Celtic have made light work of 10-man Partick Thistle, cantering to a 2-0 win in this evening's Scottish Premiership clash at Celtic Park.
The hosts were quickest out of the starting blocks as a delivery from Stuart Armstrong five minutes in was met by Virgil van Dijk, but the effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Celtic continued to threaten but were nearly caught out in the 20th minute when Kallum Higginbotham connected with a Steven Lawless cross to volley towards goal, Craig Gordon leaping successfully to his side to palm the effort away.
Kris Commons then came within a whisker of giving his side the lead when he let rip with a shot from 25 yards that flew narrowly over the bar.
Just when it seemed like the visitors would hold firm until the half-time whistle, they found themselves in trouble when James Craigen was sent off for a tackle on John Guidetti in the box.
Commons duly stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to put his side ahead right at the break.
Celtic took their foot off the gas somewhat in the second half, save for an early Commons effort that was palmed away by Scott Fox.
Nevertheless, the Bhoys were able to notch up a second just after the hour when Stefan Johansen collected Guidetti's lay-off before slotting calmly into the visitors' net.
From then on it was a case of damage limitation for the visitors against the league's dominant side, although they were denied a lifeline late on when Gordon kept out a stinging shot by Gary Fraser.
Giuseppe Labellarte
