Scottish Premiership: Celtic win to go three points clear at summit

Scottish Premiership: Celtic win to go three points clear at summit

Celtic moved three points clear at the top of the Premiership of Scottish with a 1-0 victory over Partick Thistle at Celtic Park.

The hoops had plenty of chances to win the Glasgow derby comfortably, but a goal at the time of Virgil van Dijk was all that separated the sides ultimately.

The first real opportunity for Celtic did not arrive until the ninth minute when midfielder Stefan Johansen cross found John Guidetti, but his head was tilted on the bar by Thistle goalkeeper Paul Gallacher with the angle defended with some ease.

35 years and then made saves from Aleksandar Tonev and Van Dijk as the side House has slowly increased the pressure, but again, the visitors defence was by corners resulting.

Thistle attacks were sporadic but in 22nd minute Defender Stephen O'Donnell has pioneered in the Celtic box before firing in a corner of the drive from 16 yards which Celtic ' keeper Craig Gordon muffled.

Side of the House was in control, but their indecision before the goal was summed up when Guidetti missed the target from eight yards after putting in place again by Johansen.

The visitors struggled to create chances, but on the half-hour mark, a free kick from Stuart Bannigan was led on the handlebars and more, according to midfielder colleague Abdul Osman.

A few moments later, at the other end, Gallacher was forced into another good save, this time by Johansen, after the Norwegian had hung on a long pass, looking for Van Dijk before the shooting in a car right for 10 yards.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Gallacher raced from his line to block Guidetti and when Parkhead skipper Scott Brown to the square of the ball lost to Anthony Stokes he fired wide from 16 yards at moaning more hoops fans exasperated.

The Israeli midfielder Nir Bitton replaced Charlie Mulgrew for the start of the second half and with four minutes of the game, he ran to another division defence passes through Van Dijk only to slam his shot in net with only Gallacher to

beat.

However, the home side finally got their reward in the 60th minute after Brown won a free kick on the right about 35 yards from goal.

When the delivery of Johansen is entered in the box as Van Dijk construction with Aaron Muirhead and when the ball dropped the Dutch quickly in brushed four yards on.

Thistle quickly replaced Ryan Stevenson with Kris Doolan, with Steven Lawless on to Karl Higginbotham shortly after.

Guidetti and Tonev went to Stefan Scepovic and Kris Commons respectively for Celtic in the 72nd minute, with Gallacher blocking this last minute later shot.

With four minutes remaining and the game petering, Gordon made a great stop from Doolan scissor-kick to keep the side of the House just before all the way to final whistle check their eighth consecutive home victory.

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