Bhoys just edge it.

Celtic jumped over Inverness with a narrow win at Parkhead thanks to an early second half goal from in form striker John Guidetti. The hosts were well on top in terms of possession as expected but with the game drawing to a close, Inverness squandered two or three guilt edged chances to level the game as our out of form striker fluffed his lines and Watkins and Tremarco were denied by Zaluska who clawed away an injury time effort. The game ended with Celtic claiming all three points and Inverness maybe ruing the fact that they never took the game to Celtic earlier as we finished on the front foot but just short of taking something from the game.

John Hughes sprung a wee surprise before a ball was kicked by putting under fire striker Billy McKay on the bench and promoting Carl Tremarco into the starting X1.Graeme Shinnie moved to left midfield to accommodate Tremarco as Yogi looked to deny Celtic room to move around our box. Celtic had a stronger line-up on the park than they did in the first encounter this season, but Craig Gordon was carrying a niggle and Lucasz Zaluska deputised for the big Scottish keeper with Mubarak Wakaso earning a start over Callum McGregor.

It was clear from the off that Inverness would be looking to frustrate the Hoops for as long they could and this would mean a busy afternoon for our back four, and a lonely day out for Marley Watkins.

Despite our intent, it was Shinnie that had the first pot at goal but Zaluska saved easily before Celtic went into attacking mode. We lived somewhat dangerously as the green machine surged forward and swarmed around our penalty box but Tremarco was showing his worth at the back and Shinnie was able to carry the ball forward when we broke up Celtic's play. However our forays forward were sporadic to say the least although we did win a couple of corners in a first half dominated by the hosts,

John Guidetti headed over after twelve minutes as we dug ourselves in and Wakaso had a shot deflected by Tremarco as Celtic looked for an opener. With half an hour gone, Virgil Van Dijk unleashed a long range shot which stung Brill's hands, the keeper standing tall to deny the Dutch player. Stokes was next to shoot at the target but his effort fizzed wide as Celtic piled on the pressure. It was now one way traffic as the visitors buzzed around our half with menacing intent.

Brill was left looking like a subbuteo goalie as a Scott Brown shot whistled just the wrong side of the post, the keeper stranded and wrong footed, but relieved to see the ball flash behind.

However, Yogi's tactics seemed to be paying off as half time approached. Celtic dominating possession, Inverness stubborn in defence and the last chance of the half, like the first one, fell again to Shinnie, but his curling strike from just outside the box dipped just over the bar and at the break it was so far, so good.

Half Time 0-0

Four minutes after the break and Inverness fell behind to a disputed goal. Nothing wrong with the finish from Guidetti as he jinked into the box and wrong footed Brill, but it all came about as a result of a dubious challenge in the Celtic half where Inverness stopped for a second expecting a free kick for a challenge on Williams. Stokes needed no second invitation as he headed down the left before feeding Guidetti who scored in style. Rough justice for Inverness who had stood up well to the onslaught of the first half.

Guidetti was soon involved again, trying to claim a penalty after tumbling in the box, his claims waived away much to the annoyance of the home players and crowd, Guidetti and Draper booked for arguing the toss over the incident as Inverness survived this and the next few minutes as Celtic pushed for a second goal.

Unperturbed, Inverness were still in the game as Celtic's one goal lead started to look catchable. Inverness almost levelled as they burst forward but Williams could only dig the ball out and over the bar when he should have made the keeper work. This gave Inverness fresh hope and they soon carved out another swift break forward and should have done better when they were five on three, but one too many passes saw the ball being difficult to tee up and Shinnie's shot was deflected just wide. From the resultant corner Watkins blazed one over from a promising position.

The tide was turning though and the game became more stretched.

Inverness went for broke in the last quarter with attacking substitutions as McKay, Christie and Doran entered the fray. It almost paid off as we took the game to Celtic who had been unable to kill of their visitors. Tansey shot over after Doran unselfishly set him up and Celtic's lead was beginning to look fragile.

As the ninety minutes neared Celtic had a triple let off. Tremarco headed over from six yards and took a clash of heads at the same time as van Dijk challenged him. Billy McKay couldn't score in a brothel right now and that showed as he mishit a shot when he should have blasted it home from five yards and right at the death a Watkins header was saved at point blank range and Tremarco had Zaluska clawing the ball away when it looked as though we were about to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat.

Full Time 1-0

tm4tj MotM:- Marley Watkins once again played well, and in the lone strikers role, but with the defence working overtime in the first half especially our defenders stood firm. Tremarco slotted in brilliantly and almost scored but for his ability to keep the talented Celtic front players in check, Josh Meekings gets my vote.

Carl chats to wee Davie after the game, & Yogi dispels some myths ................

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Date: 01/11/14 Venue: Parkhead   Attendance: 42,553
Referee: Craig Thomson

Celtic : 1

Lineup: Zaluska, Izaguirre, Van Dijk, Brown, Guidetti (Griffiths 80), Stokes, Mulgrew, Denayer, Lustig (Matthews 63), Johansen, Wakaso (McGregor 70).

Subs (not used): Fasan, Ambrose, Scepovic,  Kayal.

Scorers: Guidetti

Booked: Mulgrew, Wakaso

Sent Off: none

Inverness CT : 0

Lineup: Brill, Raven, Shinnie, Vincent (Mckay 70), Warren, Meekings, Draper (Doran 82), Watkins, Tansey, Tremarco, Williams (Christie 70)

Subs (not used): Esson, Ross, Devine, Polworth,

Scorers: none

Booked: Tremarco, Draper

Sent Off: none

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