Larsson was to add to his own tally just two minutes before the break as
he curled a right-foot free-kick up and over the wall and past Preece.

HT: Celtic 3 Aberdeen 0

Sutton also tried to get in on the act when Hartson played him into space,
but Eric Deloumeaux just put enough pressure on to force him to shoot wide.

Thompson was the next in line to go close after he had made a great run into
the box to get on the end of Larsson's centre, but his effort was kept out
by Preece.

Douglas was also having a good day and he pushed away Bisconti's strike
after Sylla had slipped before Hartson netted his hat-trick in glorious
fashion.

Thompson picked out the striker at the back post, but he still needed the
composure to steer his effort over the keeper and into the net.

Hartson was close to notching his fourth of the day in the 59th minute after
Guppy had picked him out in the centre after skipping away from Kevin
Rutkiewicz, but he headed wide with McGuire perhaps doing enough to distract
him.

He was again threatening moments later as Thompson swung in a cross which he
headed wide before Petrov drove a right-foot effort into the side-netting.

Hartson could have more than doubled his hat-trick as he headed wide from
Thompson's cross before firing straight at Preece after more good work by
Guppy.

But such was the home side's dominance that even Bobo Balde got on the
scoresheet when he unleashed a low right-foot shot from wide of the box into
the bottom corner.

Sutton came close to netting a goal which his performance deserved in the
76th minute, but his header from close range was cleared off the line by
Darren Young.

Hartson was not finished, however, and he scored another in the 80th minute
from Sylla's cut-back.

Maloney did his best to grab the headlines by cracking a brilliant
long-range free-kick into the top corner with just five minutes left.

But not even that could steal Hartson's thunder as once again he gave
O'Neill a massive selection headache to contend with for the coming weeks.

Scottish Premier League,
Sunday, October 27, 2002,
East End Park
DUNFERMLINE... 1
Brewster 54
CELTIC...............4
Larsson 25, Thompson 33, Larsson 73, Sutton 84

CELTIC put on their Sunday best once again to show the nation that they won'
t relinquish their SPL crown without a fight. In was a pleasant afternoon
stroll for the Bhoys who, in front of the BBC cameras, netted two goals in
each half to create an identical scoreline to the one secured last week at
Tynecastle.
However, on a crisp, sunny afternoon in the kingdom of Fife, Martin O'Neill'
s team had to weather something of an early storm, with Scotland star Stevie
Crawford going the closest with a low right foot drive which required a
lunging clearance from Bobo Balde to prevent it trickling into the far
corner. Crawford is clearly a player at the very height of his powers and,
with nine minutes gone, he again picked a hole in the Hoops defence only to
be denied by a combination of Gould and the rock-solid Balde.
Celtic, meanwhile, had yet to be seen as an attacking force, and it took
until the 12th minute for anyone in yellow and green to so much as threaten
Marco Ruitenbeek's goal. However, just as he did against Hearts last week,
Chris Sutton muscled his way into space in the Pars' box, and very nearly
converted Didier Agathe's measured low cross with the cheekiest of flicks.
Sutton's erstwhile subdued strike partner then took a hand in proceedings,
drifting away from his marker 30 yards from goal before unleashing a
ferocious drive which was heading for the postage stamp corner before Marco
Ruitenbeek intervened with a magnificent one-handed tip-over.
Yet, just as Celtic appeared to be establishing a stranglehold on
proceedings, Gould was once again called upon to cover for some lax
defending. This time it was Gary Dempsey who managed to slip through the
Hoops rearguard, and it required an impressive stop from the 33-year-old
keeper to prevent the youngster giving Dunfermline a shock lead.
However, as the danger evaporated, so did the Pars' chances of claiming full
points because, just a couple of minutes later, Celtic broke the deadlock.
After pouncing on a slip by Crawford, Stilian Petrov was allowed to run and
run by the retreating home defence. This allowed the Bulgarian the time to
measure his delicate pass through to Larsson perfectly, allowing the Swede
to drift inside his marker before wrong-footing Ruitenbeek with a reverse
left-foot shot. Celtic were now firmly in control and, unaware of an
unsavoury incident developing between police and their own supporters, the
Hoops player poured forward in search of a second goal.
Indeed, it was as a Hoops fan was wrestled violently from the stadium that
Alan Thompson gathered possession at the apex of the Dunfermline area. With
everyone else seemingly static, the Geordie midfielder simply let fly with a
trademark left foot shot that flew past Ruitenbeek and reminded everyone of
why we were here in the first place.
The Celtic end, a scene of conflict just seconds before, erupted in joy, and
at this stage its seemed that Martin O'Neill's team were set for another
Sunday canter. Sutton certainly should have made sure of victory in the
closing stages of the first half but, after springing the off-side trap to
race on to a through ball from Larsson, he hooked his shot wide of the far
post.
It was a poor miss and, within nine minutes of the match re-starting after
the break, it appeared that it might prove to be a costly one. Jimmy
Calderwood's side had emerged from the dressing rooms a more purposeful
looking outfit and, when Gould failed to deal with a speculative punt into
the area, Craig Brewster nipped in to head into the unguarded net.
The game now appeared to be back up for grabs and, when Stilian Petrov's
claims for a penalty were waved away just seconds later, it was difficult
not to fear that this might just prove Dunfermine's day. Of course, we
should all have known better.
Martin O'Neill's side have proved time and again that they're nothing if not
resilient and, with 17 minutes left to play, Petrov ensured that Celtic
would be returning to Glasgow with all three points. Larsson threaded the
needle with a clever pass through the tightest of gaps and, with Ruitenbeek
advancing to narrow the angle, Petrov shifted the ball from his left foot to
his right before coolly slotting home.
The match was now as good as over for Dunfermline, and yet there was still
time for salt to be applied to the Fifers' wounds. Only six minutes were
remaining when Sutton punished some hesitant goalkeeping by Ruitenbeek,
bustling in ahead of and rounding the Dutchman before side-footing home with
his left foot.
Website Man of the Match: STILIAN PETROV

Sutton has final word in Old Firm spectacular

Celtic 3 Rangers 3

By Calum Philip

07 October 2002

Chris Sutton kicked the Martin O'Neill revolution into action 26
months ago, but yesterday he prevented Celtic from handing over the
keys to their kingdom.

The former England striker used the nationwide stage of Glasgow's
deafening turf war, being screened live to the rest of the UK by the
BBC, to remind his fan club down south of his potency as he rescued a
point for the Scottish Premier League champions from a pulsating
contest at Celtic Park.

It was the first time Sutton has found the net in an Old Firm derby
since August 2000, when he scored just 50 seconds into his baptism of
fire to spark a 6-2 rout which laid the foundations for the power
change initiated by O'Neill.

Yesterday, Sutton's 78th-minute strike prevented Rangers from taking
an unlikely success which would have stretched their lead to four
points at the top of the table, and O'Neill reflected later: "I could
not believe we were 3-2 down, it was surreal."

Shota Arveladze's goal just three minutes earlier had threatened to
give Alex McLeish's side an over-generous reward for a game in which
they were swamped by so much pressure that it was only the barrier of
7,000 visiting fans that prevented them from being swept back across
the River Clyde.

Two goals from Henrik Larsson looked like re- establishing O'Neill's
side in pole position. However, a pair of errors from Celtic's
goalkeeper Roberto Douglas, who gifted Arveladze his goal and the
opener to Mikel Arteta, undermined those herculean efforts.

O'Neill lamented later: "We conceded very soft goals. Roberto is
downcast but he has kept us in games before.

"We made a poor start to the game and Rangers got to the pace of it
quicker than us," he added. "But we controlled the game, we had so
much possession."

Douglas took just six minutes to hand Rangers a crucial advantage.
Arteta's low shot from 25 yards was straight at the goalkeeper, but
Douglas allowed it to squirm through his grasp.

Celtic gradually regained their composure and launched a barrage of
pressure on Rangers' goalkeeper Stefan Klos for almost half an hour.
It took until the 40th minute for his side to crack, when Larsson
brought the house down with his equaliser.

Ulrik Laursen's long ball sought out Mohammed Sylla on the right and
the midfielder's low cross was pulled down by Larsson's right boot
before the Swede spun and fired an unstoppable left foot volley past
the diving Klos's fingertips. Larsson wasted little in giving the home
side the advantage. Eight minutes after the interval, he soared to
meet a corner from Stilian Petrov and headed in his 12th Old Firm
goal.

Celtic, though, failed to hold what they had earned. Within a minute,
Neil McCann skipped down the left and delivered a cross which Ronald
de Boer headed into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.

Astonishment was followed by incredulity for the home support when,
with Celtic throwing everything at their rivals and having seen an
attempt by Alan Thompson hit the bar, Arveladze pounced in the 75th
minute after Douglas had spilled a shot from Arthur Numan.

Parity was restored, however, when Thompson whipped over a free-kick,
Bobo Baldé knocked down into Sutton's path and his right-foot shot
found the net from close range. Afterwards, Larsson was disappointed.
"We should have won the game," he said. "I was pleased with both the
goals, but disappointed we did not get the three points."

"I think people throughout Britain would have loved that game," smiled
McLeish, with classic understatement.

Goals: Arteta (6) 0-1; Larsson (40) 1-1; Larsson (53) 2-1; De Boer
(54) 2-2; Arveladze (75) 2-3; Sutton (78) 3-3.

Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; Valgaeren, Baldé, Laursen; Sylla (Agathe 58),
Lambert (Maloney 76), Lennon, Petrov (Hartson 74); Larsson, Sutton.
Substitutes not used: Gould (gk), Crainey.

Rangers (4-3-3): Klos; Ross, Moore (Konterman h-t), Amoruso, Numan;
Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta; Lovenkrands (McCann 49), Arveladze, De Boer
(Caniggia 88). Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Latapy.

Referee: S Dougal.

Bookings: Celtic: Sylla, Balde, Thompson. Rangers: Klos, Ricksen, De
Boer, Ross.

Man of the match: Larsson.

Attendance: 59,027.

A second-string Celtic side comfortably dealt with Suduva to book Celtic's
place in the second round.

Goals by David Fernandez and Alan Thompson had Celtic two up by the break.

Suduva keeper Padimanskas was in inspired form in the second half to keep
the score down, while the Lithuanians rarely threatened.

Celtic took the early initiative and Tomas Sendzikas crashed a header off
his own bar, although the referee awarded a free kick for offside.

Padimanskas was forced into a diving punch clear and then he did well to
hold an Alan Thompson free kick.

John Hartson had the ball in the net after 10 minutes, but his header was
ruled offside.

But two minutes later, Celtic took the lead. Hartson nudged Healy's pass
onto Fernandez and he lobbed the ball over Padimanskas, despite an
outrageous challenge by the keeper.

Suduva gradually came into the game, having a decent penalty claim turned
down and twice worrying Jonathan Gould in the Celtic goal with efforts that
went just wide.

But Celtic doubled their lead midway through the half when Thompson rounded
the keeper to tap into the net after latching on to Hartson's knock down.

Suduva should have pulled a goal back shortly afterwards, but Gould saved
well from Radzinevicius.

Hartson had a header saved well as Celtic continued to dominate, but Suduva
refused to lie down and Gould was scrambling as a deflected shot came back
off his bar.

Didier Agathe won a penalty three minutes before half time after a mazy run
took him past a series of challenges before he was felled in the box. But
Hartson scuffed the penalty wide.

Shaun Maloney had the ball in the net minutes after the break, but Hartson,
who headed the ball into his path, was judged offside.

Radzinevicius might have scored after Gould fumbled at the front post, but
the danger was averted.

Thompson struck the bar with a curling free kick before Padimanskas made a
stunning save from the same player midway through the second half, flying
through the air to tip the ball over the bar.

Moments later the keeper denied Petta at the near post and with 10 minutes
to go, Hartson also saw an effort well saved.

Stephen Crainey came close with a late free kick that crashed off the
underside of the bar but Celtic had to settle for the 10-1 aggregate
scoreline.


FK Suduva: Padimanskas, Sendzikas, Devetinus, Kunevicius, Grigas, Adomaitus,
Sullaskas, Zitinskas, Andrius Larcenka, Slavickas, Radzinevicius.

Subs: Balnys, Saulius Kraipavicius, Hctiulis, Stankevicius, Rukavicius,
Klevinskas, Sidlauskas.

Celtic: Gould, McNamara, Thompson, Hartson, Fernandez, Petta, Agathe, Healy,
Maloney, Crainey, Kennedy.

Subs: Douglas, Sylla, Balde, Laursen, Lynch, Smith, Miller.

Referee: F Bede (Hungary)

Scottish Premier League,
Saturday September 28, 2002,
Celtic Park

CELTIC… 5
Larsson 9, 20, 90 pen Sutton 14, Sutton 66
KILMARNOCK… 0

Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton kept Celtic within touching distance at the top and set the stage for a titanic Old Firm battle for SPL supremacy.

Celtic’s performance was one which bellowed ‘Bring on the Rangers’, and while the Ibrox side still sit atop the league thanks to an equally comfortable victory at Tannadice, the signs are that they will have a battle on their hands to prevent being leapfrogged next Sunday.

Admittedly, Kilmarnock offered next to nothing throughout the entire 90 minutes at Celtic Park, with Rab Douglas’ involvement in proceedings limited to dealing with a couple of speculative long-range efforts. However, even Killie’s lack of attacking bite could be attributed to the midfield foraging of Lennon and Lambert, both of whom excelled in suffocating the visitors’ every foray forward.

Solid in defence, dominant in midfield, Celtic nevertheless impressed most when the ball was with one of their on-song strikers. Larsson, in particular, looks to have returned to the form that has made him a modern day Hoops legend, and it took the Swede just nine minutes to spark Celtic into goalscoring life this afternoon.

His own progress halted, Steve Guppy touched the ball back to Neil Lennon, who delivered a first time left foot cross that Guppy himself would have been proud to call his own. It was perfectly measured for Larsson and, just to re-affirm that he’s back to his deadly best in front of goal, the 31-year-old drifted away from his marker to cushion a right foot volley away from the stranded Gordon Marshall.

It was a typically opportunist strike from Celtic’s talismanic frontman, and yet he went on to remind us all why he is revered for much else besides his goalscoring prowess. To demonstrate his unparalleled workrate, he chased, and dispossessed, advancing Killie fullbacks, and it wasn’t long before he showed that he can create great goals as well as score them.

It was his perfectly weighted reverse pass after 14 minutes which released strike partner Chris Sutton and, having skilfully manoeuvred himself into a shooting position, the big Englishman gave Marshall no chance with a clinical low drive into the far corner. With less than a quarter-of-an-hour gone, the three points were already all but deposited in Celtic’s SPL account, allowing Lennon and co to stroke the ball about with confidence.

Yet the Bhoys’ thirst for goals was not yet quenched and, before 20 minutes had elapsed, Marshall was picking the ball out of his net for a third time. The goal itself won’t be featured in any end of season award shows but, when a game of head tennis between Bobo Balde and Joos Valgaeren ended with the latter hitting the bar, there was only going to be one candidate to convert the rebound. And sure enough, Larsson was perfectly placed to stoop and nod home the simplest of close-range goals.

If there was any doubt surrounding the outcome, the Swede had now removed it, and this situation left both sides seemingly at a loss over what to do next. Killie knew fine well their hopes of claiming anything from the match had been extinguished, and as for Celtic, the comfort provided by their three goal cushion hardly encouraged them to rampage forward at every opportunity.

The cause of entertainment was also being hindered by the embarrassingly quiet home support, which only raised its collective voice to grumble and groan at the odd misplaced pass. It took until well after the hour mark for a song to pierce the eery silence inside Paradise, and even that came as a result of misbehaving Killie fans being ejected from the stadium rather than any on-field activity.

Indeed, while it has become almost clichéd to bemoan the dreadful atmosphere at Celtic Park these days, there can be no doubt that this played a large part in allowing the tempo of the game to drop for the remainder of the first half. And yet, when the faithful did find their voice, the benefits were almost immediately evident. The pace instantly picked up and, after forging a number of half chances, Celtic again struck gold thanks to their star Swede.

It might not have been Larsson’s name on the scoresheet, but after he exposed Marshall with some nifty footwork from Larsson, the cut-back for Sutton left the former Chelsea man with most simple of side-foot finishes into the partially guarded Killie net.

It was yet another example of the rapport which makes the Larsson-Sutton partnership so special and, while Messrs Maloney and Hartson continue to make fine contributions whenever they are introduced to the fray, you get the impression the Bhoys in possession will prove near impossible to shift.

However, when Larsson completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot deep into injury time, he had one of his aforementioned rivals to tank for providing him with the opportunity. It was young Maloney who won the kick when his surging run was ended by a crude Chris Innes challenge, leaving Larsson to strike the ball emphatically beyond the hapless Marshal, standing statuesque in the Killie goall.

Website Man of the Match: NEIL LENNON

22/9/02

Celtic far from satisfying but still do the necessary Larsson ensures the
uninspired champions take all three points, writes EWING GRAHAME
Dundee 0 - Celtic 1
Scorers: Larsson (18)
Celtic's display here was rather like a meal in a motorway service station:
it was stodgy, largely unsatisfactory and functional rather than fabulous.
Ultimately, though, as with those culinary Chernobyls, it allowed them some
breathing space until something better comes along and they set off back
down the M80 with the three points they came for.
None of which is to suggest that their victory was undeserved. Rather, it
was unspectacular, largely lacking in flair, finesse and other complimentary
words beginning with F.
"It was the same old story," said manager Martin O'Neill. "We score a
fantastic goal then spurn a number of opportunities to score again. When
those goals don't materialise the game is on a knife edge and they have the
individuals who can hurt you. That could have happened in the final 10
minutes but we defended stoutly. This was a hard match for us, but then we
always knew it would be."
Long before any pattern of play emerged, one thing became all too apparent:
a large section of the travelling support must still be waiting for their
letter from Parkhead chief executive Ian McLeod, in which he urges fans to
refrain from singing sectarian songs, to drop through their letter boxes. Of
course, it may just be that they have yet to find anyone able, or willing,
to read it to them. Either way, the unwanted anthems were once again spewed
out with gusto. Old habits, it seems, die hard.
That proved to be equally true on the pitch. Celtic hadn't lost to their
hosts here since 1988 and, from the kick-off, it soon became clear that that
sequence was more likely to be extended than ended.
Jim Duffy's men, to their credit, at least attempted to follow Motherwell's
recent lead by adopting a positive approach against the champs.
Unfortunately for them, their play lacked the sustained aggression and focus
of the Lanarkshire side's that night. Given those circumstances, the
decision to go with three in midfield against the champions' five didn't
help.
The early exchanges were tentative, with Celtic enjoying the bulk of
possession without threatening to carve open the home defence. However, just
as a boxer sizes up an opponent in the early stages of a bout before opening
up, the visitors were finding their range and, in the 18th minute, they
exploded into action.
Henrik Larsson started and finished the move, an exquisite pass with the
outside of his right boot releasing Steve Guppy on the far side of the
penalty area. The winger cut inside and feinted to shoot before rolling the
ball into Larsson's path some 16 yards out.
The Swede didn't need to break stride as he drilled his first-time shot
inside Julian Speroni's left-hand post for his fourth goal in as many days.
Larsson's recent dip in form provoked the most over-hyped, and
insubstantial, crisis story since some astute computer repair man came up
with the Millennium Bug. Frankly, we should all have such problems.
However, although Dundee were reeling on the ropes, Celtic could not find
the killer punch with which to finish them off. While much of their approach
play was admirable, the delivery of the final ball left much to be desired
and made the decision to keep David Fernandez on the bench all the more
puzzling.
O'Neill will argue, as all managers do, that he sees his players on the
training ground every day and that he is better placed than pundits or
punters to decide which of them merit inclusion.
It does seem odd, though, in a period when Celtic are struggling,
domestically at least, to open up defences with the regularity of old that
the Spaniard, one of the few players on the staff capable of conjuring up
the unexpected, is condemned to walk-on parts and, on this far from
glittering occasion, not even that.
When a change was finally made, in fact, it merely meant the replacement of
one target man, Chris Sutton, with another, John Hartson. Unfortunately for
both men, Dundee's Scotland defender, Lee Wilkie, had an inspired afternoon.
Duffy, his manager, used two words to describe his performance, one of which
was "brilliant."
In any case, Celtic made this much harder for themselves than it should have
been: even when they were in control, they weren't exactly cruising. Indeed,
Speroni was forced to make only one save during the course of the 90
minutes, diving smartly low to his left on the hour to claw away Sutton's
downward header from a Steve Guppy cross, although the Argentine was
fortunate to see Stilian Petrov's delicate chip come back off his crossbar.
For their own part, Dundee battled manfully but lacked the self-belief - or,
perhaps more accurately, the quality - to pose a threat at anything other
than set-pieces, and all too rarely even then.
If anyone is likely to be aware of Rab Douglas' vulnerability to the cross
ball it should be his former employers, yet it was a tactic they employed
with surprisingly irregularity.
Nor did Celtic produce as many telling deliveries as they would have liked
but Guppy, who has overcome an unconvincing start to his Parkhead career to
become a key component of O'Neill's side, was content enough.
"This was a good win for us," he claimed. "Dundee certainly had a go but we
came up with all the answers." They did, too, but the questions posed by
Rangers when they visit the east end on October 6 are likely to be much more
problematic.

