With challenging conditions due to storm Barbra Celtic started the game of at New Douglas Park with a strong looking side.
Leigh Griffiths from the start caused the Accies problems, the first of the chances came in the third minute when the ball was cleared of the line by Rakish Bingham after Leigh’s corner was met in the box by Erik Sviatchenko only to be denied on the line.
Again though it seemed that it would be Celtic that would make the breakthrough after another Griffiths corner was connected by Stuart Armstrong. Though only to be saved comfortably by Gary Woods.
Celtic again made more chances with Callum McGregor coming close. After a minute of one of these efforts McGregor was booked by Willie Collum for a pull on Dougie Imrie’s shirt, this would prove to be crucial in what would follow.
Scott McMann was booked in the thirty-fourth minute for a bad challenge on McGregor with Gamboa coming close two minutes later to opening the scoring.
The first of three did come on the forty minute mark when Leigh Griffiths scored his seventh goal in his last five games against Hamilton after an exquisite pass from McGregor found the Celtic number nine to tap home the ball.
After the break Callum McGregor was shown red after a fifty-fifty challenge which he pulled out off. His momentum carried him through catching the Accies player which was judged to be reckless and merit a second booking. Unfortunately, this cannot be appealed and McGregor will miss the game at home against Ross County on Wednesday night.
Stuart Armstorng kept up his inspiring form scoring a screamer from twenty-five yards which flew into the keepers top right hand corner. The game seemed after this to go like the Sky Sports coverage with not much happening. Celtic slowed the game down well and cruised for the last twenty-five minutes.
The hoops grabbed a third in the eighty-fourth minute securing all three points after Moussa Dembele tapped home a ball which was played across the face of goal.
Another impressive performance by the Scottish Champions which puts us at the top of the table and unbeaten at Christmas.
I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hail Hail
Declan McConville
