SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Hamilton 1 Celtic 2: CELTIC CONTINUED their pursuit of a fourth successive championship with their 10th consecutive league victory, albeit with the help of a controversial penalty and late winner against a 10-man Hamilton Academical.
Paul Hartley's 86th-minute winner ensured Celtic regained their four-point advantage over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League, although Hamilton were left to bemoan the penalty that gave Gordon Strachan's side a lifeline after 39 minutes.
With Celtic trailing to Richard Offiong's 15th-minute opener, referee Steve Conroy awarded them a penalty on the advice of his linesman and dismissed Martin Canning even though his foul on Cillian Sheridan was committed a yard outside the area.
Hamilton manager Billy Reid said: "The referee awarded a free-kick and the assistant referee got involved. I'm all for that but he has to be sure he's right and he called this one wrong. The players said it was outside the box, TV proved it."
Hamilton were already if temporarily down to 10 men as Chris Swailes was receiving treatment when Sheridan latched on to Andreas Hinkel's pass and had his heels clipped by Canning, who was shown a straight red.
Conroy pointed to the spot after receiving advice from the linesman, Chris Young. From the spot, Shunsuke Nakamura drilled the ball low beyond Tomas Cerny.
Celtic had fallen behind when Offiong got ahead of Stephen McManus to head Trent McClenahan's inswinging cross into the bottom corner. However, late on Celtic's pressure finally told.
Cerny's punched clearance was gathered by Hartley on the edge of the area and, following a slick one-two with Scott Brown, he rifled a superb shot home.
Early goals from Kris Boyd and Steven Davis helped Rangers withstand St Mirren's late comeback as they secured a 2-1 victory at Ibrox on Saturday. The visitors' Franco Miranda scored in the 81st minute to set up a tense finale.
HAMILTON: Cerny, McClenahan, Swailes (Thomas 90), Canning, Easton, McCarthy, Neil (Elebert 76), McArthur, McLaughlin, Mensing, Offiong (Graham 82). Subs not used: Murdoch, Gibson, Stevenson, Lyle. Sent Off:Canning (38). Booked: McArthur.
CELTIC: Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (Robson 46), Nakamura (Samaras 64), Scott Brown, Donati (Caddis 71), Hartley, Maloney, Sheridan. Subs not used: Fox, Loovens, Mizuno, McGowan.
Referee: S Conroy(Scotland).
• Guardian Service
