Quick Review
Celtic almost took an eighth-minute lead when Hartson flicked on Aiden McGeady's corner at the near post and although the ball found its way to Stanislav Varga under the crossbar, his header sailed over.
But it was not long before they were ahead. Alan Thompson clipped a free kick into the box from the right and Hartson's glancing header flew past Colin Meldrum and into the bottom corner of the net.
Celtic would have increased their lead in the 36th minute had it not been for the bravery of Meldrum. McGeady cut in from the left and threaded the ball through to Stilian Petrov, but the keeper raced off his line to make a crucial challenge at his feet.
Rab Douglas was let down by his defence as Livingston equalised. Goran Stanic struck a harmless-looking shot from the edge of the box, but the unmarked Hamilton latched onto the ball to slide it into the net from close range.
McGeady sent a free kick just past the post and into the side-netting and then Meldrum produced a top-class save just two minutes later when Hartson got on the end of a Thompson corner only for the goalkeeper to fling himself to his right to push the ball over. Hartson should have scored again in the 55th minute when he controlled Sutton's cross superbly on his chest and blasted the ball towards the target but Meldrum once again turned the ball behind for a corner. But a minute later Hamilton was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Sutton stepped up to casually send Meldrum the wrong way from the spot.
Trivia
Teams
Celtic team:-
Douglas, Balde, Laursen, Varga, McNamara, Thompson, Petrov, Lennon, McGeady (Juninho Paulista 84), Sutton, Hartson.
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Lambert, Maloney, Wallace, McManus.
Goals:- Hartson 18, Sutton 54.
Booked:- Thompson.
Livingston team:-
Meldrum, McNamee, Dorado, Rubio, Bahoken, O'Brien, Lovell, Hamilton, Brittain, Stanic (Adam), Snodgrass (Libra).
Subs Not Used:- Fleming, Harding, McPake, Easton.
Goal:- Hamilton.
Booked:- Hamilton, McNamee.
Att:- 57,593
Ref:- C Thomson.
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