Celtic 1 Hibernian 0
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

John Hartson gave Celtic manager Martin O'Neill a huge European selection
dilemma after firing the first half winner against the Scottish Premier
League basement club at Parkhead on Saturday.
The Welsh international followed up his strike in the defeat at Motherwell
midweek with his third goal in his first start of the season after being
favoured ahead of Chris Sutton.

But just days before their UEFA Cup tie with FK Suduva, the biggest concern
for O'Neill is Henrik Larsson's loss of confidence, which was once again
apparent in the Glasgow sunshine.
After missing chances at Fir Park, he again looked a shade of his prolific
self this afternoon as his partner stole the show.
But while his team-mates failed to match Hartson's display, they at least
put their first domestic defeat of the year behind them - although it still
was not enough to take them back to the top.

Hibernian deserved credit for frustrating the home side and while O'Neill
debates who to axe for Europe, the visitors might just have saved
under-fire manager Bobby Williamson from the sack.

Celtic suffered a blow just before kick-off when Magnus Hedman hurt himself
in the warm-up and Jonathan Gould came in for a rare start with Robert
Douglas taking his place on the bench.
But the home side were expected to run up a big score that not even the
Parkhead number three could ruin and they could have made the best possible
start after just two minutes.

Jackie McNamara and Larsson combined well to send away Momo Sylla down the
right, but he over-elaborated and gave Janos Matyus time to make a slide
tackle to stop him from getting a shot away.

But Gould's inability to come for a single cross was doing nothing to the
confidence of the fans and defenders in front of him.
Bobo Balde failed to clear an Alen Orman cross and the ball came to Ian
Murray 25 yards out, but his right-foot shot flashed just over the crossbar
with the keeper struggling to make up the ground.

At the other end Hartson and Larsson were being well marshalled by Yannick
Zanbernardi and Paul Fenwick.
But the Frenchman was too eager in the 18th minute as he appeared to foul
the Welshman in the area, but the claims from the players and the
supporters never interested referee Dougie McDonald.

The Hibernian defence, however, went to sleep a minute later when Larsson
had a great opportunity to restore his confidence and give the Glasgow
giants the lead.
Hartson played him through but the Swede, who squandered a number of good
chances in midweek, slashed his effort well wide.
The home side almost paid the price when McManus was close to being through
on goal, but Balde did well to make a vital tackle.

Gould was a million miles away from claiming any cross and his
vulnerability gave his side another scare in the 25th minute.
He got caught in no man's land from Grant Brebner's corner and the ball
broke to Murray but he sliced his effort wide.

At the other end Tony Caig continued to look shaky after his nightmare
against Dunfermline in midweek and again he could only look on as
Thompson's cross clipped the crossbar.

But in the 31st minute the Hibernian goalkeeper was helpless to prevent
Celtic from taking the lead.
Thompson's pass was brilliantly flicked on by Larsson and Hartson coolly
clipped the ball past the wrong-footed Caig.

But the home side were still shaky at the back and they were relieved to
see Zanbernardi's deflected effort loop just over in the 35th minute before
Orman fired wide.
Gould again made a mess of Brebner's corner three minutes later but with
the keeper grounded McManus could only head wide.

Larsson was desperate for a goal and it almost arrived just four minutes
before the break when he got on the end of a Guppy cross, but was unable to
keep his header under the crossbar.

Balde managed to keep his header down just a minute before the break after
another inviting cross from the winger, but Caig got down well to his right
to deny Celtic their second goal.

Larsson went close again just four minutes after the break when former
Hibernian man Laursen fed Thompson down the left.
The Englishman floated an inviting cross to the far post, but he headed
straight at a grateful Caig.

The visitors continued to push forward for an equaliser and they had calls
for a penalty in the 52nd minute when McNamara appeared to trip Murray, but
the referee waved away their protests.

The home side continued to carve out openings and the Welshman again did
well to reach Sylla's cross, after good work by the winger down the right,
but his diving header was saved by Caig.

Larsson loss of confidence was again apparent in the 72nd minute when
Hartson gave him the perfect ball for him to run onto.

But lacked his usual conviction to take the chance and he gave Zanbernardi
the chance to make the challenge.

The Swede was hurt just 10 minutes before the end when he went down in the
box under the challenge of Fenwick and despite calls for a penalty McDonald
again showed no interest.

Caig saved Shaun Maloney's free-kick before Brebner gave Celtic a late
scare when he blazed over with seconds left on the clock.

Larsson struggled to recover from the earlier tackle as he hobbled on - but
that just might make O'Neill's decision easier to make.

Teams:


Celtic: Gould, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla, Lennon, McNamara, Thompson
(Maloney 80), Guppy, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Douglas, Sutton, Fernandez, Crainey.
Goals: Hartson 31.

Hibernian: Caig, Fenwick, Smith, Zambernardi, Orman, Brebner, Matyus, Wiss,
Murray, Luna (Paatelainen 88), McManus (O'Connor 68).
Subs Not Used: Westwater, James, Townsley.
Booked: Smith.

Att: 56,703

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).

From the Independent:
Motherwell 2 Celtic 1
By Calum Philip
11 September 2002
Celtic succumbed to their first defeat of the Scottish Premier League season - and their first in nine months - as James McFadden inspired Motherwell to an absorbing victory at Fir Park last night.

The teenager underlined why he was given his debut by Scotland during the summer with an outstanding performance in which he had a hand in one goal, and kept his composure to strike the decisive penalty 10 minutes from the end.

It looked as if Motherwell were going to be frustrated for all their endeavour until they seized two goals in four minutes in a dramatic conclusion. McFadden was involved in the 76th-minute breakthrough by Shaun Fagan, feeding Steven Hammell whose superb cross was met by the substitute's downward header.

Then, four minutes later, McFadden raced clear and cleverly lured Ulrik Laursen into tripping him up, before sending the Celtic goalkeeper, Robert Douglas, the wrong way from the spot.

John Hartson pulled one back for Celtic with a fine angled volley in 88 minutes, but it was too little, too late.

A goalless first half had brimmed with adventure and flair as both sides racked up a catalogue of chances. Encouragingly for the whole of Scotland, given the indignity suffered by the national side at the weekend, the most eye-catching player throughout was McFadden. The youngster perpetually tormented Joos Valgaeren, with Stephen Pearson almost profiting from McFadden's best work when his volley flew inches over the bar.

That Celtic failed to break the deadlock was down purely to Henrik Larsson, who failed to finish two glorious chances before the interval. In the 41st minute, he steered Steve Guppy's low cross wide and then drilled a shot into the side net after evading his marker.

Hartson's late goal offered Celtic hope, but the main beneficiaries of McFadden's performance - apart from Berti Vogts - are Rangers, who will go top of the Scottish Premier League tonight if they beat Hearts.

Motherwell (4-4-2): Woods; Corrigan, Partridge, Sengewald, Hammell; Lasley, Leitch (Fagan, 70), Adams, Pearson (Ramsay, 51); Lehmann, McFadden (Ferguson, 90). Substitutes not used: Dubourdeau (gk), Russell.

Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Maloney, 69), Lambert, Petrov, Thompson (Hartson, 64), Guppy; Larsson, Sutton. Substitutes not used: Hedman (gk), Crainey, Maloney, McNamara.

Referee: W Young.

1st Sept 2002

Celtic’s involvement in this season’s Champions League might be over, but Martin O’Neill can at least draw comfort from the fact that his side still look odds-on favourites to qualify for next year’s competition. Goals from Henrik Larsson and Bobo Balde eased Celtic back on to the rails after their midweek heartbreak against Livingston and, five games into the season, O'Neill's Bhoys remain unscathed in the SPL.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: HENRIK LARSSON

UEFA Champions League 3^rd Qualifier,
Wednesday August 28, 2002,
St-Jakob Park, Basel,

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: CHRIS SUTTON

Partick Thistle 0  Celtic 1    

  Neil Lennon has revealed that it crossed his mind that he might have to leave Celtic in the wake of the death threats he received in Northern Ireland this week.

      The midfielder, however, has resolved to put the entire incident behind him now and focus on his domestic career after calling time on his international commitments.

      "I thought about it briefly, " said Lennon. "If it comes about when I am playing for Celtic then obviously I might have to re-consider but it's not happened yet, touch wood."

      Lennon was given a warm round of applause by both Thistle and Celtic fans when he ran out to start his warm-up at Firhill, although the hosts greeted his first touch with a predictable chorus of boos when the actual game kicked-off.

      The midfielder was replaced in the 65th minute by John Hartson, but he was relieved to focus the attention back to events on the pitch.

      "I'm delighted with the game and the result as well," explained Lennon. "It was a nice way to end what has been a really tough week.

      "The manager picked his team and I was happy to go along with that. I have had a few sleepless nights since Wednesday and it was a tough decision to make, but I felt it was the right one.

      "My mind has been churning for the last few days but I'm glad that I can now put it behind me."

      The 31-year-old was due to captain Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Wednesday evening in a friendly against Cyprus but was forced to withdraw, and there is little chance that Lennon will have a re-think.

      "I wouldn't have thought I will return," he remarked. "I spoke to Sammy McIlroy briefly and Jim Boyce and they left the door open to me.

      "But it would be very difficult to go back. I can't keep going back and putting my family through it every time. I don't feel comfortable with the situation so there's no point going on. Even though it might be a hoax, the past couple of days have been incredibly difficult.

      "That has nothing to do with football and I don't want to keep opening up the same can of worms so hopefully that will be the end of it."

Two goals within a sixty second period set the tone for Celtic's emphatic 5-0 win over Dundee United as the Tannadice side became the lastest side to be put to the sword at Celtic Park.

The visitors offered little resistance to Celtic, whose sweeping forays upfield were incessant throughout the entire 90 minutes, and it was little surprise that such a comfortable victory was recorded.

From the very first minute there was a shocking vulnerability about United, and twice in the space of 90 seconds Stilian Petrov was allowed to unleash two rasping drives that signalled Celtic's attacking intentiosn from the very beginning.

It was a warning that United failed to heed, and astonishingly enough, as Celtic controled what was an entirely one-sided contest, United registered just one shot on target, an attempt that took 75 minutes to arrive.

Martin O'Neill made a number of changes from the team that produced a 3-1 win against FC Basel on Wednesday evening, but perhaps the biggest surprise was the addition of Magnus Hedman who took over from Rab Douglas. 

Douglas produced a series of stunning stops against the Swiss, but was rested for the game against United, while there were also starting places for Jackie McNamara, Steve Guppy and Ulrik Laursen.

The only surprise of the game was that it took until the 24th minute before Celtic found that net, and the goal when it arrived, was from an unfamiliar source.

Playing in the centre of midfield at the expense of Paul Lambert, McNamara collected a short free-kick from Guppy just outside the box and fired a rasping shot that looped over the United defence and into the top right hand corner of the net.

It was the goal that started the deluge and within sixty seconds Sutton had added the second United failed to properly clear a Guppy cross, and the ball broke to the Englishman in the 6-yard box who swept the ball low into the bottom left-hand corner.

The cracks that were evident in United's frail defence were never up to the task of stemming the steady stream of attcaks and shortly after the half hour mark they had conceded a third.

Petrov supllied Larsson, and while the Swede's attempt was blocked by Paul Gallacher, the ball broke to the Bulgarian who swept the ball into the net.

It was just reward for the 23-year-old midfielder who worked tirelessly throughout the match and once more showed his ability to drive forward while also tracking back quickly enough to cover his defensive duties.

Not that there was much to do at the back. Hedman had two comfortable saves from speculative high balls into the Celtic box, but other than it was all one way traffic.

Momo Sylla had another fine game with some teasing crosses and telling runs complimenting his overall play and when Didier Agathe comes back from injury it will be interesting to see what happens.

The second half was understandably a little more subdued that the opening period, although the arrival of John Hartson, Stephen Crainey and David Fernandez added another little spark.

Hartson was only on the pitch for seven minutes when he rose to meet another pinpoint Guppy corner and head into the net at the back post, and the afternoon was complete when Larsson added the fifth and final goal three minutes later.

Fernandez deserved an enormous amount of credit for his surging run before providing the cross for Larsson to convert into an empty net.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Stan Petrov

Sylla puts Celtic in sight of prize
By Kevin McCarra
Celtic 3 FC Basle 1



CELTIC'S doggedness was rewarded with a remarkable late goal from Momo Sylla and
his club may now enjoy the financial windfall of a Champions League place. The
Guinea international's perfect volley from a cross by Steve Guppy, the substitute,
was a source of immense relief. Martin O'Neill, the manager, will still rue
the fact that Henrik Larsson missed the second of his penalties here because this unmerited
lead will be subjected to an onslaught by sprightly adversaries in the return leg of
this third qualifying round tie.

Players talk of their yearning to encounter the challenge of football at this level,
but those claims ring false when one side immediately touches a superior standard. There
was no satisfaction in failing to hold Christian Gross's team for more than
ninety seconds. If not overdue, an opening goal for the visitors had at
least been in the offing since Gregory Duruz, the left-back, had stampeded into
an overlap from the kick-off.

It was not long before Paul Lambert lost possession and Hakan Yakin released Christian
Giminez to squeeze in a shot that trickled into the net as Johan Mjallby attempted
to make a challenge. Whatever the limitations that may affect them, Celtic are
unquenchably competitive. Instead of slugging their way back onto equal terms, they struck
with a deft punch in the fourth minute.

With a move that they have been employing with increasing finesse over the past year,
Larsson dropped deep and stroked a pass through as Stilian Petrov broke from midfield.
Marco Zwyssig cut the manoeuvre short by bringing down the Bulgarian. When Larsson had
last taken a penalty in European competition, nine months ago, he sent it
high over the bar in the pivotal moment in a shoot-out that saw
Valencia prevail in the Uefa Cup.

Larsson, though, does not live in the shadows of disappointment and he smashed
last night's effort low into the corner of the net, even if there was fresh
regret from him when he could not convert the later penalty. Valuable as the
goal was, Basle did not let it become a catalyst for Celtic.

On this evidence, Gross, belittled in his year at White Hart Lane, should have
Tottenham Hotspur fans wondering if they had been ones whose judgment failed.
Perhaps they should have stuck by him. Then, they might have seen the build-up
of the gusto that Basle so often displayed here. Celtic, like so many clubs
whose foreign players operate in a British manner, were leaden-footed.

Yakin, with Julio Rossi and Giminez, the Argentinians, formed an attacking trident
whose prongs gouged Celtic. The defenders, for their part, could have complained
that the much-vaunted covering of Paul Lambert and Neil Lennon was nowhere to
be seen. They, like their colleagues, were laboured against the rapid movement
of Basle. The visitors, who also enjoyed the driving work of Ivan Ergic on
the right, might have re-established the lead on more than one occasion
before half-time.

After preparatory measures by Yakin and Duruz, in the 26th minute, Giminez drove
high. Soon after, Yakin himself came close with a volley from Sebastien Barberis's
cross. In the 45th minute, Giminez looked as if if he was about to collect
another goal, but, having been presented with the opening by Ergic, his shot flew
narrowly beyond the post. Zwyssig had been carried off injured moments before, but
it needed much more than that trace of bad luck to shake a confident Basle.

What was required proved to be the wonderful improvisation that, mind-bogglingly and
undeservedly, put Celtic ahead in the 51st minute. Lennon's attempt from
25 yards was haphazard, until Chris Sutton, with his back to goal, deliberately
re-routed it with the inside of his heel, so wrong-footing Pascal Zuberbuhler.
That breakthrough epitomised Celtic, who could only hope to winkle some sort
of anxious success out of the evening.

The expressiveness expected from the wing-backs was only seen sporadically, with
Petta paying for the failings when Guppy took over from him, and Celtic were
scrambling for a foothold in the tie. Rab Douglas got into the frantic spirit
of his side's endeavours by somehow reaching a splendidly curling drive from Yakin
in the 55th minute.

Seven minutes after that, Larsson fed Sylla for a cross that was diverted by
the arm of Duruz and Manuel Gonzalez, the Spanish referee, ruled that the
contact had been intentional. Larsson, in the battle of wits, tried to deceive
Zuberbuhler by striking the penalty low at the centre of the target. The goalkeeper
had indeed committed himself with a dive to his right, but the ball still
cannoned off his leg.

That was in keeping with a night when Celtic were unable to show fluency.
Basle never ceased to demonstrate faith in themselves. When Carlos Varela, a
substitute, made another of his side's many incisive runs, his finish
glided beyond Douglas, but was blocked by Bobo Balde. Without that the intervention
by Sylla would hardly have mattered.

CELTIC (3-4-1-2): R  J Mjallby, B Balde, J  M Sylla, N Lennon,
P Lambert (sub: J McNamara, 76min), B Petta (sub: S Guppy, 56 S
C Sutton, H Larsson. Substitutes not used: M Hedman, J Hartson, D Fernandez,
S Maloney, S Crainey. Booked: Lambert.


FC BASLE (4-3-1-2): P  S Barberis, M Zwyssig (sub: A Quennox, 43), M Yakin,
G  I Ergic (sub: C Varela, 60), M Cantaluppi, A  H  C Giminez, J Rossi (sub: H Tum, 67).
Substitutes not used: E Rapo, G Koumantarakis, P Degen, T Atouba. Booked: Duruz,
Cantaluppi, Varela.


Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).

Celtic simply way ahead

ABERDEEN 0
CELTIC 4

www.celticend.co.uk

03/08/02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Bhoys Open Up Two Point Gap
by Kevin O'Donnell

Celtic 2 1 Dunfermline
Larsson 44,65 Dempsey 76

The two stands behind the goal at Rugby Park are a mass of 'tangerine' if
you are to believe the Hun PR department. The assembled neanderthals in
'tangerine' sit watching the closing stages of the match through the cracks
in their fingers as Celtic supporter Andy McLaren makes them pay for a
succession of misses with a late equaliser. A few miles down the road at
Celtic Park Henrik Larsson has bagged a double and Celtic have fought
bravely to earn a single goal victory to ensure it is the Huns who are
playing catch up. Yes. The Huns are watching re-runs of their worst
nightmare. And how we love it!

"We don't care what they do," says Henrik Larsson though. "I know it sounds
boring but we have to take it one game at a time." But what about the goals
Henrik, "The first one was a great ball from Bobby Petta. And the second?
Well Chris made a great run and took two defenders away and my left foot is
not the best so I went with feel instead of power and saw the keeper just
off his line. So I tried the chip to the far corner and luckily it went in."

It's just another typical Larsson quote but those who saw his second goal
today would have to have a little chuckle at the way he described it. It was
absolute genius. Picking up the ball 30 yards out after Bobby Petta had been
taken down Larsson used the advantage and surged forward. As the Dunfermline
keeper stood five-yards off his line Larsson had a quick look up before
launching an audatious chip from 25 yards with his left foot over the
helpless keeper and into the net. A wonderful goal that only he is capable
of.

It was a rare piece of outrageous skill in a match though that left the
Champions happy just to pick up three points despite controlling the match
for 80 minutes!

Before the game Brian Quinn came out and unveiled the 2001/2002 SPL
Championship flag that will fly proudly over Celtic Park. The Chairman gave
a short address to the crowd in which he praised the efforts of the team,
the back room staff and the supporters and got himself onside with the
support by reading out a list of records and impressive stats achieved by
the team last season.

Celtic started the match with no news signings taking a place in the
starting eleven however Fernandez and Hedman did manage to get a place on
the bench. Elsewhere the line-up was pretty much as was expected with
Douglas behind a back three of Joos, Bobo and Johan. Lennon and Lambert gave
protection to the backline and it was up to Petta, Petrov and Sylla to
provide the ammunition for the first choice striking partnership of Henrik
Larsson and Chris Sutton.

When the action eventually got underway Dunfermline made their intentions
clear from the off by forming a wall between the Celtic attack and their
goal and inviting the Champions to try and break them down. Henrik Larsson
nearly did and in 5 minutes the Swede took advantage of some poor defending
to get a shot in on the volley from 15 yards but Ruitenbeek done well to
block the effort with his legs. The ball came back out to Larsson and
although Henrik sent a shot goal bound a deflection off a defender took the
ball wide.

Larsson was looking on top of his game and a lovely backheal on the right
wing by the King of Kings sent Sylla rushing into the box but Agathe's
replacement for the day saw his cross blocked for a corner. Sylla himself
came close soon afterwards when his run and shot just went the wrong side of
the post.

Dunfermline rarely threatened and Rab Douglas didn't need to get his hands
dirty the entire first half however a Bobo Balde mistake gifted a good
chance to Bullen who fired wildly over the crossbar when he really should
have done a lot better.

