Larsson gives Celtic ‘Battle of Britain’ boost

Celtic 1 Blackburn 0

The Celt’s 1-0 advantage for the second leg at Ewood Park was somewhat harsh on Blackburn who looked the superior team overall, but the Premiership outfit were kept out by Douglas and Celtic's hard-working defence.

Larsson’s late strike also broke Ally McCoist's record of 21 goals for a Scottish club in Europe. But Celtic were on the back foot for much of the match against a side set up superbly by former Rangers boss Souness.

David Thompson gave the home side an early scare after just two minutes when he drove a low right-foot shot just past Douglas’ right-hand post from just outside the box.

It took the Scottish champions some time to find their feet, but when they did Blackburn again needed the heroics of Friedel to keep them on level terms. Larsson sent Didier Agathe away down the right and he skipper away from the challenge of Nils Johansson before picking out Stilian Petrov in the centre. But his bullet header was somehow turned away by the goalkeeper when he looked to be going completely the wrong way.

Balde then towered above the visiting defence to get on the end of Alan Thompson’s cross, but his header was deflected over the crossbar.

Friedel was again called upon to save his side in the 11th minute when Larsson got on the end of another Thompson ball, but the keeper made a great save to deny him.

Blackburn looked a real threat on the counter attack and Celtic keeper Douglas also had to work for his wages a minute later when the ball broke to Thompson in the box, but his firm strike was turned away by the diving Scotland man.

Souness applauded the visiting fans to raise the temperature even higher before the home side survived a frantic goal-mouth scramble.

The Blackburn fans continued to taunt the Celtic faithful with chants of ‘‘You’ll never play in England’’ - but Thompson showed his old Premiership quality by outpacing Lucas Neill before being cut down as the defender earned the first yellow card of the match.

Former Rangers midfielder Tugay was lucky not to follow him after preventing the home side taking a free-kick quickly.

But Duff was becoming more involved, and with Yorke coming deep more often than not Rovers were causing the home defence all kinds of problems.

Yorke should have fired Blackburn in front four minutes before the break. A clever turn from Thompson, after some good work from Duff, left Valgaeren in his wake - and he pulled the ball back for Yorke, who had all the time to pick his spot but drove at the feet of Petrov from seven yards out.

Celtic found it difficult to get out of their own half - but they did have the visitors under pressure in the 50th minute.

Martin Taylor could only head Agathe’s cross into the path of Thompson, but his right-foot shot bobbled straight to Friedel.

Yorke found more space minutes later, but his left-foot shot was deflected over the top by Paul Lambert’s desperate challenge.

Celtic’s final ball was adding to the frustration of the home fans, who were relieved to see Balde get a vital block on Cole’s goalbound shot.

The Rovers striker again gave himself a chance when he pulled away from his marker in the box to play in Neill, but his effort was deflected by Neil Lennon into Douglas’ hands.

Larsson was having a night to forget as he stood on the brink of becoming Scotland’s all-time top European scorer.

The usually clinical Swede’s poor control let him down in the 64th minute when Sutton fed him in the centre, and Friedel gathered.

O’Neill hoped a change would bring his side a goal and he replaced Lambert with John Hartson in the 76th minute and pushed Sutton back into midfield.

Moments later, Thompson tried to catch Friedel off guard, but his long-range free-kick was plucked out of the air by the keeper at his left post.

Momo Sylla came on for Agathe in the 80th minute before Douglas pushed a swirling right-foot shot from Dunn around the post.

But just five minutes before the end, Celtic took an undeserved lead when Larsson was on hand to become Scotland’s all-time European top scorer. David Thompson headed Hartson’s header from the corner off the line, but the Swede reacted quickly to put the ball in the back of the net from close range.

CELTIC: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Agathe (Sylla), Lennon, Lambert (Hartson), Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Short, Johansson, Taylor, Thompson, Flitcroft, Tugay, Duff (Dunn), Ostenstad (Cole), Yorke.

Referee: Hermann Albrecht (Germany).