Griffiths ignites Celtic revival

LEIGH GRIFFITHS came off the bench to spark Celtic into life as the Hoops came back from a goal down to beat Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premiership.

Irish striker Conor Sammon, on loan from Hearts, gave the home side the lead from the spot in the 34th minute after defender Mikael Lustig had conceded the penalty.

Griffiths, fit again after an ankle knock, replaced the Swede for the start of the second half and made all the difference.

Scott Sinclair won and converted a penalty 10 minutes after the break before Griffiths scored the winner from close range in the 70th minute to take Brendan Rodgers’ side 11 points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the table.

There was a sense of shock when the Maryhill men took the lead. Lustig made a mess of a clearance and when Miles Storey went past him he was impeded by the full-back, according to referee John Beaton who pointed to the spot, and Sammon sent Craig Gordon the wrong way kick for his fourth goal in three games.

Griffiths’ introduction brought an immediate increase in tempo. The leveller arrived when Mustapha Dumbuya felled Sinclair inside the box for a much more obvious Celtic penalty which the winger converted himself.

The Jags’ luck held out only until Griffiths took a Scott Brown pass and dismissed sub Adam Barton, before poking the ball over the line.