Celtic though continued to push and Sutton came close when he was tee'd up
by Larsson but his curving effort was well saved and Larsson again came
close when his shot on the turn with his left foot went just wide.

Just as it looked like Celtic were heading for the break at 0-0 Mr Larsson
popped up to get the first goal of the season for the Champions. A carbon
copy of his goals at Elland Road last season and the one he notched in the
World Cup against Senegal saw Celtic take the lead.

The second half then saw Celtic take the game to their visitors who were
still prepared to just sit back and Petta came close to making it two when
his run into the box created a shooting opportunity but the Dutchman
hesitated and a defender got across. Sylla then played a wonderful chip to
the far post for Larsson but his goal bound header was deflected wide.

Eventually though the Pars defence was breached again by that lovely piece
of skill by Henrik Larsson as he lobbed it over the keeper to make it two
nil.

Sylla nearly added to Larssons strike straight away but his shot found the
wrong side of the upright. Celtic were coasting... or so we thought.

After 75 minutes of defend, defend, defend the normally adventurous Pars
boss Jimmy Calderwood sent on the calvary and his double substitution paid
off almost immediately when Dempsey lobbed Douglas to score with
Dunfermlines first real shot on target. It was a nice finish by Dempsey who
was billed as a "big Celtic supporter" after the game by Calderwood but
Magnus Hedmans chances must have been done the world of good by Rab Douglas
coming charging off his line like a mad man. He really couldn't have made it
much easier for Dempsey if he'd came out with a big sign saying "Chip me
please" lifted up over his head.

Things went from bad to worse when Henrik Larsson had to then leave the park
after picking up an injury and suddenly from coasting at 2-0 Celtic were
clinging onto a 2-1 lead with Dunfermline throwing men forward.

With two minutes remaining our worst nightmare nearly came true when Barry
Nicholson was set up with a free shot on goal from 8 yards out. The Scottish
cap blasted the ball towards the bottom right hand corner of Rab Douglas
goal but the big keeper made up for his previous error with a true world
class save to deny Nicholson.

And that was that. Hugh Dallas, who was absolutely awful throughout, blew
his whistle and the Champions were on the mark for the season. The news
coming through from Rugby Park papered over the cracks of what has a pretty
poor performance by Celtic but as well all know. It's these type of games
that win Championships... Isn't that right Lorenzo?






Douglas (7)
Mjallby (6) Balde (6) Valgaeren (8)
Sylla (7) Lennon (7) Lambert (6) Petrov (7) Petta (6)
Larsson (9) Sutton (7)

Sub: Fernandez for Larsson 80 mins
Sub: Crainey for Petta 85 mins


Booked: Momo Sylla


Man Of The Match HENRIK LARSSON The Swede stole the show again with a superb
brace and an outstanding all round performance.

Scotsman

Celtic are already in a different league

Aberdeen 0
Celtic 1

SCOTT DAVIE at Pittodrie


MOVING to England would be a mere technicality because to all intents and
purposes Celtic are already operating on a different level to the
disenfranchised ten clubs in Scottish football.

Hearts were given ample evidence of that when the Celtic Park manager Martin
O'Neill stuck out his reserve team and gave them a doing at Tynecastle
recently and yesterday Aberdeen were clearly inferior to another Parkhead
shadow squad.

O'Neill made no fewer than eight changes to the team that lost to Rangers in
the Scottish Cup final the previous weekend, and yet still they never looked
in danger of going down to defeat at Pittodrie.

Aberdeen inflicted the back-to-back champions' only league reverse of the
entire campaign at the same venue last December but the near 50-point gap
between the pair yesterday - and Aberdeen finished fourth let's not forget -
tells you all you need to know about the unbalanced state of our domestic
game.

Ebbe Skovdahl has been praised for introducing a number of talented
home-grown players this season although the most promising Aberdonian in the
country has spent most of the campaign hidden away in the Celtic Under-21
side.

Shaun Maloney's prodigious gifts were best illustrated in the 70th minute of
an otherwise insipid match as the baby-faced player swerved a stunning
30-yard free kick into the top left-hand corner of goalkeeper Ryan Esson's
net.

That made it an astonishing ten goals in just five first-team starts for the
player, who trained at Pittodrie as a youngster but preferred the challenge
of fighting the likes of Henrik Larsson and John Hartson for a spot in the
side.

Aberdeen quite simply lack anyone as gifted as Maloney, with the possible
exception of Kevin McNaughton who was missing with what has turned out to be
an extremely serious viral complaint.

The versatile teenager will now miss the trip to South Korea and Hong Kong
after being withdrawn from the Scotland squad last night.

He has been ordered to rest for at least four weeks, although Skovdahl is
hoping that the complaint will have cleared up in time to allow McNaughton
to start pre-season training on schedule. Without him, Aberdeen looked
devoid of both flair and imagination and had to settle for fourth place in
the SPL when Livingston managed their second League win of the season at
Tynecastle.

Skovdahl could have no complaints about that outcome as the Celtic
goalkeeper, Rab Douglas, barely had a save to make all afternoon as Tom Boyd
rolled back the years in what may well have been his Celtic swansong.

O'Neill will have talks with the veteran defender and Morten Wieghorst this
week, but their departures seem inevitable .

Boyd did show that there is no substitute for class though, strolling
through the match despite taking an early elbow in the face that earned
Russell Anderson a yellow card.

Better finishing from Momo Sylla should have put the result beyond doubt
long before Maloney's exquisite intervention, but the former St Johnstone
player was probably as surprised as anyone to be pushed through the middle
in the absence of several more recognised strikers.

He did force Esson into a couple of instinctive saves in either half as well
as steering a couple of headers wide of the target when the stand-in
goalkeeper should have been more involved.

Esson was only in because of an injury to Peter Kjaer the extent of which
will be assessed in Copenhagen today.

A place in Denmark's World Cup squad hinges on the outcome for someone who
has been a major factor in the club's revival this season.

However, not even a fully-fit Kjaer would have had any hope of denying
Maloney his decisive strike after Sylla and Ben Thornley had been involved
in a fractious incident that earned the visitors a free kick.

Celtic's reputation from such situations is already formidable and Maloney
added to that repertoire with a sublime effort that even David Beckham would
have been happy to claim as one of his own.

It was more than enough to elicit handsome praise from O'Neill although the
Celtic manager refused to criticise Scotland counterpart Berti Vogts for
omitting his player from today's travelling party.

O'Neill said "Shaun was excellent, scored a magnificent goal and his
performance was outstanding. It's tough when there's so much competition at
our club but he is full of confidence and definitely has the ability to make
it. "However it has also been tough for the incoming Scotland manager as he
has to make judgements on games he has seen and on that basis he might have
decided that it's too early for Shaun.

"I can sympathise with someone just in the job trying to make these sort of
decisions."

Aberdeen never looked capable of salvaging even a point from the match but
they were still given a rousing ovation at the end from supporters who have
been all too used to seeing their team competing in the bottom half of the
table in recent years.

An especially warm reception was reserved for departing captain Derek Whyte
who is one of the many victims of the continuing cost-cutting being enforced
at Pittodrie.

It was appropriate that a player who won the double as a teenager with
Celtic, should round off his Aberdeen career against his former team and he
is only too well aware of the yawning chasm between the pair that exists
nowadays.

He said: "There's no doubt the gap is massive and you could see that from
the quality of players Celtic had in their team despite the fact they had so
many big name players out.

"It's hard to know how you address that nowadays but the quality of young
players at Aberdeen means that I leave here confident about the future of
the club. They are in a difficult position as they can't afford to keep or
bring in experienced players.

"But there are a number of guys here who can go on to play for Scotland. I'
ve really enjoyed my time at Aberdeen and was glad to help us into Europe.

"However, I have to look to the future now and I want to keep playing for
another couple of years yet. It won't take a lot of money to attract me
either as I know there's not a lot of it in the game anyway."

That has got to be Skovdahl's main concern as he heads off on holiday
contemplating what happened to Hibs the season after they had finished in
third place in the league.

Aberdeen: Esson, Anderson, McGuire, Whyte, McAllister (Rutkiewicz 65), Derek
Young (Tiernan 78), Darren Young, Bisconti (Clark 81), Thornley, Mackie,
Mike. Subs not used: Peat, Michie.

Celtic: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Boyd, Sylla, Wieghorst, Petrov, Guppy,
Maloney, Smith, Healy. Subs not used: Gould, McGovern, Fotheringham,
Wallace, Kennedy.

Five-star Hoops keep it going
By Alison McConnell



SPL, Saturday, April 13, 2002.
Celtic Park

CELTIC..................5 Hartson 18, 69, Lambert 39, Smith 60, Sylla 76

DUNFERMLINE......0

Any hopes Dunfermline had that Celtic might be suffering the after effects
of their champagne celebrations last weekend were quickly forgotten as a
revamped but rampant Hoops side enjoyed an emphatic 5-0 win over Jimmy
Calderwood's side.

The result also means that Martin O'Neill's side are now within 90 minutes
of becoming the first ever Celtic side to go through an entire season
without losing a domestic game at home.

With the party corks cracked open during last weekend's festivities the game
began in a much more subdued vein, although by the time the final whistle
sounded Dunfermline must have been relieved that it was only five they had
conceded as Celtic threatened to add more to their tally.

With a host of first-team regulars absent through suspension or injury,
including Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton, Momo Sylla was left to partner
John Hartson up front while Tom Boyd took up his place in the heart of the
Celtic back three.

The opening minutes lacked many clear cut opportunities with a Didier Agathe
cut-back that Hartson blazed over the bar the best chance of the early
stages as Celtic took a while to get going.

Agathe gave Dunfermline left-back Andre Karnebeek a torrid afternoon with
the Celtic winger beating the Pars defender with alarming regularity.

One of the biggest cheers of a turgid opening period was reserved for
referee John Underhill who took a trip before quickly scrambling to his
feet, although the second period provided much more in the way of thrills
and entertainment.

Hartson atoned for his miss in the 18th minute when he rose high and
unmarked at the back post to convert a Steve Guppy cross and head Celtic
into the lead.

The move that led to the opening goal began with a throw-in on the half-way
line, just in front of the Dunfermline dug-out when Karnebeek appeared to
hit the ball out of play.

However the player, and his enraged manager, felt that the ball had come off
Agathe before going out and were subsequently furious that the move
culminated with Hartson giving Celtic a lead that would prove to be utterly
unassailable.

Paul Lambert augmented Celtic's lead six minutes before the break when he
curled the ball past Marco Ruitenbeek in the Dunfermline goal.

Guppy's original cross had been met by Johan Mjallby, his shot was repelled
and fell to Stephen Crainey just outside the box but his stinging drive was
once again blocked by Ruitenbeek. In the ensuing scramble Hartson tried to
get a shot on before the ball fell to Lambert who swept the ball into the
net.

In between times Crainey had offered further evidence of his growing
confidence in the first-team when he volunteered twice within a five minute
period to try his luck with free-kicks from outside the box.

Both attempts failed to find their target but nevertheless it is encouraging
to note Crainey's continued development in the first-team squad.

It was another youngster who was next to get his name on the scoresheet when
Hartson's attempted lay-off was blocked but fell to substitute Jamie Smith
on the far side of the box who rifled his shot low into the bottom
right-hand corner.

Seconds later resounding applause rung through the stadium again when Johan
Mjallby made way for Morten Wieghorst.

Hartson added his second and Celtic's fourth in the 69th minute when Smith
pushed the ball into his path and the Welshman speared his shot low into the
net.

Prior to this substitute Bobby Petta came close to getting his name on the
scoresheet but was denied by Ruitenbeek after Hartson had put his through.

As Celtic swamped the Dunfermline penalty area in search of more goals it
was inevitable that further strikes would follow. It was Sylla who was next
in line to head into the net following a Boyd cross as the Hoops made light
work of dismantling their Fife opponents, with his goal marking Celtic's
50th SPL goal at Celtic Park this season.

With Rangers stumbling at Livingston, the result means that O'Neill's side
open up a 16-point gap at the top of the table going into next weekend's Old
Firm derby.



CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby (Wieghorst 60), Boyd, Crainey; Agathe
(Petta 54), Lambert, Petrov, Lennon (Smith 46), Guppy; Hartson, Sylla. Subs:
Gould, McNamara.

DUNFERMLINE (4-4-2): Ruitenbeek; Bullen, Skerla, Thomson, Karnebeek (McGarty
74); Mason, Nicholson, Nichols (Petrie 64), Dair; Crawford, N'Diaye. Subs:
Scott Thomson, Skinner, Kilgannon.

ATTENDANCE: 57,016

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Lambert

Championees!
By Stephen Sullivan



SPL, Saturday April 6, 2002,
Celtic Park

CELTIC. 5
Larsson 3, 37, 57, Hartson 19, 26
LIVINGSTON.. 1
Wilson 73

Celtic are champions. Today, the culmination of a memorable season arrived
with a scintillating thrashing of Livingston as Martin O'Neill's Bhoys
became the first Hoops side since 1982 to clinch successive titles. Such
afternoons often tend to be anti-climatic but, as sun-kissed Celtic Park
rocked to celebratory songs, no-one could claim that was the case this
afternoon.

Nevertheless, before kick-off, as flags fluttered in the cool spring breeze,
flags were held aloft and old favourites echoed around Paradise, Martin O'
Neill was coolly inquiring: "Celebration? What celebration?"

The Celtic manager was clearly craving an early goal to settle his team's
nerves and, just as in 1998, Henrik Larsson stepped up to provide it. Little
over two minutes were on the clock when player of the year frontrunner Paul
Lambert drove on to a John Hartson flick before picking out the Swede with
the most unselfish of cut-backs.

It was just the type of opportunity Larsson routinely gobbles up with ease
and, having nipped in ahead of his marker, he duly stroked the ball into the
partially guarded net. Celtic Park erupted in an explosion of colour and
noise and, as the king of kings accepted the plaudits, his adoring faithful
began celebrating the crowning of their heroes for the second year in
succession.

Livingston, meanwhile, were in shock. Their gameplan had no doubt centred
around playing on any pre-match nerves within their hosts' camp and, with
one casual movement of Larsson's right foot, it had become irrelevant.
Celtic could only throw the title away now but, with confidence evidently
coursing through their veins, O'Neill's Bhoys simply never allowed their
visitors the slightest opportunity to gain a foothold.

And when they attacked, they did so with purpose and pace, leaving Livvy
merely to delay the inevitable second goal. As it was, the West Lothian side
could only hold out till the 19th minute, when Hartson snatched his first of
the afternoon. Initially, the big Welshman's control let him down, and it
was only a mixture of tenacity and brute strength which ensured he battled
back to knock the ball wide to Didier Agathe.

The fans had seen little of the Frenchman's lightning pace at this stage,
but he thrilled them by bursting past Oscar Rubio and crossing brillianty
for Hartson who, having continued his run, volleyed the ball low and true
past the helpless Javier Sanchez Broto. No-one could now question that the
title was already within Celtic's grasp and, freed from any lingering fears,
the Hoops began to show the class of true champions.

Indeed, within a few minutes of hitting the net for the second time, the
rampant Celts put together the best move of the match. Stilian Petrov kicked
it off with a clever back-heel to Lambert, and when the Scotland midfielder
lifted a pass through with the outside of foot pass to Hartson, the former
Coventry man turned brilliantly inside Garry Bollan only to fire his right
foot shot crack off the face of post

It was hard luck on the on-song striker, but he would enjoy better fortune
just four minutes later. The ball was worked wide for Steve Guppy on the
left flank, who flighted a perfectly weighted cross for Hartson to attack
and bullet a header beyond Livingston's unfortunate Spanish goalkeeper.

Celtic were in irresistible form now, and 11 minutes later they further
increased their already ample lead. Guppy was again a key figure, gathering
from a clever Lennon dummy before checking back and delivering another
perfect cross, this time with his right foot, for Larsson to glance a header
into the far corner of the net.

With both the Swede and Hartson now on two goals for the afternoon, the race
was on to see who would be the first to claim a hat-trick. The former of the
two was the first to threaten when he led a lightning break to race on to a
brilliant pass from Hartson. However, while he nutmegged Bollan with
considerable ease, the touch he used to take the ball round Broto was too
heavy, and it allowed the Livvy defence to regroup and scoop his shot off
the line

However, Larsson resumed the search for his third after the re-start, and
struck gold after 57 minutes. A slick move on the right wing ended with
Lambert bursting through into the channel and, just as he had for the
opener, the Scotland midfielder cut the ball back perfectly for Larsson to
convert with a cool side-foot finish.

In all this, Livingston were little more than sacrificial lambs at a
slaughter, but Barry Wilson at least restored a measure of respectability to
the scoreline for Davie Hay's men when he raced through to clinically slide
a shot past the furious Robert Douglas. However this was Celtic's party and,
after Lubo Moravcik had been invited to join the celebrations, it seemed
likely that a sixth goal would follow for the home side.

In fact, Marvyn Andrews came as close an anyone to providing it when he
diverted the Slovak's cross on to the crossbar in the closing stages. But
no-one was complaining when the curtain was brought down on a memorable
afternoon with the presentation of the SPL trophy. Two-in-a-row for Celtic,
the champions of Scotland.

Website Man of the Match: HENRIK LARSSON

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Sutton, Crainey; Agathe, Lambert (Smith
76), Lennon, Petrov, Guppy (Moravcik 70); Larsson, Hartson
Subs: Douglas, Moravcik, McNamara, Boyd, Smith
LIVINGSTON (3-5-2): Broto; Rubio, Andrews, Bollan; Peterson, Quino (Jockovic
46), Lovell, Makel, Xuasa (Brittain 61); Wilson, Bingham (Sheriff)
Subs: McEwan, Santini

Motherwell 0 Celtic 4
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Paul Lambert celebrated his return to the Scotland squad with a glorious
first-half goal that could move champions Celtic to within just one game of
retaining the Scottish Premier League title.

Martin O'Neill's men knew that they could move 16 points clear of Rangers
and within just one more win of retaining the Scottish Premier League
championship with victory at Fir Park tonight.

Celtic could sense their first back-to-back titles in 20 years were within
their grasp after last weekend's comfortable win over Dundee United, despite
having a weakened team.

But O'Neill was without the injured Neil Lennon although he welcomed striker
John Hartson back from suspension.

Motherwell manager Eric Black also had selection problems with striker Dirk
Lehmann out for the season while Stephen Woods, Roberto Martinez and David
Ferrere also missed out.

They were looking to bounce back from the weekend defeat to Dundee and also
gain the two points that were required to mathematically secure their place
in the top flight.

Black handed French signing from Bordeaux Francois DuBourdeau his debut in
goal and he was joined in the side by Yan Soloy, Stephen Pearson and Stuart
Elliott.



Youngster Stephen Crainey stayed in the Celtic side after his call-up to the
Scotland squad on Monday and his early touches suggested he could be a big
star for his country in the future.

The visitors started like they wanted to finish the job early and were
making the Motherwell defence nervous.

Motherwell keeper Du Bourdeau got an early touch when he saved Hartson's low
powerful left-foot shot by his post in the fifth minute.

But the Welshman should have put the champions-elect in front two minutes
later.

Agathe got away from his marker down the right flank and whipped in a great
cross, but the Welshman headed wide from six yards.

Motherwell had been given their warning, but there was little they could do
to prevent Celtic's brilliant 10th-minute opener.

Lambert played the ball up to Henrik Larsson and the Swedish star
back-heeled the ball back into the path of the Scotland midfielder to prod
the ball under Du Bourdeau.

Motherwell tried to respond immediately and Robert Douglas needed to make a
save by his post to deny James McFadden three minutes later.

Celtic then missed a glorious chance to extend their lead just two minutes
later.

Hartson crossed from the right and Larsson managed to lose his man, but then
headed straight at the keeper from just eight yards.



Celtic will wonder how they failed to increase their lead in the 28th minute
when the Motherwell goal came under siege.

Moravcik did well down the left before curling in a tantalising cross for
Hartson, who was unable to direct his header on target, but the visitors
maintained possession.

Then Stilian Petrov, with two goals in two games, unleashed a fierce
right-foot shot which DuBourdeau could only parry.

Again Celtic came at them and Larsson crossed to the far post for Hartson to
head across the face of goal, but Johan Mjallby failed to bundle the ball
home from two yards.

The home side were lucky not to be dead and buried and Greg Strong tried to
pull them back on level terms before the break, but his long-range effort
was saved by Douglas.

HT: Motherwell 0 Celtic 1



Celtic pressed hard for a second goal after the restart and were denied only
by the woodwork in the 49th minute.

Agathe exchanged passes with Lambert and delivered a great cross to the far
post but Moravcik headed against the foot of the post.

But there was nothing Motherwell could do to stop the Glasgow side from
increasing their lead four minutes later.

Larsson peeled away from his marker and got on the end of Moravcik's corner
to head past the Motherwell keeper.

