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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 23
Jan 26, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Hamilton logo

3-0

McGregor (40'), Christie (77'), Sinclair (87')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Celtic increase lead at Ladbrokes Premiership summit

The Hoops are now three points clear of Kilmarnock with a game in hand.

Celtic stretched their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership with a 3-0 win over struggling Hamilton at Parkhead.

Accies' 22-year-old goalkeeper Ryan Fulton had kept the dominant home side at bay with several good saves before he let a long-distance drive from midfielder Callum McGregor slip through his legs with five minutes of the first-half remaining.

The keeper was at fault again with a fumble which allowed Ryan Christie to score a second in the 76th minute, another present to Hoops manager  Brendan Rodgers, celebrating his 46th birthday, with Scott Sinclair heading in a late third.

Celtic, who made it 11 home league wins out of 11, moved three points clear of Kilmarnock with their game in hand against St Johnstone in midweek and they are looking strong since adding in the January transfer window.

Striker Timothy Weah, who had scored in each of his first two appearance for Celtic since arriving from on loan from Paris St Germain, made his first start as replacement for West Brom loanee Oliver Burke, with Mikey Johnston replacing James Forrest on the wing.

Accies showed three changes with Scott Martin, Lenny Sowah and Steven Boyd in for Mikel Miller, Alex Gogic and Steven Davies but Canning's defence creaked under inevitable Celtic pressure.

Fulton, playing only his second league game of the season, made early saves from McGregor and Sinclair before brilliantly tipping another effort from the latter over the bar for a corner which was defended.

Ryan Christie was on target for Celtic
Ryan Christie was on target for Celtic (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The home side kept playing and Accies kept chasing.

Fulton made further saves from left-back Emilio Izaguirre, Johnston and midfielder Christie.

Hamilton, indeed, looked to have had bedded themselves in but in the 26th minute Martin's under-hit pass back to Fulton left Weah with only the keeper to beat but his unconvincing shot was blocked to safety.

However, all Fulton's good work was undone in the 40th minute when he allowed McGregor's low drive from 25 yards slip between his legs to give Celtic the breakthrough.

Accies, stung by the goal, had a go before the break and attacker Tony Andreu's shot from inside the box escaped Celtic keeper Scott Bain's right-hand post.

The home side again did all the pressing after the break with Hamilton harrying and harassing.

Just after the hour mark Rodgers brought on Forrest and Burke for Johnston and Weah and the tempo immediately increased.

In the 70th minute Fulton raced out from his goal to spectacularly miss the ball with an attempted header leaving Burke to go towards goal but his drive was blocked as the Hamilton defence scurried back.

Celtic are three points clear at the top
Celtic are three points clear at the top (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Three minutes later Accies had a great chance when Boyd got through on goal with only Bain to beat but before he could pull the trigger he was tackled by Hoops defender Kristoffer Ajer for a corner which came to nothing. That ended hopes of a comeback.

Fulton was involved again for Celtic's second goal when he fumbled McGregor's shot allowing Christie to knock the ball in from close range.

There was more to come.

With three minutes remaining and Accies ragged, Sinclair nodded in Mikael Lustig's cross from close range, putting a better sheen on the scoreline.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers pictured on December 29, 2018
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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