Celtic ease past Accies

The Ibrox side play their game in hand against St Mirren on Sunday but Gordon Strachan's men can be pleased with the way they responded to the Champions League defeat by Villarreal in midweek, albeit against vastly inferior opponents.

Goals from Shunsuke Nakamura and Georgios Samaras gave the home side a half-time lead, Scott McDonald grabbed number three in the 75th minute and after Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc had made a fine penalty save from James McArthur, Aiden McGeady slid in the fourth.

The home fans were in their seats less than a minute when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink clashed with Accies left-back Brian Easton, the Dutchman hobbling off to be replaced by top scorer Samaras.

Japan international Nakamura eventually broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a fine volley. McGeady crossed to the back post, the ball evading David Elebert to be controlled almost effortlessly by Nakamura before he volleyed past Tomas Cerny from around six yards.

As the champions turned the screw, McDonald came close when he accepted a Mark Wilson cut-back 16 yards out and smartly drove a right-footed shot against the inside of the post.

However, the respite was short-lived and in the 37th minute Billy Reid's men fell further behind when Nakamura squared to Samaras who sidefooted the ball from 16 yards past Cerny with some precision and power.

In the 75th minute McDonald grabbed the third goal after McGeady had slipped him through at the edge of the Accies box. Martin Canning looked to be favourite to win the race but the Australian international collected the ball in the challenge through sheer strength and determination before he curled his drive past Cerny.

A couple of minutes later, out of the blue, Hamilton were awarded a penalty after Gary Caldwell was adjudged to have brought down James McCarthy in the box. But Boruc raised the roof when he made a fine double save from McArthur, the first from the initial penalty and then when the Accies midfielder had followed up.

Eight minutes from the end, Shaun Maloney, on for Samaras, brilliantly set up McGeady to slide in number four.