The home side's hopes of a comeback disappeared a minute later when Pearson
was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Agathe.



Celtic took advantage of their extra man by increasing their lead further
just five minutes later.

Hartson took the ball around DuBourdeau and the Frenchman had no option but
to bring him down, and Larsson stepped up to blast the ball into the bottom
corner for his 31st goal of the season.

The visitors were threatening to run riot and they almost scored their
fourth of the night after 65 minutes.

Moravcik chipped the ball to Petrov on the edge of the area and the
Bulgarian unleashed a right-foot volley which was turned around the post by
the Motherwell keeper.

Sunday, 17th March 2002
Scotland on Sunday

Petrov's bounty offers a taste of Paradise
Paul Forsyth

Celtic 1
Dundee Utd 0


TO the list of inescapable facts of life, which already includes birth,
death and taxes, add the invincibility of Celtic on their own patch. The
seemingly indestructible home form of Martin O'Neill's side was maintained
yesterday with a performance as solid, comfortable and inevitable as their
forthcoming title triumph.

To say that the victory was tedious is not to suggest that Celtic were
anything other than driving down easy street. A solitary goal by Stilian
Petrov was enough to give them their 16th straight home win, a 13-point lead
over Rangers and, most important for the statisticians, a chance to clinch
the championship with only two more wins.

That Celtic held only a fragile lead for much of the match, yet never
encountered anything approximating danger, was a demoralising indictment of
the match. For all that United deployed two strikers in Steven Thompson and
Charlie Miller, their only shot on target was a timid free kick by Danny
Griffin in the first half. The defeat makes it mathematically impossible for
Alex Smith's side to finish in the top six. It may have been the alternative
attractions on a weekend when cup competition opened another volume of
romantic tear-jerkers, but it was difficult to muster much enthusiasm at
Celtic Park for what was expected to be another routine step on the club's
relentless march to the title.

While reporters and supporters have squeezed every last ounce from the
refreshing appearance of Ayr on the big stage, the same old story unfolded
in Glasgow's east end where the formalities of Celtic's countdown to the
inevitable was running out of digits.

The massive margin by which Celtic lead the championship, combined with
their failure to make a treble of it as they did last year, has contributed
further to the faint sense of anti-climax about their imminent achievement.
O'Neill must be more than a little galled to be accused of winning 'only'
the league championship which had proved so elusive before his arrival.

Celtic's easy progress through much of this match was achieved despite the
absence of several regulars. With Bobo Balde, John Hartson, Alan Thompson,
Chris Sutton and Joos Valgaeren all missing through a combination of injury
and suspension, the gaps in Celtic's unshakeable formation were plugged by
Tom Boyd in central defence, Stephen Crainey alongside him and Steve Guppy
on the left of midfield.

Their superiority was slow to find reward, however. Celtic were always
comfortable in possession, their patience usually finding an outlet in
Didier Agathe on the right flank, but they somehow struggled to threaten
United's goal with any frequency during a pedestrian first half.

While it cannot be denied that Agathe has the momentum of a steam train when
he sets off for the byeline, he seems also to have the touch of one when it
comes to delivering a cross. Several times during that opening period, his
heavy centres soared away, up and over the despairing heads of those at the
back post.

Celtic looked more likely to open the scoring through one of Guppy's
corners, two of which provided rare glimpes of goal in the first half hour.

Henrik Larsson, in particular, sprung to meet a dead ball by the Englishman
and seemed to strain every neck muscle as he jerked the ball goalwards and
prompted Paul Gallacher to tip it over the crossbar. When the two players
combined in similar fashion late in the second half, Larsson diverted his
header over the frame of the goal.

The breakthrough five minutes before the interval arrived through a more
direct route. Stilian Petrov, who had made rather a hash of an open goal
just a few seconds earlier, initiated a swift exchange with Larsson and
continued over the 18-yard line to thrash a low drive past Gallacher.

It has been a productive week for the Bulgarian. Having scored at Ibrox with
another blast set up by Larsson, the Bulgarian's eighth goal of the season
will be yet another small bargaining tool in the contractual negotiations
with Martin O'Neill which have been delayed until the summer.

If the crowd could manage barely a peep to enliven proceedings, the
protagonists on the pitch were not entirely without passion. Neil Lennon
slammed his fist into the turf after being issued with a yellow card and
Hasney Aljofree was fortunate not to be red-carded for scything down Agathe
when he already had been booked.

Referee Alan Freeland, the man who missed Balde's assault on Paul Fenwick,
revealed yesterday that he was taking six weeks' leave from the game after
undergoing corrective eye surgery. Aljofree's escape without punishment for
this incident raised similar suspicions about the vision of Mike McCurry,
who controlled this match with unpredictable vigour.

There was delicious irony in a team-sheet spelling mistake which listed
Aljofree as Algofree. Such was the lack of imagination about this United
side that it would be no surprise if he is not the only one who is willing
to leave the club for nothing. At least it was a respectable scoreline for
the team who had conceded 16 goals in their previous four meetings with
Celtic.

The inevitable substitution of Lubomir Moravcik 19 minutes from the end
provided the home crowd with a rare opportunity to make themselves heard,
but the standing ovation was a generous one. The Slovakian was overambitious
on a number of occasions and might well have been accused of hesitation when
an opportunity to settle the issue came his way in the second half. Agathe
hit the byeline, set him up with an open goal and must have been surprised
that Jamie McCunnie was able to block the shot. The young full-back had
already riled Moravcik by sweeping the legs from him with a reckless
challenge a couple of minutes earlier.

Moravcik's replacement, Jamie Smith, was in no mood to mess about. The venom
with which he burst down the right and slammed a fierce shot off the
underside of the crossbar must have reminded O'Neill that, when the title is
won and the league season ill-equipped to motivate his regulars, he should
turn to his posse of youngsters waiting in the wings.

Scotland coach to cap Celtic super kid Stephen
David Mccarthy (Daily Record)

STEPHEN CRAINEY is three months shy of his 21st birthday but yesterday
at Ibrox he was given the key to the door of international football by
Scotland boss Berti Vogts.

The German sat in the stand transfixed and bemused, as most first-time
visitors to an Old Firm showdown tend to be by all that is going on
around them, but he didn't let the ferocity of the occasion blur his
senses.

He watched the five Scottish players on show - that were only a
handful is a problem he will have to learn to live with unfortunately
- and probably didn't learn too much about four of them.

Vogts knows Paul Lambert, Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann and Rab Douglas
were fixtures in Craig Brown's squad and if he can persuade Lambert to
stay on he'll have achieved a major result before a ball is kicked.

But the fifth member of the tartan quintet, Crainey, would not have
been a name Vogts would have been familiar with before arriving on
these shores. Two matches later, the red-haired Celtic youngster has
left a lasting impression.

Vogts all but admitted that having seen Crainey sail through his Old
Firm debut, he will be pencilled in for the trip to Paris at the end
of the month.

The defender tried to distance himself from such talk after the game ,
stating that with only a single Under-21 cap to his name he had to
learn to crawl before he could walk at international level.

Vogts, though, clearly feels differently. He said: "Crainey has a good
chance of being selected. He's young, he's Scottish and I like him.

"I have watched him twice now (also against Aberdeen) and he has been
very aggressive and impressive. He is not too young."

That opinion capped a fine day for Crainey, and Celtic for that
matter. They came to Ibrox knowing that avoiding defeat would all but
put a seal on their second successive championship and they left with
their mission accomplished.

It wasn't the most thrilling of encounters, not by a long way, and the
swirling wind destroyed any chance of a spectacle but Celtic got the
business done even though they had to withstand a second-half
onslaught as Rangers tried to repair the damage inflicted on them by
Stilian Petrov's 22nd minute opener.

Arthur Numan's stunning strike gave the home team hope but Rab Douglas
defied Rangers as they pounded at his door and at the end the Celtic
players punched the air in triumph.

Crainey, though, believes there is still work to be done. He said: "It
was a great experience to play in my first Old Firm game and we are
pleased with a point.

"We know we still have to win three games to take the championship, so
there is still a bit of work to be done but hopefully we will get
there in the end.

"This is my third season with the first team and I want to be playing
in games such as this regularly.

"As for Scotland, I think I have to get into the Under 21 squad first.
I've only got one cap so far."

Celtic goalscorer Petrov believes his team took a massive step towards
another title.

He said: "We are really happy with a point. We scored first and that
made it really hard for them. It meant they had to score, then score
again.

"It is not over yet but we would like to finish it before we have to
play Rangers again. It could be hard if we were to lose some points
then had to beat them at Celtic Park."

While Celtic were refusing to say publicly that the league was won,
the Rangers players know it has gone.

But their last two Old Firm performances have given them belief that
the tide is turning back in their favour.

Substitute Shota Arveladze said: "We have to look forward now because
there are very important games coming up and we must try to stay
positive.

"I don't think there is such a big difference between us and Celtic,
although it looks a lot when you see the points.

"We had a lot of injuries and but we dominated the second half and
could have won."

Lorenzo Amoruso was another who tried to take a positive slant.

He said: "The supporters can be happy because they saw that we gave
everything on the pitch and sometimes you need a bit of luck as well.

"The first half was a strange game with few chances for either team.
But in the second there was just one team in it. Rangers were playing
in the one direction, towards Celtic.

"I think that even in the first two games of the season against them,
we played better than them. At Celtic Park, we could have been three
up at half-time.

"But football is about putting the ball in the net and we couldn't do
it in the previous games. Today we did it and in the CIS Cup we did it
and hopefully we will do it in the future."

Arthur Numan's piledriver was enough to give Rangers their deserved
point but the Dutchman was more interested in looking at the bigger
picture and he could not hide his disappointment.

He said: "We were the better team in the second half. We put pressure
on Celtic and created chances but it was not enough though we did
everything possible."

So did Celtic and they know that the partying can really begin after
another 270 minutes of SPL football.

Celtic edged to just four wins away from retaining the Premier League title with a 1-0 home win over Aberdeen.

The Hoops struggled without a clutch of key stars but Alan Thompson's first-half penalty sealed the three points.

But the bad blood between the two sides resurfaced again late on when Thompson and Aberdeen substitute Hicham Zerouali were sent off after an off-the-ball clash.

Story filed: 17:15 Saturday 2nd March 2002

Celtic proved they can live without Henrik Larsson after gaining a comfortable 2-0 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie to keep their Double dream alive.

The Swedish striker gave manager Martin O'Neill a worrying pre-match blow by failing to shrug off a hamstring injury.

But even without Larsson, the champions-elect hardly missed his presence as John Hartson and Stilian Petrov produced the goals.

The Welsh striker took some shine of the performance with a stupid late red card for kicking out at Jamie McAllister and will now miss Saturday's Scottish Premier League match between the two sides.

And despite the controversial Monday night slot the fans turned out in their numbers and were treated to a typical full-blooded cup encounter which also had a late Robbie Winters penalty miss.

Story filed: 22:06 Monday 25th February 2002

Henrik Larsson handed Celtic a massive injury scare, hobbling out of the 3-0 win at Dundee with an apparent hamstring strain.

Paul Lambert also gave Celtic some concern by limping off in the second-half.

Johan Mjallby and John Hartson eased the pain, though, by securing the points which leaves Celtic needing just five wins from their last nine games to keep the championship trophy at Parkhead.

The day started out well for Martin O'Neill's men as they restricted the home side to long-range efforts.

Then referee Mike McCurry began to upset the home fans with some questionable decisions - and he stirred them up in the 15th minute by booking Massimo Beghetto for fouling Bobo Balde.

Their misery was compounded in the 20th minute when Celtic took the lead through Larsson, who sidefooted into an empty net.

Celtic then suffered their first blow in the 39th minute when Larsson hobbled off - he was replaced by Lubo Moravcik.

Larsson's departure lifted the home side, but that was short lived as Celtic doubled their lead three minutes before the break, Mjallby heading Moravcik's cross home from close range.

The home side came back into the game in the second half and should have reduced the deficit with two chances in the space of a minute.

First Milne squandered a glorious chance, heading just wide, before Douglas denied Dundee with a brave save from Kemas in the 71st minute.

Lambert then tackled Ketsbaia as the Georgian sized up to shoot into the empty net, but was hurt in the challenge and hobbled off to be replaced by Steve Guppy.

The champions refused to let that get to them and they killed off the home side in the 75th minute in great style.

Moravcik found Hartson with a wonderful ball and the Welshman controlled it, took his time and then chipped Speroni.

Story filed: 15:37 Sunday 17th February 2002

Hartson Rescues Celtic at Hibs

Celtic edged a step closer to the title after coming back from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Hibernian at Easter Road.

John Hartson cancelled out teenager Garry O'Connor's first goal for the club to move the champions 13 points clear of Rangers.

Celtic defender Bobo Balde however, could be in hot water after catching Paul Fenwick in the face, referee Alan Freeland failing to see the incident.

Hibs caused Celtic all kinds of problems in the first-half and early in the second, but it was the visitors who were the first to cause problems in the very opening minute.

Lubo Moravcik had sent Bobby Petta away with a quick free-kick and Hibernian goalkeeper Nick Colgan needed to come off his line to claim his cross.

On eight minutes, Ulises De la Cruz showed a quick turn of pace to get away from Petta and Jamie Smith needed to make a vital headed clearance to prevent Francisco Luna from forcing Douglas to make a save.

Hibernian opened the scoring the 21st minute

Grant Brebner pumped a long free-kick into the Celtic box and John Hartson appeared to head the ball back into the danger area under pressure from Fenwick, and O'Connor reacted quickly to smash a volley home from seven yards.

Balde was then at the centre of controversy, the Frenchman pushing his forearm into the face of Fenwick in the box, but Freeland failed to see it and Balde avoided what should have been a straight red card.

Going in a goal down, Celtic looked fired-up on their re-appearance from the dressing room.

The home side, however, almost doubled their advantage in the 49th minute when Brebner played Luna clean through on goal, but Douglas managed to get a hand to his chip and Balde cleared.

But in the 50th minute when Hartson pounced inside the box for his 13th goal of the season.

Hartson pulled away at the far post and Moravcik brilliantly picked him out with an inviting left-foot cross and the striker headed clinically inside the post.

Gary Caldwell should have been punished by Larsson in the 65th minute after failing to clear the ball, but the in-form Swede failed to get the power to beat Colgan.

Celtic continued to pile on the pressure and the home side needed a great save from Colgan to deny Hartson from close range and keep his side on level terms.

Story filed: 20:08 Saturday 2nd February 2002

Celtic came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Livingston and extend their lead at the top of the SPL to 15 points

Martin O'Neill's side now need eight wins from 12 games to retain their title as second-half goals from Lubo Moravcik, Henrik Larsson and John Hartson completed the turnaround.

But they could have easily gone under to Livi, who made a dream start by taking the lead after just four minutes through a breathtaking 25-yard strike from Quino.

The ball broke to the Spanish star and he unleashed a stunning right-foot volley which flew past goalkeeper Robert Douglas and in off the underside of the bar for his fifth of the season.

And the champions went in one down at half-time before unleashing an onslaught after the break.

They thought they had grabbed the equaliser in the 56th minute.

Moravcik's cross was headed towards the far post and Joos Valgaeren headed home from close range, but the linesman had his flag up although the reason was not clear.

There was doubt though with Celtic's leveller two minutes later as Moravcik produced another piece of magic.

Henrik Larsson teed him up and he drilled a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner - although on-loan keeper Nick Culkin might have done better.

And Culkin could do nothing to prevent the charged-up visitors from taking the lead in the 61st minute.

Smith's right-wing cross was completely missed by Hartson, but Larsson made no mistake to fire emphatically into the bottom corner for his 25th goal of the campaign.

Celtic's stunning second-half comeback was sealed in the 72nd minute with Hartson also getting his name on the scoresheet.

The Welshman reacted quickly to some slack defending from John Anderson inside his own area to stab the ball home past Culkin and into the bottom corner.

Story filed: 22:15 Wednesday 30th January 2002

Celtic through after bizarre night at Rugby Park  26/1/02

Celtic survived a blackout, a downpour and the threat from Kilmarnock's young chargers to power into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at Rugby Park.

In a night of high drama the game only just went ahead following three pitch inspections by Hugh Dallas after heavy rain and then a power-cut delayed the kick-off by 45 minutes.

It also took Celtic some time to flicker into life after half-time - but an own goal from Garry Hay and Henrik Larsson strike kept their burning Treble ambitions alive.

Martin O'Neill's men now face another all-Premier League tie at Aberdeen in the last eight - but this game did not look possible after the worrying events before kick-off.

It took 20 minutes for the game to come to life when Stilian Petrov squandered a glorious opportunity to put Celtic ahead. John Hartson played the ball back to Larsson, who picked out the unmarked Bulgarian in the centre, but he powered his header just over the bar from just six yards.

Celtic needed a vital clearance from Thompson in the 43rd minute to save his side a late blow before the break as he cleared Johnson's header from Murray's corner off the line.

The visitors, however, got their noses in front just six minutes after the restart. Thompson swung in a free-kick to the near post where Larsson was lurking, but it was Hay's outstretched boot which made contact and sent the ball into his own net.

Kilmarnock looked shellshocked and the visitors almost doubled their lead two minutes later. McNamara swung in a great cross, but Petrov just could not make up enough ground and was stretching as he headed over the bar.

Larsson tried to kill off the tie in the 57th minute as he outstripped Frederic Dindeleux for pace, but he dragged his shot into the side-netting from a wide angle.

The Swede, however, did double Celtic's lead in the 63rd minute when Thompson chipped the ball over the Kilmarnock defence and he took one touch before dispatching the ball low past Marshall.

Kevin McGowne whistled a long-range free-kick past the post before Thompson's chip glided just over the bar.

Larsson could have capped off the win with his second late on as he headed substitute Bobby Petta's free-kick straight at Marshall.

Kilmarnock could have got a consolation in the dying seconds after Douglas had saved Johnson's shot, but Kris Boyd blazed wide from the rebound with the keeper grounded.

Celtic 2 Hearts 0      23/1/02
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Henrik Larsson broke the hearts of Parkhead visitors Hearts - and Old
Firm rivals Rangers - with two late goals to maintain the out-of-sort
champions' 13-point lead at the top of the SPL.

Despite his wonder strike at the weekend, the Swede and his team-mates
looked to be desperately short of form as the Edinburgh outfit
threatened to cause an upset.

Suddenly - with Celtic struggling to find their form and Rangers
coming back from two goals down to win at Dunfermline - there was hope
among their arch-rivals that their nerves would twitch.

Larsson, however, had other ideas and even though he missed a number
of good opportunities throughout he kept focused and got on the
scoresheet twice.

Hearts were criticised the last time they came to Parkhead for being
negative, but they were positive and they had in-form striker Ricardo
Fuller to thank for installing that confidence.

The Jamaican looked lively and asked the Celtic defence some questions
with his pace and persistence.

The home side took some time to get going, but even when they stepped
it up a gear they still spluttered along.

Jackie McNamara exchanged passes with John Hartson inside the box, but
Hearts defender Steven Pressley made a vital sliding tackle to prevent
him getting a shot away.

Two minutes later they went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock
after an uncharacteristic mistake by Pressley.

The Scotland international was dispossessed by Alan Thompson, who went
through one on one with Niemi - but the former Rangers keeper made a
good save and the ball rolled just past the post.

The home side continued to struggle with the pace of Fuller on the
break and they were fortunate not to fall a goal behind for the second
time in four days.

He shrugged off the attentions of Joos Valgaeren and sprinted away
before drilling a powerful right-foot shot past Robert Douglas - and
the home crowd feared the worst.

Johan Mjallby, however, somehow managed to scoop the effort over the
bar - although he cannot have known too much about it.

Larsson soon got presented with two good chances to give his side the
lead after earlier giving the crowd something to laugh about with a
fresh air shot.

Hartson did the same in the 27th minute from Thompson's cross and the
ball came to the Swede unmarked - but he blasted his right-foot shot
straight at Niemi.

Larsson was picked out in a great position by McNamara's cross moments
later, but he blazed his header just over the crossbar.

Hearts were finally being put under some sustained pressure as the
home crowd spurred Celtic on and Steve Fulton needed to clear Balde's
header off the line from McNamara's corner.

The visitors again breathed a sigh of relief in the 37th minute as
Hartson's deflected header from Thompson's free-kick squirmed just
past Niemi's left-hand post.

O'Neill must have had some strong words for his side at the break, but
still they failed to get into the stride that has made them Scotland's
most feared side.

Hartson was making a nuisance of himself and he got on the end of
Thompson's free-kick, but aimed his header straight at Niemi.

Petta looked short of confidence after being forced to sit on the
sidelines for a number of games and that told.

The winger seemed to get caught in two minds in the 51st minute as he
cut inside after Thompson freed him down the left and he fired wide
with Larsson unable to get on the end of it.

Larsson was also struggling to get it going, but his confidence was
evidently still there as he chipped a right-foot effort over Niemi and
just past the post from just inside the box.

