Thompson on target as Celtic scrape victory

Celtic 2 Kilmarnock 1

Celtic capitalised on two dubious decisions from referee Steve Conroy to scrape another vital victory.

The win at Parkhead increased their lead over Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table to seven points.

Conroy sparked controversy when he awarded the home side a free-kick on the edge of the area which Aiden McGeady dispatched brilliantly on the stroke of half-time.

He then awarded Celtic a dubious penalty which Alan Thompson converted before Colin Nish bagged a late consolation.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was left fuming, and could be in trouble with the Scottish Football Association when he had to be restrained by the fourth official.

But his opposite number Martin O’Neill will gladly take another unconvincing three points, another huge slice of luck and a second consecutive clean sheet after their recent defensive troubles and injuries to Chris Sutton and Bobo Balde, who again missed out in an unchanged line-up.

Killie were confident after two consecutive wins and Jefferies made two changes from the side which beat Hibernian last week, with former Rangers winger Allan Johnston and Graeme Smith coming in for Stephen Murray and Alan Combe.

Smith got a good early touch to settle his nerves when he held midweek goal hero Thompson’s low free-kick after David Lilley had fouled John Hartson after 50 seconds.

But despite their clean sheet in midweek the Celtic defence still looked uneasy and the home crowd breathed a sigh of relief in the fifth minute.

Craig Dargo was allowed to run onto Frederic Dindeleux’s hopeful punt downfield but the striker pulled his speculative long-range lob just past the upright.

Their nerves were tested to the maximum in the 10th minute when David Marshall needed to make three important saves to prevent the champions from going behind.

He made a good reflex save to push Nish’s header, from Danny Invincibile’s cross, behind before doing well to stop two awkward efforts from the latter in quick succession.

But the Hoops did improve and finally brought their frustrated supporters to life with two close efforts in the 29th minute.

Neil Lennon’s long-range shot fell to Hartson, who spun and fired low, but Smith did well to turn it around the post for the corner.

The goalkeeper was again busy moments later when Thompson picked up the ball near the corner of the penalty area and unleashed a rocket which Smith had to tip over the bar.

Hartson should have done better on the half-hour when he leapt above the Kilmarnock defence but headed Thompson’s free-kick over the top from eight yards.

But it was the woodwork which came between Celtic and the opening goal in the 34th minute.

Stanislav Varga got ahead of his marker to get on the end of Thompson’s corner but his header bounced into the crowd off the crossbar.

The Englishman then tried his luck with a stinging drive from 25 yards which Smith could only parry but fortunately for him Henri Camara blasted the rebound well wide.

But McGeady came to Celtic’s rescue before the break after referee Conroy awarded them a contentious free-kick on the edge of the box.

He adjudged McDonald to have raised his foot just outside the area but Jackie McNamara looked the guilty party by handling the ball.

The youngster ignored what was going on around him though and curled a right-foot free-kick over the wall and past the despairing dive of Smith.

The visitors refused to throw in the towel, buoyed by Aberdeen’s recent win here, and they threatened in the 52nd minute.

Gordon Greer threaded the ball through to Nish, who drove low and hard, but Marshall got down well to gather with Dargo lurking ominously.

Camara could have settled the Celtic nerves on the hour when Varga broke down the right and pulled the ball into his path but he sidefooted well wide.

But the on-loan striker won his side a penalty, again controversially, in the 63rd minute after Simon Ford appeared to take the ball.

Conroy infuriated the visitors with another harsh decision and Thompson stepped up to send Smith the wrong way.

It was understandable that Jefferies had to be restrained moments later when Conroy ignored their penalty shouts after McDonald had gone down under Didier Agathe’s challenge.

Smith again saved from Smith before Nish grabbed his side a deserved consolation goal in the 89th minute.

Celtic were twitchy near the end, with the final whistle a blessed relief.