A Kris Commons penalty on the stroke of half time has given Celtic a 1-0 lead against 10-man Partick Thistle in this evening's Scottish Premiership clash at Celtic Park.
The hosts were quickest out of the starting blocks as a delivery from Stuart Armstrong five minutes in was met by Virgil van Dijk, but the effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Celtic continued to threaten but were nearly caught out in the 20th minute when Kallum Higginbotham connected with a Steven Lawless cross to volley towards goal, Craig Gordon leaping successfully to his side to palm the effort away.
Commons then came within a whisker of giving his side the lead when he let rip with a shot from 25 yards that flew narrowly over the bar.
Just when it seemed like the visitors would hold firm until the half-time whistle, they found themselves in trouble when James Craigen was sent off for a tackle on John Guidetti in the box.
Commons stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to put his side ahead right at the break.
Giuseppe Labellarte