Celtic refused to stop going forward, but Larsson glanced his header
well wide from Lennon's cross in the 63rd minute.

Again the home side survived a scare in the 66th minute when McNamara
got on the end of Thompson's cross, but headed wide of the mark.

Moments later Moravcik was brought on for the ineffective Petta as
O'Neill looked for something special to turn the game.

Then Hartson squandered another chance in the 72nd minute when
Thompson delivered an inch-perfect cross, but he headed just over the
crossbar from six yards.

Celtic, however, refused to give up and had good reason to with their
glorious late showings this season.

And they were rewarded with 10 minutes to go as they took the lead
through Larsson - who coolly steered his header from Thompson's
left-wing cross past Niemi and into the corner.

That seemed to lift him to another level and he confirmed his return
to form with five minutes left with an emphatic right-foot volley past
Niemi from Moravcik's cross.

That double took his season tally to 25 in all competitions - and how
precious tonight's double was.



Teams:

Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, McNamara, Lennon, Lambert,
Thompson, Petta (Moravcik 66), Larsson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Boyd, Maloney, Smith.

Booked: Mjallby.

Goals: Larsson 80, 86.

Hearts: Niemi, Flogel, Pressley, Webster, Mahe, Simmons, Severin,
Gronlund (Boyack 83), Fulton (Kirk 83), Fuller, Wales (Adam 78).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, McCann.

Booked: Gronlund, Adam.

Att: 57,203

Ref: B Orr (Scotland).

Goal prince of Wales

Kilmarnock 0
Celtic 2 

Gary Sutherland,  12th Jan 2002


ONE of Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson’s measured mantras is that
if one is searching for an entertainment fix then the cinema might be
a more sure venue than a football ground. Rugby Park represented good
value last night before the cameras as the hosts gave as good as they
got but, as second-half events unfolded against them, were not able to
collect any valuable points.

Celtic, as they are accustomed to, of course, gained the upper hand by
virtue of John Hartson’s calm penalty conversion. There was some
peculiarity to the kick, though, as Hartson later intimated that his
illustrious partner Henrik Larsson, Celtic’s usual penalty taker, had
been reluctant to become involved.

“We had a penalty and everybody expected Henrik to step up and tuck it
away in the way he does,” said Hartson, “but he said he didn’t want it
because he said he had missed a couple of chances prior to that.”
Certainly Larsson did not enjoy the very best of nights.

However, a sublime slice of skill from captain Paul Lambert delivered
the second goal and ensured that, for the third time this season,
Kilmarnock were second best.

They will get another shot at it when the pair meet again here on
Scottish Cup duty in a fortnight’s time. Time for Kilmarnock to
reflect that they were very much part of this encounter for long
spells but that the commanding league leaders tend to have something
up their sleeve.

After watching his side win, Martin O’Neill said: “We thought before
it was going to be a big test and by half-time we knew it was. Winning
here has proved difficult for us in the past but the players have good
mentality and in the second-half showed stronger resolve.”

His counterpart Williamson searched for the right word. “I’m not
angry, not irate, not seething, not swearing. I’m just disappointed. I
felt it’s the most we’ve troubled Celtic for some time. We never took
our chances when they came around.”

Having toiled considerably overcoming Kilmarnock on two previous
league occasions already this season, solitary strikes coming late in
both games, Celtic, from the outset, attempted to impinge their
authoritative manner on this TV contest by enacting an early
bombardment on the home goal.

Henrik Larsson should have presented the hosts with a setback soon
after kick-off but contrived a sizeable miss when, after Neil Lennon
had made a cute slide pass to Lambert, the Celtic captain crossed low,
only for Larsson to dink an ungainly effort wide of the crossbar.

Following this, and still within the opening ten minutes, Alan
Thompson curled a free-kick into the arms of Gordon Marshall after
Kevin McGowne had managed to clatter all of Hartson to the turf. Next,
Larsson cleverly released Hartson for a firmly-hit angled drive which
Marshall was able to swat away for a corner that was subsequently
mopped up.

Rather than demonstrate submission, Kilmarnock bit back as if to
suggest their guests were not going to have an easy night of it. One
of the form SPL teams, they set to it, with their tiny but tenacious
young winger Stephen Murray much involved. Murray only made his
first-team debut at the start of December and by the end of that month
his eye-catching flank displays had assured him the Young Player of
the Month award. He ran at the Celtic rearguard here but more often
than not Lambert had an eye on him, snuffing out the danger.

Celtic, searching for a fourth league win in a row since their
isolated blip against Aberdeen, looked like opening their account
mid-way through the half when Larsson received another crack at
Marshall’s goal but again passed. From Hartson’s head flick he
scampered clear of an in-pursuit Kilmarnock rearguard but slotted his
shot wide of the upright.

Williamson’s team then came near on several occasions to upsetting the
champions and a crucial Jackie McNamara goal-line clearance prevented
team-mate Stilian Petrov registering an own goal after the Bulgarian
mis-headed a Murray corner. After Alan Thompson was booked for a
tackle on McGowne, the towering Kilmarnock centre-half almost made
Celtic pay big time with a menacing free-kick which the athletic
Robert Douglas did well to tip over the bar. Then arrived Kilmarnock’s
closest call, with their opponents semi-reeling, Murray crossing for
striker Kris Boyd who beat everyone to head the ball downwards but
narrowly wide of the post.

It was not through lack of application that Kilmarnock had not scored
and bettered their home strike rate. With 11 goals in the same number
of outings, only bottom-of-the-table St Johnstone had a less healthy
ratio. Not that this sort of reluctance has prevented the Ayrshire
club from bedding down snuggly in the top-half of the Premier League
table.

They were provided with a dose of discomfort, though, shortly into the
second period when a penalty kick award came Celtic’s way, one that
Marshall especially protested but could do nothing about when the ball
was planted low and true into his right-hand corner.

Peter Canero conceded the spot-kick when he appeared to rumble Petrov
to the ground in a two-way chase for the loose ball. Hartson it was
who netted the resultant invite, scoring for the third game in a row
as he accepted the penalty detail ahead of strike partner Larsson.

Williamson was, initially at least, not impressed with the referee
granting Celtic their penalty, saying he thought Petrov had overhit
the ball and had gone down, but that he would be analysing the TV
evidence.

In a quite comical vignette, Murray and Johan Mjalby got in a tussle
for possession after the giant Swede had been a little too nonchalant
with a clearance. Who would have bet on Mjallby being the one on the
seat of his shorts trackside after an unlikely skirmish between David
and Goliath?

Kilmarnock introduced Tommy Johnson into the evening mix, hoping that
he might do what he once did for Celtic, but it was Johnson’s former
team who went further ahead two minutes after his introduction.

Chesting a ball down, Lambert impudently lobbed it over a defender
catching it on its descent and administering a clinical half-volley
high beyond Marshall. Although not a frequent scorer, Lambert has a
propensity for making it special when he does. This was one of those
meritable moments.

O’Neill hopes such moments will convince the midfielder to extend his
Celtic career beyond 2003. Lambert, typically, is focusing on now and
would not even revel in his goal. “It doesn’t matter to me who scores
the goals. It was more important that the team won.”

Laterly in the game, attention focused on Neil Lennon, of all people,
when Murray was grounded in a collision with the Celtic midfielder.
Angry Kilmarnock fans made elbowing motions but no damning judgement
was passed and Lennon was free to leave the field in an orthodox
manner as his manager rushed on Bobby Petta.

O’Neill later revealed he will be taking action against Lennon for
recent publicised misdemeanours. “I spoke to Neil about it and heard
his side of the story,” said the manager, “but I will be taking
disciplinary action.”

Alloa 0 Celtic 5

                   By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

                   Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst inspired the                            Scottish
                   Cup holders to a comprehensive 5-0 third round win                    over
                   Alloa at Brockville.

                   The Danish international was handed his second start
                   since recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and
                   responded with the second goal of the game which
                   ended Alloa's hopes of a shock.

                   Bobo Balde had already given Celtic the lead before
                   Shaun Maloney, Bobby Petta and Momo Sylla
                   completed the scoring to set up an all-Premier League
                   fourth round tie at Kilmarnock.

                   But manager Martin O'Neill's gamble to rest eight first
                   team players including Henrik Larsson, John Hartson,
                   Neil Lennon, Paul Lambert, Joos Valgaeren and Johan
                   Mjallby paid off.

                   However, his decision to name Wieghorst in the starting
                   line-up for the first time since November saw the great
                   Dane put last season's illness behind him.

                   There were as many eyebrows raised to his inclusion as
                   to the Scottish Football Association's choice of venue
                  for
                   this encounter but, again, O'Neill proved his decision
                   was
                   right.

                   But Celtic were warned they faced a tough cup-tie                    after
                   just four minutes when James Fisher floated an inviting
                   free-kick into the box and Mark Cowan got above                     Olivier
                   Tebily to head just wide.

                   But, a minute later, Gregg Watson's over-enthusiasm
                   cost him with a yellow card after a bad tackle on
                   youngster Maloney.

                   Alloa manager Terry Christie got involved in an angry
                   exchange of words with referee Mike McCurry shortly
                   after and, although the reason was unclear, it was his
                   turn to earn a stern telling-off.

                   The match official, however, appeared to get it wrong                    in
                   the 17th minute after failing to book Ian Little for a
                   reckless challenge on Maloney.

                   But Stilian Petrov almost made them pay from the
                   resulting free-kick with an awkward right-foot shot                    which
                   squirmed through the grasp of Derek Soutar, but Craig
                   Valentine was able to clear.

                   Celtic, however, did take the lead two minutes later
                   through Balde.

                   The former Toulouse man did not quite catch his                    25-yard
                   shot as he would have liked but it seemed to take a
                   strange bounce in front of Soutar and sneaked past his
                   despairing dive.

                   Sylla, playing in an unaccustomed striking role, could
                   have doubled Celtic's lead with a great chance in the
                   24th minute.

                   The Frenchman was sent away by Tom Boyd's long ball
                   but, with just the keeper to beat, he pulled his
                   left-foot
                   shot well wide.

                   Celtic threatened to run riot and Soutar needed to make
                   four good saves from Balde, Petta, Maloney and Tebily to
                   keep the Second Division side's hopes alive.

                   Little went into McCurry's book for a late challenge on
                   Sylla after a bad challenge.

                   Soutar was left helpless in the 36th minute as Tebily
                   rose to meet Petta's cross but he breathed a sigh of
                   relief to see the defender head just past the post.

                   The Alloa hero again made a great point-blank save to
                   thwart Sylla a minute later although the former St
                   Johnstone favourite's finish should have been much
                   better.

                   But Wieghorst had a special moment to savour in the
                   42nd minute when he headed Celtic's second from
                   Maloney's cross.

                   It took just 11 minutes of the second period for Celtic
to
                   scupper Alloa's hopes through Maloney, who swept
                   home Steve Guppy's cross.

                   Petta also tried to get in on the act in the 68th minute
                   with a fierce right-foot shot which flashed just past the
                   upright while Soutar again made a good stop to deny
                   Sylla.

                   But the Dutch winger did get his name on the scoresheet
                   in the 75th minute with a determined burst into the area
                   and a cool finish past the on-rushing Soutar.

                   Celtic then rubbed salt into the wounds with eight
                   minutes remaining as Sylla fired home at the second
                   attempt from Guppy's corner which was an unfair
                   reflection on the brave Alloa keeper.

                   Teams

                   Alloa: Soutar, Valentine, Watson (Gareth Evans 60),
                   Thomson, Cowan, Hamilton, Christie, Fisher, Whalen
                   (Walker 57), Hutchison (Curran 73), Little.

                   Subs Not Used: Knox, Jim Evans.

                   Booked: Watson, Little.

                   Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Balde (Healy 61), Tebily, Guppy,
                   McNamara, Wieghorst, Petrov (Smith 45), Petta,
                   Maloney, Sylla.

                   Subs Not Used: Lambert, Moravcik, Douglas.

                   Goals: Balde 19, Wieghorst 42, Maloney 56, Petta 75,
                   Sylla 83.

                   Att: 5,498

                   Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).

Two thousand and 2-0 
By Stephen Sullivan

SPL, Wednesday January 2, 2002
Celtic Park
CELTIC… 2
Larsson 81, Hartson 90
MOTHERWELL… 0

The year 2001 will no doubt prove a lot to live up to, but Celtic at
least kicked off 2002 in the right manner by bludgeoning their way to a
hard-fought victory over Motherwell. Late goals from the free-scoring
strike pairing of John Hartson and Henrik Larsson sealed the points for
Martin O’Neill’s Bhoys, and the former of the two was particularly
impressive in killing off the challenge of Eric Black’s men.

The Hartson Hoops fans have been treated to in recent matches could
hardly be in more stark contrast to the out-of-shape, out-of-sorts
player who first appeared for the club back in August. Against
Motherwell, he was easily the most willing and potent player on show,
and this was true from the match’s opening skirmishes. First, after
three minutes, a cross-cum-shot from the Welshman crashed back off the
crossbar and then, just seconds later, he linked unselfishly with Henrik
Larsson only to see the normally deadly Swede direct his header straight
at Stevie Woods.

It had been an encouraging opening from Celtic’s in-form strike pairing
nonetheless, and the Lanarkshie side’s rough and ready defensive pairing
of Greg Strong and Karl Ready seemed unable to cope. However, Motherwell
continued to hold firm – thanks largely to a number of key interceptions
from the impressive Eric Deloumeaux who, for much of the match, was
inspirational in keeping Celtic at bay.

Larsson came close once again after 22 minutes when he rose above
everyone in claret and amber to meet a Stilian Petrov corner but,
although Stevie Woods was left stranded, the Swede’s header fizzed just
over the crossbar. At this stage, it appeared that Larsson’s sights
might just be a little out – a suspicion heightened after 26 minutes
when he sliced wide after being teed up cleverly by Petrov.

Indeed, his striker partner still looked the likeliest to break the
deadlock, and Hartson certainly couldn’t have gone any closer after 34
minutes when, having broken beyond Motherwell’s off-side trap, he slid
in to divert Alan Thompson’s free-kick on to the face of the post.

But Celtic couldn’t seem to make any headway and, for the second home
match in succession, the frustration of the Hoops fans was being
compounded by some inexplicable refereeing decisions. Alan Freeland, the
villain of a previous Celtic-Motherwell battle, was at his old tricks
again and, with Hartson in particular coming in for some harsh
treatment, a breakthrough remained elusive.

That said, Woods did make three superb stops within thirteen minutes of
the match re-starting, denying Thompson alertly and then bettering that
save with a superb reflex stop to push away a left foot drive from
Larsson.
Soon after, Joos Valgaeren became the next Celt to be frustrated by the
veteran Well keeper when, after picking up after a penalty box melee, he
smashed a right foot shot towards goal only to see it tipped wide of the
post. Woods then made another miraculous stop when, faced by Larsson
eight yards out, he dived low to his left to push away a rather tame
effort from the Swede.

Larsson had undoubtedly been more wasteful than most in front of goal
but, with nine minutes left on the clock, he made amends with a
typically opportunistic strike. Breaking on to a Hartson flick-on, he
burst into the area and, after muscling out Eric Deloumeaux, flicked out
a boot to knock the ball past the seemingly unbeatable Woods.

No-one doubted where the points were heading now and, in injury time,
Larsson and Hartson switched roles to double the Hoops advantage. The
former of the two had taken advantage of the latter’s supply for the
first goal, and now he returned the compliment by bustling in on the
right side of the penalty area and unselfishly cutting the ball back for
the Welshman to seal the first points of what we all hope will be
another hugely successful year.

Website Man of the Match: JOHN HARTSON

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde (Petta 74), Valgaeren; McNamara,
Lennon, Lambert, Petrov (Moravcik 65), Thompson; Hartson, Larsson.
Subs: Gould, Maloney, Smith
MOTHERWELL (3-5-2): Woods; Strong, Ready, Deloumeaux; Corrigan, Soloy,
Lasley (Elliot 86), Dow, Hammell; Kelly, McFadden
Subs: Brown, Martinez, Adams

Celtic 3 Livingston 2
By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Henrik Larsson's last-gasp goal enabled 10-man Celtic to hold onto their
100% record at Parkhead.

Livingston had fought back twice to level the scoreline and looked like
holding the Hoops to a draw for the second time this season.

Lubomir Moravcik had given Celtic the lead only to be clawed back by an
Oscar Rubio header then Larsson saw his first goal cancelled out by
Francisco Quino.

But the Swede ensured all three points would stay at Celtic Park when he
grabbed the winner in the last minute.

Celtic appeared to have recovered from the shock of their first league
defeat against Aberdeen on Saturday as they set about pounding the
Livingston goal in the early stages of this game.

Livingston have been the surprise package this season but seemed
overawed by their first visit to a packed Celtic Park and, as early as
two minutes, they were under pressure as Larsson tried to set up Stilian
Petrov, only for the Bulgarian to fail to connect with the ball.

But Stevie Tosh's challenge on Moravcik proved to be costly as the Hoops
took advantage of the resultant free-kick to surge into the lead.

Moravcik, himself, stepped up for the set-piece to bullet the ball past
a stunned Nick Culkin.

Martin O'Neill's side dominated for large spells of the game and had
numerous chances to take the lead but sinner-in-chief proved to be Alan
Thompson as he squandered several chances to add his name to the
scoresheet.

He had already been denied by a one-handed save from Culkin after six
minutes and missed another great opportunity on the half hour mark.

Larsson squared the ball across the face of goal and all that was
required from Thompson was a simple tap-in but he somehow missed the
ball completely.

Five minutes later he was left rueing another missed opportunity when he
managed to connect with a Petrov cross a few yards out only to nod into
the hands of the Livingston goalkeeper.

Celtic had received a bitter blow when Chris Sutton landed awkwardly
following a 50-50 challenge with defender Marvin Andrews and had to be
stretchered off and replaced by John Hartson.

And the game went from bad to worse when Livvy levelled the scoreline
despite struggling to create much in front of goal. Oscar Rubio pounced
on a Barry Wilson free-kick to nod home the equaliser after 36 minutes.

Despite the setback of Livingston drawing level, Celtic emerged even
more determined after the interval.

Hartson had been anonymous since replacing Sutton but he forced Culkin
into a good save just three minutes after the re-start with a thunderous
effort just inside the box.

He had another chance after 49 minutes when Thomson sent the ball into
the box but he connected awkwardly and the ball fell harmlessly past the
post.

But Larsson was more successful and he restored Celtic's lead after 50
minutes when he pounced on a Paul Lambert ball to fire low past the
Livingston goalkeeper.

Livingston, too, were beginning to show more determination and, for the
second time, they fought back to draw level.

Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas did well to parry a Wilson shot but,
unfortunately for the Hoops, the ball fell to the feet of Francisco
Quino who smashed the rebound home after 58 minutes.

Celtic tried to hit back and Petrov floated a cross to Hartson on the
hour but the big Welshman's first time effort fell wide.

Five minutes later Lennon fed the ball through to Moravcik and he looked
certain to grab his second goal of the day when he unleashed the shot
from just inside the box only to watch as it slid inches wide of the
upright.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Celtic piled the pressure on
the Livingston goal but were twice denied.

Towering defender Bobo Balde saw his header, from just a couple of yards
out, blocked by the Livingston goalkeeper. Then, from the resultant
flag-kick Hartson cracked the ball off the post before the Livvy defence
eventually cleared the danger.

Celtic's chances of snatching a win suffered a blow after 78 minutes
when they found themselves down to 10 men. Joos Valgaeren was guilty of
a nasty challenge on substitute Nathan Lowndes and the referee did not
hesitate to show him his second yellow card before producing the red.

But the home side managed to snatch all three points right at the death
when Larsson met a Thompson cross to tap home from two yards out.

Hartson's double puts O'Neill in a quandary
GRAHAM SPIERS
Celtic 4 - Dunfermline 0

The Celtic supporters spent the latter part of this match happily
carolling about "a Hartson wonderland". This is actually a breach of
copyright on a song about Henrik Larsson but yesterday's choristers at
East End Park were only highlighting a problem facing Martin O'Neill. On
the evidence of this game, what the heck does he do with John Hartson?

The Welsh striker, big, brawny, and with a midriff the size of a
beer-barrel, wrought mayhem among the Fifers. A goal with his head,
another with his foot, cutely, on the volley, and flicks here and
lay-offs there, left everyone quite mesmerised. With Dunfermline playing
their famously suicidal defensive system, all the more plunder for
Hartson. Yet he was only playing here, of course, because Chris Sutton,
like the Queen Mother, is being rested.

We've all had it up to here with bulletins about big squads and healthy
rotations. None of it changes the fact that footballers, especially
those deemed to have a pedigree worth £6m, want to play most weeks
instead of idling about a bench. More poignant yet for Hartson is the
fact that, when he is given an airing like this, the affinity he has
with Larsson seems instant and natural. It might seem harsh, but this
Welshman, in his heart of hearts, might be praying for the most tragic
of a leg-break somewhere among his fellow strikers.

