Celtic lead Partick at break

Partick 1, Celtic 2 (half-time)

Celtic headed into the interval with a half-time lead over Partick following an Alan Thompson penalty two minutes before the break.

The Hoops had opened the scoring when Jags goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen allowed a Paul Lambert drive to squirm under him in the eighth minute.

But Celtic were stunned when James Grady pulled a goal back for the home side after 25 minutes.

But Martin O’Neill’s side reclaimed the advantage when Ian Ross collided with Stilian Petrov in the area and Thompson netted from the spot.

A Stanislav Varga challenge on John Paul McBride handed Thistle an opportunity to put Celtic under pressure.

David Rowson played a short free-kick into the path of McBride who bulleted the shot at goal.

Joos Valgaeren intercepted but succeeded only in nodding the ball across the face of goal before Jackie McNamara headed clear for a corner.

But the home side stunned Celtic after 25 minutes when they drew level through James Grady.

Anis’ cross was met by Gerry Britton and he supplied the ball for the former Ayr player to slot past Douglas for the equaliser.

The diminutive striker could have grabbed a second goal just two minutes later but Varga managed to intercept before Grady could meet Anis’ pass.

Celtic were determined to reclaim their lead and defender Balde would have obliged but Mikkelsen did well to dive low and block his header from just a few yards out.

But Celtic’s second goal came courtesy of the penalty spot after Ian Ross collided with Petrov at the far post and referee Kenny Clark immediately pointed to the spot.

Thompson stepped up for the spot-kick and left Mikkelsen with no chance when he cannoned the ball home from 12 yards three minutes before the interval.