The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
James Forrest celebrates scoring Celtic’s fourth goal in a 4-1 Ladbrokes Premiership win at Hamilton yesterday to move seven points clear of Rangers.
Lennon’s men extend lead to seven points after Edouard plays key role in crucial win
HAMILTON 1 CELTIC 4
Odsonne Edouard struck twice as Celtic grabbed the Ladbrokes Premiership title race by the scruff of the neck with a 4-1 win over 10-man Hamilton yesterday.
Rangers’ slip-up on Saturday against Aberdeen meant Neil Lennon’s champions could move seven points clear of their stuttering rivals with victory at the Foys Stadium.
Yet they found themselves in an arm wrestle with the hosts, who were able to wriggle free time and again from pressure as they found one of their two strikers up field.
Griffiths got himself involved in an awkward tangle after 13 minutes as he pulled Sam Woods down before planting his foot into the defender’s prone body.
Referee Nick Walsh gave the striker the benefit of the doubt as he flashed only yellow, while also booking Alex Gogic for his angry reaction as both sets of players stormed in for a squabble.
Kris Ajer then got his header all wrong as he went to meet Aaron McGowan’s cross. The ball fell for Ogkmpoe but Fraser Forster beat away his volley.
Jullien then fired the ball out of play under no pressure, while Forrest was surprisingly burned for pace by Scott McMann as Hamilton won a corner.
Jullien then failed to get a grip on Ogkmpoe as Blair Alston put in the delivery, allowing the Greek to power home with his head after 27 minutes.
But the game swung back in Celtic’s favour 10 minutes before the break.
Jamie Hamilton got caught the wrong side of Griffiths as they chased a Jullien long ball, hauling the Hoops frontman down right on the edge of his own box.
Walsh had no option but to flash red at the Accies youngster, with bad swiftly becoming worse for Accies as Edouard swept the free-kick over the wall into the corner of Luke Southwood’s goal.
Celtic sensed blood and went for the jugular after the half-time turnaround.
Griffiths blazed one chance over before smashing his next set-piece opportunity off Southwood’s bar while Woods and McGowan were both relieved to survive handball shouts in the box.
Ryan Christie made his return from groin surgery just past the hour mark while Accies swiftly handed David Templeton his second debut.
Hamilton’s resistance could only last so long and current league leaders Celtic pounced for the win with 12 minutes left.
Jonny Hayes slipped fellow substitute Christie down the left and his cross was steered home by Jullien’s expert finish.
Tom Rogic sent in Edouard for his 22nd goal of the season and Forrest completed the scoring in stoppage time after combining with Edouard.