Celtic routed Dunfermline, leaving poor, jabbering Jimmy Calderwood not
quite tongue-tied but certainly in trauma. Calderwood's bullish tactical
approach to this match couldn't have back-fired more if Celtic had shown
up with horses and sabres. Hartson speared them twice, Bobo Baldé
weighed in with a header, and Alan Thompson let rip the most thunderous
volley from 25 yards which Marco Ruitenbeek actually stopped and stared
at as it hurtled into his net.

The match was also not without its little feuds. Gus MacPherson, an
angry wee man with a good memory, at one point rushed and lunged to make
a tackle of no great significance, the ball trundling out for a
throw-in. But the man in possession had been Henrik Larsson. Ian
Ferguson also kept up his tradition of bashing Celtic fans in the face
with the ball, bludgeoning a clearance from a corner straight at them
from a distance of six yards.

Ferguson scowled back at the chorus of booing this provoked. Ten minutes
later he was picking up a booking, and 20 minutes after that, after
considerable huffing and puffing, they had the temerity to award him the
man of the match award. Ferguson trudged off this pitch looking a mite
hacked off.

Jim Leishman was in the pressbox, a living reminder of the colourful
oral traditions in these parts. We've heard a lot at East End Park down
the years about shapes and systems, and Calderwood has done well to keep
up the garrulous style. Calderwood's fascination with flimsy defending
and suicidal marking is now, like Elton John, a member of the infamy
club, and he was at it again yesterday. In his programme notes he made
an attempt to explain his defensive system, but to the layman, much of
it read like unfathomable gobbledygook.

Given any team playing 2-5-3, as Dunfermline were, with just Scott
Thomson, a converted winger, and Andrius Skerla, a disoriented
Lithuanian, marking Hartson and Larsson, it is safe to assume they might
be asking for more than their share of trouble. In fact, the way this
game unfolded, Dunfermline were fine so long as their triangular
midfield play was keeping them firmly stuck in the middle of nowhere,
but the moment Celtic snatched possession and burst forward, Thomson and
Skerla were like overrun tommies in a ditch. Celtic were two up inside
19 minutes. They might have been five or six up by the finish had they
not been so eccentric in front of goal.

Some of the misses in this game were shocking. With Dunfermline sticking
to their cavalier system, Celtic at times were queueing up in front of
Ruitenbeek, pranging chances against wood or screwing shots wide. In one
particular piece of slapstick, Hartson even rounded Ruitenbeek with the
ball before dithering and dallying before passing along the six-yard
line to Larsson. This hasn't been Henrik's week: the Swede's eventual
shot came back off a post.

Celtic, though, had nothing to fear. Their opener after eight minutes
was a ferocious header from Baldé, whose forehead met Stilian Petrov's
corner flush on its dome to flash the ball past Ruitenbeek. Hartson then
made it two 11 minutes later, meeting Steve Guppy's neat cross almost
without breaking stride to angle his volley past the goalkeeper.

The second half, frankly, became a bit of a turkey-shoot for Celtic.
Dunfermline did firm up with the audacious use of a third defender but
their visitors were slicing straight through them by then. After 58
minutes, Hartson rose again, this time to Petrov's corner, to head
beyond poor Ruitenbeek, before the goal of the match arrived like a
thunderclap from above.

Larsson's free kick rebounded back to Thompson, who, from a country mile
out, met the ball on the volley and licked it past Ruitenbeek. This was
an afternoon when the poor Dutch keeper stopped and stared wide-eyed at
a lot of things hurtling past him, but this was the most amazing. No
wonder Celtic's Martin O'Neill later was chirpiness personified.

- Dec 10th

Celtic 1 Valencia 0 (agg: 1-1, Valencia win on pens)
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Celtic were cruelly denied a place in the UEFA Cup fourth round after a
sudden-death penalty drama.

They have not been beyond Christmas in Europe for 20 years, but Henrik
Larsson pulled them level on aggregate with his strike on the stroke of
half-time to become the club's all-time top European scorer with 17
goals.

But the Spanish side won 5-4 in the sudden death penalty shoot-out after
Joos Valgaeren's penalty was saved by Santigo Canizares and Ferrer Mista
stepped up to send his side into the next round.

Manager Martin O'Neill's decision to pair Larsson with Chris Sutton and
leave out weekend double-goal hero John Hartson almost brought them a
first-minute goal.

The English striker sent the Swede away and he took the ball around the
onrushing Canizares, but his shot lacked power and Mauricio Pellegrino
got back to clear.

Valencia looked edgy at the back and the greasy conditions were making
it more difficult for them.

Sutton came within inches of putting Celtic on level terms when Stilian
Petrov threaded the ball through to Larsson who squared the ball to the
English striker, but he fired just past the upright.

Celtic went close again a minute later when Larsson touched a free-kick
into the path of Petrov and his right-foot effort took a deflection from
the wall and flew just wide.

Valencia, however, came back into the game and had it not been for more
heroics from goalkeeper Robert Douglas, who was brilliant in Spain,
Celtic would have had a mountain to climb.

The referee dubiously gave the visitors a free-kick after Johan Mjallby
had made a fair tackle on Fabio Aurelio but the former Dundee keeper
saved Ayala's shot by his right post.

Moments later and Douglas again needed to be at his agile best to save
Aimar's header from Amedio Carboni's cross.

As the break approached Celtic seemed to lose some of their discipline
and Lubo Moravcik was booked for a late challenge on Vicente, whose
first leg goal still separated the two sides.

But just two minutes before the break the Slovakian had a glorious
chance to put the home side in front on the night.

The referee allowed Moravcik to play on after Larsson was brought down
and the Slovakian ghosted past Vicente, but blazed his effort just over
the bar with Canizares to beat.

But in the dying seconds of the half Larsson fired them in front on the
in emphatic fashion to become the club's all-time top scorer in Europe -
past Jimmy Johnstone - with 17 goals.

Joos Valgaeren won a tackle on the edge of the box and the ball broke to
Larsson, who coolly stroked the ball first time past Canizares and into
the bottom corner.

With his job on the line, Valencia coach Rafael Benitez knew that he
needed to lift his side after the break and chose to replace Curro
Torres with Jocelyn Angloma.

That seemed to inspire the Spaniards and just two minutes after the
restart, Vicente's right-foot shot flew just past the upright.

Celtic needed to weather the early second-half onslaught and they were
fortunate to be still in front on the night after the Spanish side went
close on two occasions inside a minute.

Paul Lambert needed to get back to block Aimar's goalbound strike in the
51st minute after Vicente had got away from Valgaeren inside the Celtic
half.

Then just moments later Petta needed to clear De Los Santos' header from
Aimar's corner off the line.

O'Neill decided to make a change of his own by bringing on the fresh
legs of Momo Sylla for veteran Moravcik.

Celtic came roaring back in a thrilling cup tie and Ayala and Carboni
were both booked for dissent.

But the game continued to flow from end to end and Vicente's skills
ripped apart the home defence and only another good save from Douglas
denied him a glorious solo effort.

Valencia again made another change with Ferrer Mista coming on for Fabio
Aurelio in the 67th minute before Douglas had to get down well to save
Vicente's powerful right-foot strike.

But despite both teams' best efforts neither side could grab a vital
goal to prevent the game from going into extra time.

Celtic had the first chance of the extra 30 minutes when Thompson cut
inside Angloma and De los Santos and fired the ball across the face of
goal to Larsson, whose effort beat Canizares but was cleared off the
line by Pellegrino.

Valencia still looked dangerous on the break and Douglas needed to save
Carew's shot at the second attempt.

Hartson almost won it with three minutes remaining when he flicked
Sutton's pass goalward and only the diving save of Canizares prevented
it from finding its way into the net.

But the Welshman was on target in the penalty decider, along with Paul
Lambert and Chris Sutton.

Larsson, Petrov and Valgaeren missed from the spot giving Mista the
chance to have the last laugh and deny Celtic more success.

Evening Times:  Celtic 3  Hibs 0

Home and dry, Celtic 
By Ronnie Cully

IT'S 12 months since Celtic last lost a meaningful game in domestic
competition and their 3-0 dismantling of Hibs was their 12th straight
SPL win.

Rangers' failure to take any more than one point at Dens Park has pushed
Martin O'Neill's men 12 points clear in the race to retain their title,
although 'race' is fast becoming a bit of a misnomer.

This event increasingly reeks of

having only one possible winner, all of which gives some early-season
cheer around Celtic Park in this, the twelfth month of the year.

Certainly, if the Hoops fans asked for the championship to be wrapped up
and delivered along with the Christmas presents three weeks from now, it
would be difficult to argue they were suffering from premature
adulation.

It really does look done and dusted, as few would even attempt to argue
a case for O'Neill's men losing four games out of the remaining 22 while
also expecting nearest challengers Rangers to take the maximum points
from their remaining fixtures.

Believe that, and you will also believe presents are indeed delivered by
a white-haired man sporting a red outfit and a cheery smile.

So, the realists are left with but one question. It is not if Celtic can
win back-to-back titles, but if they can wrap it up even earlier than
they did last season. All the indications point to the answer being yes,
which will spark celebrations in the Celtic camp, but sound warning
bells around the rest of Scottish football.

A game that is already struggling to sustain the interest of the Old
Firm will assuredly become even more tedious if the most important
business of the

season is concluded soon after the clocks move forward.

There won't even be the distraction of Scotland's participation in the
World Cup Finals to take anyone's mind off the fact our game is fast
losing the edge only strong competition can provide.




Which will further increase talk and speculation about the Old Firm
moving outwith these borders, discussion which, with every passing week,
undermines Scottish football.

The way Celtic swept aside Hibs is a perfect illustration of the malaise
afflicting our game. Only six months ago, Alex McLeish's men were
providing a welcome and viable challenge to the Old Firm. Now, they can
be swatted like flies hovering around the top table which groans under
the weight of rich pickings reserved for only the very few.

Of course, 59,514 still turned up to witness Celtic feasting on the men
from the east, devouring three points and enjoying that contented
feeling of a job well done. But even those who attended gave the
impression they are tiring of the same old fare.

The atmosphere was muted, only really coming to life when John Hartson
grabbed his two goals and Neil Lennon stroked home the third.

After gorging on nights when seven-goal thrillers with Juventus were
served up, perhaps it now takes the big European occasion to fire up the
fans. Thursday night against Valencia could prove the point.

Whatever the source of the malaise, fortunately it does not appear to
have encroached on to the field, where another decent performance
confirmed the Celtic players still have an appetite for the Scottish
game. And no-one savoured the moment more than Hartson.

O'Neill was happy to welcome Chris Sutton back to the side as the
Englishman's concerns over his ill son James eased. The Celtic boss
decided his easiest route back to action was via the back three,
alongside World Cup-bound duo Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren.

That meant Bobo Balde was bound only for the stand, where he was able to
watch Hartson continue up front with the man many hope will be the
Nemesis of England next summer, Henrik Larsson.

It was a team plan executed to perfection, with Sutton strolling through
the 90 minutes and Hartson stealing the headlines with a double, the
second of which he described as "one of the best goals of my career".

That came five minutes from the end of the first half, when Ulrik
Laursen did nothing to encourage O'Neill to pursue his interest in him
by diving in to try and intercept a Mjallby pass to the big Welshman.

The Dane missed out, leaving Hartson in the clear some 25 yards from
goal. He took three steps forward, saw keeper Tony Caig on his six-yard
line, and deftly lobbed the ball over the embarrassed stopper.

It was as much a measure of Hartson's renewed confidence as it was his
latent ability, and it deservedly brought the crowd to their feet.

It later brought O'Neill to admit he now has to think long and hard
about who plays where against Valencia.

The Celtic boss said: "It has not been easy for John coming here, with
all the attention on him and two forwards like Sutton and Larsson in the
form of their lives. He could have gone elsewhere in England, but he
chose here because of the lure of European football.

"However, he is a player who needs to be playing regularly to keep his
fitness - he's given me selection problems for the Valencia match."

Ironically, of the three main strikers available, Hartson is the man in
form, his brace against Hibs taking his tally for the season to seven
since he opened his account against Dundee United seven weeks ago. His
first against Hibs, after only 11 minutes, was a more straightforward
affair, a deep cross from Lambert being met with a looping header after
Hartson had made room for himself with the slightest of nudges on his
make-shift marker, Alan Orman.

There could have been more. Indeed, Hartson is the first to admit there
should have been at least a hat-trick with a first-half effort slipping
past via a post and a second-half header sailing wide from only six
yards out.

As it was, the completion of the scoring was left to Lennon, who
displayed an eye for goal which belies the fact this was his first since
February. With 73 minutes on the clock, the midfielder intercepted a
clearance and played the ball into the box, where Hartson collected it
with back to goal before laying it back into the path of Lennon. He
wasted no time side-footing an inch-perfect shot across Caig and into
the net just inside the far post.

A similar contribution in midweek would be gratefully received, and at
least Lennon knows he will be on from the start. Such luxury is still
denied Hartson, who must wait to see if he

has done enough to keep his place.

He said: "The manager has gone with his favoured two, Henrik and Chris,
ahead of me for almost all the European games. The only Champions League
game I played in was away to Porto, when Chris was injured.

"I've maybe given him a selection problem now - most managers would be
pleased with that."

How Hibs boss McLeish would like to have such dilemmas to resolve. His
side currently lack a cutting edge to bring an end product to their neat

passing moves and endeavour.

When they did get through to Rab Douglas - as Tom McManus did 10

minutes after the break - they found the current Player of the Month
living up to his position.

It was failings at the other end which gave McLeish most reason for
disappointment, commenting: "We let in a soft first goal and you can't
afford to capitulate early at Celtic Park, because that relaxed their
fans. Then we had to come out and they can pick you off

easily with the quality they have."

Quality which was supplemented by the inclusion of Momo Sylla in Didier
Agathe's right wing-back position. Whether the former St Johnstone

player has done enough to enter the Valencia equation will be revealed
on Thursday.

Alan Thompson, who replaced Bobby Petta 20 minutes from time, must also
wait to see if he did enough to merit a start.

He certainly looked desperate to please, a little too much near the end
when he joined Petta and Orman in the ref's book for comments to a
linesman who had indicated a foul against him.

Looking on as all of these claims were staked was Lubo Moravcik, who
will also figure prominently in O'Neill's thinking for this Uefa Cup
shoot-out.

Food for thought, indeed. Let's just hope European football is still on
the menu after this week to ensure Celtic fans don't suffer cold turkey
after Christmas.

CELTIC: Douglas, Mjallby, Sutton, Valgaeren (Crainey 78), Sylla, Petrov,
Lambert, Lennon (Maloney 78), Petta (Thompson 69), Hartson, Larsson.
Subs not used: Gould, Moravcik.

HIBS: Caig, Murray, Laursen, Smith, Zitelli, O'Neil, Jack, Orman
(Brebner 83), de la Cruz, McManus (O'Connor 73), Francisco. Subs not
used: Colgan, Brewster, Arpinon.

Referee: Willie Young.

Five in a row for O’Neill as Celtic widen the gap
Celtic 2 Valgaeren (58), Larsson (70pen) Rangers 1 Lovenkrands (77)

SOME people were on the pitch, thinking it’s all over. But they were all
wearing football strips and those in the royal blue would be as
convinced as their rivals in green and white that Celtic will spend the
next few months confirming themselves as Scottish champions for the
second successive year.

As decisive Old Firm confrontations go, this latest edition may have
arrived earlier than normal, but that should not be allowed to fudge the
view that Rangers now will find it impossible to overcome a deficit that
has been extended to ten points. Their problem, apart from the obvious
one of the gap itself, is that there appear to be no allies coming over
the hill in a rescue attempt.

Martin O’Neill’s side may have struggled in recent weeks to register
victories in tandem with their greatly improved challengers from Ibrox,
but, with the physical and mental demands of the Champions League
removed, there seems little likelihood of any of the other ten teams in
the Scottish Premier League inflicting enough damage to give Rangers
serious hope.

In circumstances such as these, supporters’ chants invariably turn
towards wicked sarcasm and the one favoured by the home fans yesterday
could not possibly invite any argument. "Ten points clear and it’s not
New Year, doo-dah, doo-dah," they sang to the tune of The Camptown
Ladies.

The implication, of course, was that the second-half goals which Joos
Valgaeren and Henrik Larsson delivered before Rangers’ counter from
substitute Peter Lovenkrands will prove conclusive in terms of the
championship.

They did on the day and, apart from stretching the champions’ advantage,
they could also have a demoralising effect on Dick Advocaat’s side.

Rangers were entitled to feel dispirited by the way in which they lost
to their most powerful opponents for the fifth time in a row. While
Celtic deserved to win because of the imperishable truth that they
managed to score twice to their visitors’ once, the Ibrox side, on the
balance of play, could be considered mildly unfortunate.

They were also culpable, especially during a first half in which they
contrived the better chances - and more of them - and failed to convert.
The half-time break was an opportunity, during a relentlessly engrossing
contest, to reflect that Rangers had probably missed their opportunity
and that Celtic’s command of the art of winning the crucial games would
prevail.

Typical of these circumstances, the roll towards Celtic’s sixth win in
seven Old Firm collisions under O’Neill was begun by the player with the
most poignant story. Valgaeren’s knee has been giving him so much
trouble that his three-week absence even included the UEFA Cup visit to
Valencia last Thursday.

His inclusion yesterday was clearly a risk, not least because he had
been inactive for long enough to have blunted his usual sharpness, far
less the danger of his knee giving way. The big Belgian was not only an
exemplary presence in the home defence, but proved to be as deadly a
striker as there was on the field when he opened the scoring.

Stilian Petrov delivered the free-kick from the right which sent the
ball in among the bodies and Bobo Balde managed to knock it towards the
right side of the six-yard box. Valgaeren, charging forward, drove it
powerfully past Stefan Klos with his right foot.

This was finishing which Rangers had earlier failed to match, when some
of their precise passing and incisive runs brought alarm to nine-tenths
of the crowd.

This was most pronounced when John Hartson miscued a pass straight to
Shota Arveladze on the left and the Georgian cut inside Johan Mjallby
before stroking the ball into the path of the advancing Tore Andre Flo.

The towering Norwegian controlled the ball with one touch of his right
foot and, with his left, swept it past the diving Robert Douglas, but
against the post. Douglas, who had distinguished himself against
Valencia, did so again by deflecting close-range volleys from Maurice
Ross and Arveladze.

Celtic had not only gained the ascendancy statistically by the time
Larsson scored the second. They had also become the more assured, their
supporters’ gratification doubtless deepened by the realisation that
regular tormentors of opponents such as Chris Sutton and Didier Agathe
were still absent.

It was Neil Lennon, who gave an exceptional, ubiquitous performance, who
supplied Larsson with the through pass which left the Swede on the point
of putting the ball past Klos when he was barged by Bert Konterman.
Larsson converted by driving the ball right-footed to the right of Klos.


The most bewildering moments of the game belonged to referee Stuart
Dougal, who unaccountably refused even to caution Konterman for his part
in the penalty. To the majority, it seemed a straight red card. The
referee’s omission then caught up with him later when he issued the
Dutchman with what he thought was a second yellow card - followed by a
red - for a foul on Celtic substitute Shaun Maloney.

It was not surprising that Dougal, who rescinded the red when Lorenzo
Amoruso reminded him that Konterman had not been booked earlier -
presumed that he had already warned him. Everybody in the stadium seemed
astonished that he had not. He had also cautioned Hartson for conceding
a throw-in - it was clearly not a foul as he blocked Michael Ball’s
attempted clearance - and later kept his cards in his pocket when Ross
had a reckless challenge on Petta and Amoruso tripped Larsson from
behind as the Swede threatened to go clear.

All of this, of course, became as irrelevant as the goal from
Lovenkrands, the young Dane beating Douglas with a close-range shot from
an impeccable centre from his fellow substitute, Claudio Caniggia.

Given Celtic’s problems with personnel and form and Rangers’ resurgence
before the match, this was a bludgeoning let-down for the Ibrox side, a
reminder that if you have ambitions to take away a champions’s title,
you have to be prepared to die in the attempt.

Celtic: Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Petrov, Moravcik (Maloney
55), Lambert, Lennon, Petta; Larsson, Hartson (McNamara 70). Subs not
used: Gould, Thompson, Crainey.

Rangers: Klos; Ross (Dodds 80), Amoruso, Konterman, Ball (Lovenkrands
73); Reyna, Ferguson, Numan; de Boer; Flo, Arveladze (Caniggia 64). Subs
not used: Christiansen, Wilson.

Referee: S Dougal. Attendance: 59,609


Glenn Gibbons at Celtic Park
Monday, 26th November 2001
The Scotsman

Valencia 1 Celtic 0     22/11/01

Vicente strike denies Celtic

Celtic, as expected, had to withstand a ferocious buffeting at the
Mestalla Stadium in Valencia last night before emerging with a result
that was not only creditable, but fulfilled their ambition to keep this
UEFA Cup third-round tie alive for the Spaniards’ visit to Glasgow on
Thursday week.

It was not until 15 minutes from the end that the makeshift Parkhead
side – compensating for the loss of Chris Sutton and Joos Valgaeren on
the afternoon of the match – succumbed to an exceptional goal from
Vicente, the left-sided midfielder who had replaced Kily Gonzales after
the latter’s falling-out with coach Rafa Benitez.

Valgaeren had failed to recover from a knee injury but Sutton’s absence
was an altogether more serious affair. The striker learned yesterday
that his baby son, James – who was born several weeks premature – had
taken ill and been admitted to hospital. The news had understandably
left Sutton in no fit state to play.

The unexpected loss of significant personnel not only necessitated the
summoning of occasional first team members, but possibly more damaging,
the adoption of a 4-4-2 formation to which the players, it seemed, would
require time to adjust.

In the circumstances, they showed themselves to be commendably
resilient, holding fast against the ambitious aggressiveness of the home
side for lengthy periods, minimising the menace in the vicinity of
Robert Douglas and delivering a threat of their own which, in the first
half alone, could have brought at least two goals.

The incomers, a combination of the young (Stephen Crainey), the
middle-aged (Jackie McNamara and John Hartson) and the veteran (Lubomir
Moravcik), brought to their endeavours the kind of diligence and
application Martin O’Neill would expect of players given an opportunity
to distinguish themselves in a hard place.

Crainey was generally concentrated, alert and tidy on the left of the
back four, McNamara on the right was biting, Hartson was energetic and
strong alongside Larsson in attack and Moravcik was characteristically
inventive, enthusiastic and deadly accurate with his crosses, one of
which should have given the visitors the lead after 25 minutes.

Stilian Petrov worked hard to win possession in midfield and supplied
the little Slovakian on the right. His precise centre was chested down
by Hartson, the big Welshman moving past Curro Torres into space in the
same movement. His low, left-foot shot from the left edge of the
six-yard area was held at the second attempt by Santiago Canizares.

That was a productive period for O’Neill’s team, who should have scored
just two minutes later when Lambert began a sweeping move forward with a
pass to Henrik Larsson on the right. The Swede’s impeccably-weighted
pass into the box found Petrov running clear, and onside, and obviously
favourite to win the chase against Canizares. But the Bulgarian, instead
of shooting at the moment of contact, tried to take the ball past the
goalkeeper and overran it for a goalkick.
In the entire first half, the Spaniards did not contrive an opportunity
as clear-cut, but they did enjoy moments which allowed Douglas to
demonstrate his agility. The scariest of these for the visiting support
arrived just a few seconds before the interval when Vicente delivered a
low centre from the left and Juan Sanchez, from only four yards, flicked
the ball up towards the roof of the net. Douglas showed remarkable
quickness to reach it and push it over for a corner kick which came to
nothing.

Douglas had earlier blocked a scoring shot from Pablo Aimar on the line
after the little Brazilian had turned on a cut-back from the marauding
Amedeo Carboni on the left, but Valencia during that first half often
appeared not to be as sharp or as deadly as the team which contested the
last two Champions League finals.

The home side, however, approached their work with renewed vigour in the
second half and the pressure they exerted on their visitors was more
concerted and lasted longer than before. As a result, Celtic had
enormous difficulty in establishing a bridge between defence and attack
which would allow relief.
During that concentration of forward play, Valencia could have scored
three times. They were unfortunate with the first effort and unlucky
with the other two in that they found Douglas in exceptional form.
Carew was first to try, reaching a free kick from Curro Torres on the
right – Bobo Balde had been cautioned for the tackle on Angulo – and
bulleting the header off the bar. It was from two corner kicks soon
after that Douglas proved his worth.
Torres, reaching the delivery from the left, headed powerfully low to
the left of the big goalkeeper, but Douglas reacted by diving to push
the ball against the post. He had an almost identical save two minutes
later, this time when Aimar drove the ball right-footed off the corner
kick from the left.
O’Neill had, by then, replaced the tiring Moravcik with Bobby Petta, but
the Dutchman for much of the time suffered along with Larsson and
Hartson – the latter booked for refusing to retreat ten yards at a free
kick
– from a shortage of supplies.
By the time Vicente gave Valencia the lead, it was not only deserved,
but had appeared inevitable. Carboni took the free kick from the left
edge of the penalty box, playing it low to Vicente. The midfielder
finished brilliantly, left-footing the ball low and powerfully to the
right of Douglas from 18 yards.


Valencia: Canizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Angulo,
Aimar, Albelda, Vicente; Sanchez (Mista 65), Carew. Subs not used:
Palop, Djukic, Salva, Ilie, Marchena, Rufete.
Celtic: Douglas; McNamara, Balde, Mjallby, Crainey; Petrov, Lambert,
Lennon, Moravcik (Petta 57); Larsson, Hartson (Sylla 80). Subs not used:
Gould, Tebily, Healy, Maloney, Guppy.


Glenn Gibbons at the Mestalla
Friday, 23rd November 2001
The Scotsman

Sat 17th Nov 2001

Hearts 0 Celtic 1
By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

A late first-half penalty taken by Henrik Larsson allowed Celtic to
maintain a healthy seven-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premier
League table.

For their part, nearest rivals Rangers managed a convincing win against
Dunfermline but Larsson's solitary goal against Hearts means that the
Parkhead side remain very much in the driving seat.

Like Celtic's other recent league games this was a closely-fought affair
and Hearts had chances early on to win the game.

But referee Mike McCurry ruled that Didier Agathe had been brought down
in the box by Andy Webster and Larsson tied up the points - and the win
- when he converted from the spot just before the break.

Hearts may have endured difficult times on and off the park recently but
they had obviously been boosted by their win against Dundee last week as
they dominated the opening spell of the game.

In fact the Jambos could have been ahead a minute into the game when
Ricardo Fuller released Stephane Adam in the box but, before the Hearts
striker could pull the trigger, Bobo Balde managed to intercept the
move.

Six minutes later a Stephen Simmons' free-kick picked out Fuller a few
yards out from goal but, again, Balde was alert enough to clear the
danger.

But despite such a promising start from the Tynecastle side, Celtic were
always going to prove dangerous and, as the game wore on, they
increasingly looked like the side that would open the scoring.

After 16 minutes Stilian Petrov curled a free-kick into the area,
picking out Johan Mjallby, who nodded the ball onto Larsson but Hearts
goalkeeper Antti Niemi easily held the Swede's header.

Almost immediatley they were threatening again when Stephen Crainey
floated a long ball to Balde a few yards out but the big defender failed
to connect properly with the header.

The ball fell to the feet of Chris Sutton on the edge of the 18-yard box
but he could not produce enough power from the shot to trouble Niemi.

Crainey is widely regarded as being an important player for the future
for Celtic but he had won his place in the starting-line up as a result
of Joos Valgaeren's knee injury - and it was the Hoops kid who almost
grabbed the opener after 32 minutes.

Petrov played a corner kick out to Crainey and his 20-yard drive looked
goalbound until Simmons managed to deflect the effort clear.

Two minutes later though the Hoops had to rely on goalkeeper Rab Douglas
to keep the scoreline level.

A bizarre mis-kick from Alan Maybury fell into the path of Kevin McKenna
and caught the Celtic defence off-guard.

The Canadian produced a superb volley and he was only denied by an
equally impressive save from Douglas who only just managed to tip the
ball over the crossbar.

But it was Celtic who took the lead just five minutes before the break
when Webster was judged to have brought down Agathe in the area.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Larsson duly converted
from 12 yards.

Celtic were visibly lifted by their opener late in the first half and
they immediately set about trying to add to that after the restart.

A Petrov corner found Larsson at the far post and the striker could have
added to his own tally with a header from just a couple of yards out but
he nodded just over the crossbar after 50 minutes.

But just three minutes later Hearts had the chance to draw level.
Mjallby brought down Fuller right on the edge of the box. McKenna took
the free-kick but his shot deflected off Paul Lambert.

Agathe had picked up an injury during the challenge that won Celtic
their earlier penalty and had been replaced by Alan Thompson at
half-time and he could have made an impact after 64 minutes.

Petrov squared the ball across the face of goal to Thompson who was just
six yards out but Pressley managed to block the pass and deny Celtic the
opportunity to extend their lead.

But Hearts were still pushing for the leveller and that could have come
courtesy of former Celtic man Stephane Mahe.

Fuller went on a great run before laying the ball off to the Frenchman
who unleashed a shot from the corner of the box but Mjallby managed to
clear.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes only a fine save from Niemi
prevented Hearts from falling further behind.

Mjallby went on a great run, taking the ball round several Hearts
defenders, before trying to chip the ball into the top corner of the net
only for the Finn to produce a dramatic save.

Celtic goalkeeper Douglas was not to be outdone and he blocked a Fuller
header that seemed destined to find the back of the net with just 12
minutes to go.

He came to Celtic's rescue again to deny Fuller in the final minute of
the game after the Hearts player had displayed amazing skill before
unleashing the shot.

It's a happy return for Weighorst
EWING GRAHAME

Celtic 8 - Stirling Albion 0

For Morten Wieghorst, this match represented the final step in his
recovery programme from the brain disease which at one stage threatened
his life, never mind his footballing career.

For him, then, this was a fairy tale but for the shelf-stackers and
joiners from Forthbank, it was merely grim.

Albion at least avoided a repeat of their record defeat (9-0 to Dundee
United in 1967) but double figures wouldn't have flattered the CIS
Insurance Cup holders.

Even so, this drubbing is likely to have embedded itself in the
collective psyche of the third division strugglers, and these
shell-shocked players might require some kind of therapy before normal
service can be resumed at home to Montrose on Saturday.

Even allowing for the eight goals, the biggest cheer of the evening
greeted the return of Wieghorst to the first team after a 19-month
absence while he recovered from Guillane-Barre Syndrome.

The Danish internationalist displayed obvious signs of ring rustiness
but he clearly relished being back in competitive action.

Just 13 minutes had gone when his exquisite 40-yard chip released Shaun
Maloney on the left, and his cutback eluded the inrushing John Hartson
by inches.

Hartson was the only survivor from the side which started against St
Johnstone on Saturday as Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, rang the
changes for the competition he places bottom of his list of priorities.

Last year even Eyal Berkovic and the dreaded Rafael made appearances,
albeit as substitutes, and youth was given its fling in the shape of
Stephen Crainey, Jamie Smith, and Colin Healy, who each played in the
3-0 win over Kilmarnock in the final.

All three were stripped for action again last night as a crowd of 29,993
turned up to see what Celtic have in reserve.

The combination of Bobo Baldé and Olivier Tebily in the back three would
almost certainly never be contemplated against sterner opposition but,
as expected, Albion did not pose much of a threat.

Their goalkeeper, Chris Reid, had done well to hold long-range efforts
from Stephen Crainey and Lubomir Moravcik before the incessant pressure
finally told midway through the opening half.

Baldé nodded down a Moravcik corner for Tebily, the Ivory Coast
internationalist fired in a hook shot and Hartson displayed a predator's
instincts to stoop and redirect it high into the net from six yards.

Reid, at full stretch, beat away a drive from Healy before Maloney
doubled Celtic's lead after 27 minutes, wrong-footing the keeper at the
near post to sidefoot home Moravcik's low driven cross.

There was a fleeting moment of hope for the visitors six minutes from
the interval when Stephen Reilly headed a Paul Hay free-kick against the
bar, but two minutes later Maloney struck again.

Moravcik was the architect once again, his perfectly-weighted pass
releasing the diminutive striker and although the 18-year-old's shot
from 15 yards lacked conviction Reid was slow to react and was beaten
low to his left.

With the outcome beyond reasonable doubt, the main point of interest was
whether Wieghorst could put the icing on his comeback with a goal.

The midfielder was mostly playing too deep to find himself on the end of
crosses, although five minutes after the restart he did manage a curling
shot from the edge of the penalty area which Reid dealt with
comfortably.

Maloney completed his hat trick two minutes later when he stooped to
head Smith's out-swinging cross home from six yards.

Jonathan Gould and Stilian Petrov then replaced Dmitri Kharine and
Baldé, with Wieghorst moving into the back three to cover for the
latter's absence.

By then, though, Celtic could have fielded Billy McNeill, John Clark,
and Tommy Gemmell at the back and still have cruised through to the next
round.

The part-timers were by now camped in their own half as the bit players
at Parkhead then attempted to convince their manager they deserved a
leading role.

No-one did more in that respect than young Maloney, who notched his
fourth goal of the evening midway through the second half.

Petrov supplied Wieghorst, his first-time pass teed up Maloney and he
left-footed low past Reid.

There was no let-up for the minnows. Hay cleared a Hartson header off
the line before Tebily got himself on the scoresheet with a searing
25-yard drive.

While it was impossible not to feel sympathy for the visitors, who were
overwhelmed and in danger of being humiliated by this stage, Celtic
surged relentlessly forward.

Jackie McNamara missed a sitter after being set up by Maloney before
Hartson grabbed his second in 73 minutes, toe-poking home from Petrov's
pass.

Healy was next to get in on the act, stroking home left-footed from 12
yards after Hartson had headed a Guppy cross into his path.

Maloney and Hartson (twice) again went close as Celtic refused to cut
Albion, or themselves, any slack but, mercifully for Ray Stewart's men,
the bloodletting was over, even if these wounds will take time to heal.

Celtic (3-5-2) Kharine; Healy, Guppy, McNamara; Moravcik, Baldé, Tebily,
Crainey, Wieghorst; Maloney, Hartson. Subs: Larsson, Sutton, Petrov,
Smith.

Stirling Albion (4-4-2) Reid; Hay, Goldie, Morrison, Moriarty; McLellan,
Reilly, Henderson, Williams; Munro, Nugent. Subs: Geraghty, Higgins,
McCallion, Edwards, Heighton.

Referee S Dougal

Celtic 4 Juventus 3
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Lubo Moravcik inspired a stunning Celtic victory tonight - but not even
he had the power to change events in Porto and put his team through to
the second stage of the Champions League.

The mercurial Slovakian had pleaded with manager Martin O'Neill for the
chance to start his first match in the competition before he hangs up
his boots at the end of the season.

Even at 36 he did not let anybody down as he played a key role in Chris
Sutton's two goals and strikes for Henrik Larsson and Joos Valgaeren to
give the Bhoys revenge for their defeat in Turin.

The victory gave Celtic the scant consolation of winning all their home
games in Group E - but two goals from David Trezeguet and an Alessandro
del Piero free-kick made it a thrilling finale.

It also went some way to making up for the disappointment in the Stadio
delli Alpi last month.

Moravcik was soon rising to the occasion and almost conjured up the
opening goal in the 12th minute.

Bobby Petta found him in field, and he comfortably ghosted past
Alessandro Tacchinardi before unleashing a low right-foot effort which
debutant goalkeeper Fabian Carini had to get down well to push around
the post.

Moments later the Slovakian was booked for diving after he looked to
have been fouled by Ciro Ferrara on the edge of the box.

The home fans were stunned into silence in the 19th minute after
Moravcik and Valgaeren had felled del Piero in the sort of range the
Italian thrives on.

He duly obliged with a superb right-foot curler into the top corner
which gave Robert Douglas no chance.

But moments later Celtic should have got back on level terms when
Moravcik exchanged passes with Sutton and was clean through on goal.

He might have thought he was offside and snatched at the chance, giving
Carini the opportunity to save with his feet.

Valgaeren took his frustration out on Cristian Zenoni in the 22nd minute
with a rash challenge from behind which rightly earned him a yellow card
from French referee Gilles Veissiere.

But the Belgian became the unlikely hero for the second time in five
days moments later when he swooped to score the equaliser.

Moravcik saw the defender in space and picked him out with a pinpoint
cross which he dived to head home into the corner to give Carini no
chance.

The Celtic supporters thought they had scored again in the 27th minute
when Didier Agathe whistled a fierce first-time strike just past the
upright from Sutton's lay-off.

Larsson wasted a glorious opportunity to put the Glasgow side into the
lead in the 35th minute.

Petta found Moravcik with a short corner; the Slovakian again swung in
an inviting cross to the back post, but the Golden Shoe winner somehow
headed wide and kicked the post in disgust.

Celtic's veteran playmaker Moravcik was clearly revelling in the
spotlight, and Mark Iuliano deflected his goalbound free-kick for a
corner after the Italian had fouled Sutton.

Pavel Nedved blazed over in the 42nd minute, but Celtic took the lead
just two minutes before the break.

Moravcik swung in another trademark corner, and Sutton leapt above the
Juventus defence to head home.

Alessandro Birindelli's outstretched boot almost put his side further
behind moments later after Agathe's cross from the byline.

Juventus coach Marcello Lippi replaced goalscorer del Piero with
Trezeguet at half-time, but Juventus did not lose any of their dangerous
pace on the break.

It was the Frenchman who fired his side back on level terms in the 51st
minute when Amoruso picked him out on the edge of the box and hit an
angled left-foot shot past Douglas.

But five minutes later Celtic were in front again from the penalty spot
after Iuliano had fouled Sutton in the box from another Moravcik corner.

Larsson had been going through a lean patch by his own standards but he
coolly stepped up to send Carini the wrong way and found the bottom
right-hand corner.

The night got even better for Celtic in the 62nd minute when Sutton
produced a wonder strike to double their lead.

Bobo Balde was first to Moravcik's free-kick, and his flick-on was hit
on the volley by the striker who found the top corner.

Moments later Carini saved a point-blank effort from Larsson with the
Juventus defence in disarray.

In the 65th minute Moravcik was given a hero's farewell as he was
replaced by the fresher legs of Stilian Petrov.

The home side looked like scoring every time they moved forward, and in
the 65th minute Sutton should have scored his hat-trick when Petta
picked him out in the centre. Instead he headed over.

Trezeguet gave the visitors a lifeline in the 76th minute when he fired
home after a mistake by Balde.

At the final whistle the home fans waited anxiously for the news to
filter through from Portugal - but when it came there was nothing that
Celtic or Moravcik could do about it.

Valgaeren grabs injury time winner
by Alison McConnell

CELTIC...............1 (Valgaeren 90)
KILMARNOCK.....0

They huffed and they puffed and finally they blew the Killie defence down.
Joos Valgaeren was the unlikely goal hero for Celtic as his scrambled injury
time goal maintained the Hoops seven-point lead at the top of the table but
how Martin O'Neill's side had to work for the three points.

Kilmarnock made life difficult for Celtic, who appeared tired from their
midweek exertions against Rosenborg, but the only thing that the manger will
be concerned with is the addition of another three points.

Inevitably O'Neill opted to rest a few players with the Juventus tie looming
in just four days time, and as a result Dimitre Kharine, Lubomir Moravcik,
Bobby Petta and Olivier Tebily started the match at the expense of Robert
Douglas, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson and Bobe Balde.

However, the most notable omission from Celtic's line-up was Henrik Larsson,
while John Hartson and Chris Sutton led the line up front.

The duo, along with Moravcik, almost combined to deadly effect in only the
third minute when Hartson's cross was headed on by Sutton at the back post
and into the path of Moravcik, but the midfielder's shot was stopped by
former Hoops keeper Gordon Marshall.

Six minutes later Hartson was the pest in the Killie defence yet again when
he won a header and set up John Mjallby in the box, but the defender took a
step forward and Marshall blocked his final attempt.

Celtic continued to dominate with Kilmarnock reduced to peppering Celtic's
goal with a host of long range efforts that never truly threatened Kharine.

Killie manager Bobby Williamson though had a few surprises of his own, as he
deployed three at the back with Spanish midfielder Jesus Sanjuan in the
centre of defence.

Sutton came close to finding a way through the visitors defence midway
through the opening half when he rose high in the box to power a Bobby Petta
cross narrowly wide of the left hand post. Minutes later Lubo caused all
manner of problems in the Killie defence as he twisted and turned before
eventually firing a shot high over the bar.

On the brink of the interval Sutton came close again when he met a Moravcik
free-kick but his attempt crept inches over the crossbar.

Prior to this, Peter Canero and Sanjuan had gone into the book for a series
of fouls, the latter of which caused a few puzzles. The ball had gone out
for a throw-in to Celtic deep inside Kilmarnock's half, with Sanjuan
eventually penalised for kicking the ball away, however referee David Somers
then awarded a free-kick rather than a shy.

With the scores still tied at 0-0 on the hour mark O'Neill replaced Tebily
with Lennon while Paul Lambert was pulled back into defence. The replacement
almost bore fruit seconds later when Moravcik tried to burst through the
Killie rearguard but the move eventually came to nothing.

The veteran midfielder was at the centre of claims for a penalty five
minutes later when he was tripped on the edge of the box, but continued his
run only to be upended by Canero, but his appeals for a spot kick were waved
away.

In the 70th minute Moravcik rattled the crossbar with a ferocious effort
from the edge of the box, while minutes beforehand Petrov had come equally
close with a 25-yard free-kick as Celtic desperately probed for an opening.

Ten minutes later Shaun Maloney arrived for Hartson, and the youngster had
the ball in the net seconds later only for it to be disallowed after the
assistant referee had already flagged for a foul.

A minute beforehand Sutton had appealed for a penalty after clashing with
Sanjuan in the box but his case was dismissed.

Celtic continue to press forward in the hunt for a winner and minutes from
time Sutton almost found it when he met a Maloney cutback, but his effort
was wide of the target.

Five minutes of injury time were added on after a series of time wasting
measure from the visitors was penalised, and from this Celtic took their
lead.

Stan Petrov was fouled deep inside the Killie half and from Lennon's
subsequent freekick Mjallby seemed to touch the ball into the path of
Valgaeren who scrambled the ball into the net.

The relief around the stadium was palpable with Lennon and Lambert embracing
in the middle of the park, while the Celtic dug out erupted.

One has to wonder what similar ups and downs await on Wednesday evening.

CELTIC (3-5-2): Kharine; Tebily (Lennon 62), Valgaeren, Mjallby; Petta,
Petrov, Lambert, Moravcik, Agathe; Sutton, Hartson (Maloney 81). Subs:
Gould, McNamara, Crainey.

KILMARNOCK (3-5-2): Marshall; Innes, Sanjuan, McGowne; Baker, Mitchell,
Mahood, Pizzo (Fowler 75), Canero; Vareille (Di Giacomo 84), Dargo. Subs:
Meldrum, Hay, Calderon.

REFEREE: David Somers

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Sutton

Rosenborg 2 Celtic 0
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport, Trondheim

With Halloween looming Harald Brattbakk came back to haunt his former
side to leave Celtic's Champions League dream in tatters after a
nightmare evening in Norway.

Brattbakk spent 18 months at Parkhead, but even though he scored the
title-clinching goal in 1998 he largely had a torrid time in Glasgow
which he is all too glad to forget.

But the Celtic fans will not forget him and he produced a trick and
treat of his own with a first-half double to almost certainly destroy
Martin O'Neill's hopes of qualifying from Group E for the second group
stages.

Bad defeats in the Lerkendal Stadion and in Portugal last week leave
them one point behind Porto and five adrift of Juventus - who come to
Parkhead next week in the final must-win game.

It was ironic that all talk before the game was surrounding Celtic's big
striking guns Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton and whether they would
recover from illnesses.

They did make it, but the saga took the spotlight away from Brattbakk,
who even won his side a penalty which Robert Douglas saved from Bent
Skammelsrud.

Celtic struggled to make an impact from the first whistle and Sutton had
the chance to test Arni Gauter Arason in the sixth minute after Erik
Hoftun's poor clearance, but he pulled his right-foot shot well wide of
the mark.

The Hoops had to do some vital defending in the ninth minute after Bobo
Balde's clumsy challenge on Brattbakk.

The former Parkhead striker then swung in a dangerous cross which Joos
Valgaeren had to head behind for a corner.

Brattbakk could have hurt his former team-mates as early as the 17th
minute after Balde failed to clear, but he snatched at the chance and
blazed his volley wide from close range.

The Celtic fans must have felt that was typical of his career at
Parkhead, but he wiped the smiles off their faces when he put the
Norwegians in front in the 19th minute.

Janne Saarinen's long ball was headed down by Sigurd Rushfeldt and the
Norwegian striker fired low and into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Didier Agathe again got away from Saarinen in the 25th minute, but
Celtic were unable to capitalise as Erik Hoftun made a vital tackle with
Sutton waiting to pounce at the back post.

Nothing was going right for O'Neill's men and Stilian Petrov was booked
for trying to stop Rosenborg from taking a quick free-kick after Johan
Mjallby fouled Rushfeldt.

But it looked as though more goals would come and Robert Douglas had to
save Roar Strand's stinging long-range shot at the second attempt after
good work by Orjan Berg to tee him up.

Celtic, however, fell further behind in the 36th minute and it was
Brattbakk again who made them pay.

Berg got away from Neil Lennon before passing to Rushfeldt whose shot
was saved by Douglas, but the striker coolly took his time before
picking his spot from 12 yards.

Things could have got even worse for Celtic in the 43rd minute, but for
the heroics of Douglas.

Balde was adjudged to have fouled Brattbakk in the box, but the Scotland
man dived to his right to brilliantly save Skammelsrud's penalty.

Ole Christer Basma was booked for dissent a minute later and Larsson
curled the free-kick over the bar.

Larsson had a glorious opportunity to pull his side back into the game
just two minutes after the restart.

Arason failed to collect Petrov's free-kick and the ball fell to the
Swede with his back to goal, but he screwed his effort wide with the
keeper struggling to make up the ground.

The Rosenborg man made amends in the 48th minute when he came out to
claim Agathe's cross with Sutton lurking with intent.

Lennon was booked in the 55th minute for petulantly kicking the ball
away and Celtic were even more frustrated moments later with Larsson and
Sutton finally linking up well.

Agathe found the Swede in space and his cross was headed by the English
striker, but he was denied by Arason to his left.

Larsson then went agonisingly close to scoring in the 63rd minute when
Agathe picked him out in the box and he headed against the upright.

Sutton then squandered a glorious chance two minutes later when he
headed Thompson's cross into the side netting from close range before
substitute Lubo Moravcik fired wide from a free-kick.

Arason saved a weak effort from Sutton in the 74th minute and O'Neill
threw on Hartson for Alan Thompson.

In the dying seconds the Welshman only just failed to get on the end of
Sutton's drive across the face of goal.

But it was not to be their night as Brattbakk's smile at the final
whistle told its own story.

Celtic will hope that the striker will be as fired up next week when the
Norwegians travel to Porto next week - while they will have to produce
the goods against Juventus to go through.

Hartson hits hat-trick for five-star Celts
By Stephen Sullivan

SPL, Saturday October 20, 2001
Celtic Park

CELTIC… 5
Hartson 7, 59, 83, Balde 45, Maloney 87
DUNDEE UTD… 1
McIntyre 75

We always knew it would happen eventually… didn’t we? John Hartson and
goals had rarely been strangers throughout a prolific career with some
of England’s more unfashionable top flight clubs and, after a unusually
long spell apart, the two enjoyed a spectacular re-union as Celtic
brushed aside Dundee United.

The much-maligned striker might have waited a couple of months to open
his Hoops account, but today he made amends with three priceless
deposits to put Martin O’Neill’s team back on the rails after
Wednesday’s defeat against Porto. No-one will have been more delighted
than O'Neill to see his £6 million man prove his worth, although should
Chris Sutton declare himself fit for Tuesday’s crunch Champions League
match in Trondheim, it may leave the Irishman with something of a
selection headache.

It had been expected that the Hoops gaffer would elect to shuffle his
pack for the match against Alex Smith’s side, sandwiched as it was
between two demanding away trips in the Champions League. As it
transpired, the Celtic manager elected instead to give every one of his
players bar Stilian Petrov the opportunity to make amends for their
horror show in Oporto, and was well rewarded for his loyalty. The energy
and heart which had been so lacking in Portugal was back in abundance,
with the Bhoys putting in the most determined of performances against a
United team that was rarely given a sniff.

Celtic had taken to the field to a terrific reception from a massive
home support keen to play its part in healing the wounds Porto had
administered, and the fans didn’t have long to wait for their fine
backing to be rewarded. In fact, just seven minutes had elapsed when
John Hartson’s first goal in Celtic colours lifted any lingering sense
of gloom around Paradise.

Lubo Moravcik, charging through from midfield, picked out the under-fire
Welshman making a piercing run into the left channel. Heaven knows what
was going through Hartson’s mind as he bore down on Paul Gallagher but,
to his immense credit, he coolly passed the ball into the far corner of
the net with the outside of his right foot.

It’s unlikely that there has been a more warmly received goal at Celtic
Park all season, with the relief and delight of the big striker only
matched by that of the Celtic support.

The Hoops had the advantage and, soon after, Moravcik tried his luck
with a low 25-yard drive which skidded along the turf before being
claimed confidently by United’s young goalkeeper, Gallagher.

The Slovak then combined with Larsson to fashion an opportunity for Alan
Thompson on the edge of the penalty area, which saw the Geordie
midfielder attempt a delicate chip that dropped just over the corssbar
crossbar. Celtic’s most influential player at this stage, Moravcik
looked certain to claim a thoroughly deserved goal midway through the
first half when Didier Agathe embarked on a marauding run and set him up
for a left foot shot inside the penalty area.

Unfortunately, however, Celtic’s veteran maestro’s first touch was
uncharacteristically poor, which didn’t allow him to generate the
necessary power to beat Gallagher. The United keeper was proving a
worthy opponent as time and again he was forced to bail out his
team-mates. However, his goal was finally breached for the second time
in first half injury time by another Bhoy grabbing his first goal in the
hoops.

Alan Thompson’s expertise in dead ball situations was again critical
because, when the visitors’ defence couldn’t cope with his inswinging
corner, Hartson unselfishly nodded the ball back across goal for Bobo
Balde to head powerfully home from eight yards.

With United offering only token resistance, Celtic were well worth their
two-goal lead and came out after the half-time break with a clear desire
to extend that advantage. Within five minutes of re-start, Larsson
looked odds on to do so but, after running on to Moravcik’s through
ball, he could only fire wide from a slightly acute angle.

However, a third goal was only nine minutes in arriving and, once again,
Hartson was the man providing the killer touch. Not for the first time,
Thompson was heavily involved, turning away from McCunnie on the left
flank and delivering a perfectly measured cross for Larsson to set up
the former Coventry man for an opportunity that was considerably more
straight-forward than his first. Six yards out, Hartson duly obliged by
firing the ball into the net and, once more, accepted the generous
acclaim of the Celtic support.

With their thirst for goals as yet unsatisfied, the Hoops continued to
push forward and, after coming off the bench to replace Larsson, Shaun
Maloney nearly added a fourth when he made a fool out of his marker and
forced Gallagher into a fine save. The promising United keeper,
blameless in his side’s demise, was also called upon to deny Hartson a
hat-trick soon after, when the big Welshman muscled his way through on
goal and attempted an audacious chip. However, Hartson was clearly not
in the mood to be denied and, in the closing minutes, he rounded off
proceedings by clinically capitalising on a defensive mix-up to slot the
ball home from close range. Before this

In between times, United had pulled a goal back when Craig Easton
crossed for Jim McIntyre to direct a well placed header in off the
inside of the post. However, this was Celtic’s afternoon – and
Hartson’s. In fact, the big striker even found to add his second assist
of the afternoon after 87 minutes when he threaded a pass through for
Shaun Maloney to coolly pass the ball under Gallagher.

United hadn’t exactly provided top class opposition but, for players who
had endured a bruising week, this was just what the doctor had ordered.

Website Man of the Match: JOHN HARTSON

CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Balde (Tebily 71), Mjallby, Valgaeren; Agathe,
Lambert, Lennon (McNamara 61), Moravcik, Thompson; Larsson (Maloney 61),
Hartson
Subs: Kharine, Crainey
DUNDEE UTD (4-4-2): Gallagher; McCunnie (O’Brien 71), Griffin, Lauchlan,
Partridge; Easton, Hannah, McIntyre, Aljofree; Hamilton (Paterson 56),
Thomson
Subs: Combe, Lilley, McCracken

Daily Telegraph

Scottish Football: Lee keeps Motherwell waiting
By Roddy Forsyth  (Filed: 14/10/2001)


COLIN LEE, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, will tell Motherwell
today whether he is interested in succeeding Billy Davies as the man in
charge at Fir Park.

Lee and his wife watched Motherwell's 2-1 defeat by Celtic on Saturday but
returned to England without giving any indication of his intentions. If Lee
does declare an interest he will join a short-list which includes Ian
McCall, of Airdrie, Eric Black, the former Celtic assistant manager, another
unnamed English candidate and caretakers John Philliben and Miodrag
Krivokapic, whose handling of the squad since Davies' departure has
impressed the club directors.

Two weeks ago the Rangers manager, Dick Advocaat, cited the Lanarkshire club
when declaring his conversion to the idea that the Old Firm should join the
Premiership. "With all due respect to Motherwell, playing them does not tell
us how we are progressing in Europe," he said.

It was intriguing, then, to see on Saturday how close Motherwell ran a
Celtic side which, unlike Rangers, are engaged in a Champions League
campaign. Celtic are discovering that coping with the combined demands of
the Champions League and domestic football requires strength in depth.

Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, chose to rest four of his first-choice
players - Paul Lambert, Didier Agathe, Chris Thompson and Chris Sutton - and
brought in Steve Guppy, Momo Sylla, Lubo Moravcik and John Hartson. Celtic
do well from set-piece plays as their Champions League progress testifies.
In that competition they have scored four goals, one from a penalty, two
from free kicks and only one from open play, when Henrik Larsson netted
against Porto in the 1-0 victory at Celtic Park.

On Saturday, they took the lead from a free kick with a fine strike off the
crossbar from Moravcik and, after Motherwell had equalized when Greg
Strong's header deceived Robert Douglas, Celtic won with a late penalty from
Larsson.

The winning goal stemmed from a late substitution made by O'Neill when his
side seemed in danger of losing to an increasingly confident Motherwell, who
had been denied a penalty claim when Keith Lasley went down in a challenge
from Neil Lennon. O'Neill took off Moravcik, to the displeasure of some
Celtic fans, replacing the Slovak with Shaun Maloney.

Four minutes later - and only two minutes from full time - Maloney was
needlessly brought down in the penalty area by Eddie Forrest and Larsson
scored.

O'Neill later attributed Celtic's below-par performance to fatigue and their
campaign on two fronts. There will be little respite for his players, who
fly to Portugal early tomorrow for their second meeting with Porto.

Just as this is a testing time for Celtic, so we should discover whether
Rangers have the resilience Advocaat has predicted they will reveal. It was
a year ago that Rangers imploded under pressure. Like Celtic they had
reached the midway point of their Champions League group with two wins and a
3-2 defeat and, in fact, had begun at least as impressively as O'Neill's men
this season.

However, their 5-0 thrashing of Sturm Graz and 1-0 win over Monaco in Monte
Carlo was followed by two draws and two defeats and they were forced to
settle for a consolatory place in the UEFA Cup.

At home, too, they unravelled, losing consecutive league matches to
Hibernian, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock and allowing Celtic to build up a
lead which never looked like being overhauled. Throughout the rest of the
season Advocaat insisted that his lengthy casualty list, which extended into
this season, was the prime cause of Rangers' difficulties.

Now at last Rangers are close to full strength, with only Christian
Nerlinger and Scott Wilson still to resume action, and there are signs that
they have begun to regain their momentum.

Like Celtic, they too made four changes, but their 3-1 victory over
Kilmarnock was all but sealed at half-time, by which point Shota Arveladze
had scored, set up Claudio Caniggia for Rangers' second. He even released
Tore Andre Flow for the third just after the break.

Advocaat kept him on until the end, knowing that Arveladze, who is
inelegible for Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with Dinamo Moscow, would have eight
days to recover before his next appearnce, due to his lack of match fitness.

Likewise, Michael Ball, who is also excluded from the UEFA Cup tie, was
given a full 90 minutes but the player who most caught the eye was Barry
Ferguson. The Rangers captain, whose performance against Celtic was strewn
with errors, was in impressive form. Kilmarnock came close to capsizing but
steadied themselves after substitute Antonio Calderon scored his first goal
for the club from a free kick midway through the second half.

"If the majority of our players are fit then we can play very well," said
Advocaat later. "Arveladze needs sharpness because he has been out for six
weeks but he was alert and his positioning was good. Aside from the goal we
didn't give anything away.".

Behind Celtic and Rangers, third place remains the property of Livingston
but although Jim Leishman's players took their scoring totals against
Aberdeen to eight goals in five days, they were forced to settle for a point
and might well have lost the game after taking a 2-0 lead at Almondvale
through Barry Wilson and Steve Tosh.

Aberdeen fought back with two goals from Darren Mackie and he missed a
golden chance in injury time, shooting wide when put clear on his own.

Following Aberdeen's 6-1 defeat by Livingston in the CIS Insurance Cup last
Tuesday, this was a considerable improvement by the Pittodrie team and their
manager, Ebbe Skovdahl, said: "The different was a wee bit tactical and a
lot of attitude because we matched Livingston for the ball and if we do that
in every game we will make chances and take them."

At the foot of the table, St Johnstone's plight worsened when they were
beaten 3-0 by Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle, where Stephane Adam scored
once and Juanjo twice. Juanjo's contributions may be significantly less as
he is expected to leave when his contract expires this month.

Dunfermline Athletic did themselves a favour by beating Dundee with a single
goal from Stephen Hampshire at East End Park to go six points clear of St
Johnstone, while Dundee United joined a cluster of teams on 14-points when
they came from behind against Hibernian at Tannadice.

Craig Brewster put Hibs ahead early in the proceedings but two goals from
Jim Hamilton and another from Danny Griffin, all in the second half, saw
United gain a comfortable win.

Celtic 1 Rosenborg 0
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Alan Thompson produced another priceless gem to fire Celtic top of
Champions League Group E and a step closer towards the 10 points Martin
O'Neill reckons will steer his side into the second group stages.

After his wonder goal at Ibrox 10 days ago the England midfielder struck
again with a first-half free-kick as the Glasgow giants moved to six
points in Champions League Group E.

Rosenborg needed victory to keep their hopes of making the latter stages
alive and they made it an entertaining affair while also giving the
Celtic fans many worrying moments.

But with O'Neill back in the dug-out following his one-match ban his
side showed the resolve and the bottle to bag all points and move one
point clear of Juventus after their draw with Porto.

Despite having lost their last seven away games in the Champions League,
Rosenborg looked dangerous on the break with dangermen Orjan Berg and
Bent Skammelsrud causing all sorts of problems.

Celtic looked nervous against the pace of their counter-attacks, but
they soon settled down and Didier Agathe twice came close to breaking
the deadlock in the space of three minutes.

First Alan Thompson's cross evaded Henrik Larsson and came to the
Frenchman at the far post, but his right-foot shot was blocked on the
line by Erik Hoftun with Arni Arason beaten.

Then in the ninth minute Orjan Berg's miss-placed pass was seized upon
by Celtic and once again Rosenborg skipper Hoftun saved his side by
blocking his effort again.

But Celtic appeared to have clear claims for a penalty in the 14th
minute when Berg appeared to handle after Arason's punch, but French
referee Alain Sars waved away the protests.

But justice was done six minutes later when Thompson fired home a
free-kick to give Celtic the lead.

Janne Saarinen was booked for bringing Stilian Petrov down on the edge
of the box and Larsson ran over the ball to give the England man the
chance to hit a crisp left-foot shot through the wall and past Arason.

That was Thompson's second goal in as many games and O'Neill hoped that
would settle his side down.

But they almost shot themselves in the foot in the 28th minute after a
huge blunder from goalkeeper Robert Douglas.

The Scotland man came out to collect a Bent Skammelsrud corner and
dropped it in the six-yard box, but fortunately for him Johan Mjallby
reacted quickest and the ball was cleared.

But the home side could have given themselves some breathing space six
minute before the break.

Agathe skipped past Saarinen down the right flank and pulled the ball
across the face of goal, but Chris Sutton was just unable to connect
with the ball for what would have been a certain goal.

O'Neill would have asked for more urgency from his side after the break
and his side almost delivered the perfect response just five minutes
into the second-half.

Sutton sent Larsson away, but Hoftun made up ground and he and Arason
again did enough to put the Swede off and he pulled his effort into the
side-netting.

Moments later and Petrov tried his luck with a 25-yard shot, but it
lacked the power and direction to beat the goalkeeper.

But the visitors continued to look menacing on the break and the
impressive Mjallby had to react to stop Odd Olsen on the edge of the box
as he threatened to produce the equaliser.

Celtic, however, continued to sit deep, but they almost relieved some
pressure with a goal in the 62nd minute.

Thompson's free-kick was flicked on by Sutton into the path of Larsson,
but keeper Arason was quick off his line to save at his feet.

O'Neill decided to change things four minutes later by taking off
goalscorer Thompson and bringing on Steve Guppy.

And Celtic almost doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Petrov
found Agathe for the winger to swing in a dangerous cross, but Hoftun
again made a vital headed clearance.

Sutton then stung the fingers of Arason in the 76th minute with a fierce
right-foot shot which the keeper had to save at the second attempt.

Space again opened up for England striker, but Arason again got down
well to his left to save his long-range effort.

With two minutes remaining Petrov could have wrapped up the victory and
made it a more relaxed finale for the home fans, but he headed Guppy's
cross wide.

But Celtic hung on despite the tense last stages as Douglas saved a
Frode Johnsen header.

Now they go to Porto next week with their Champions League destiny in
their own hands.