Celtic overcome Hamilton test; continue unbeaten run

Celtic extended their unbeaten domestic run to 69 games with a 3-1 win over Hamilton at Parkhead but it was far from a vintage performance.

Midfielder Olivier Ntcham put the hosts ahead with a spectacular volley in the 12th minute before Accies midfielder Danny Redmond produced a stunning equaliser just before the half-hour mark.

That served only to irk the champions and two goals in a minute just before the break from James Forrest and Scott Sinclair had Brendan Rodgers' men back in control of the encounter.

However, the home side laboured after the break and allowed Martin Canning's visitors a few chances on the counter-attack before the final whistle confirmed a victory which kept them five points clear of Rangers and Aberdeen with a game in hand.

Nir Bitton, brought back in at centre-back for the hosts, tested Gary Woods with a 35-yard drive in the second minute, the Accies keeper grateful to parry to safety before midfielders Stuart Armstrong and Ntcham went close with efforts from distance.

The Frenchman was more accurate when Sinclair played a one-two with Callum McGregor down the left before lifting the ball to the back post where, from 12 yards, the 21-year-old lashed a right-footed volley high past Woods with some venom for his fifth goal of the season.

Accies slowly began to edge forward.

A terrific last-gasp tackle by Bitton on Redmond in the 17th minute stopped the Accies player bursting into the Hoops penalty area while at the other end Woods threw himself to his left to save a 25-yard drive from Ntcham.

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The home fans were surprised and silenced in the 29th minute when the Lanarkshire side levelled.

Bitton was dispossessed by Darian MacKinnon near his own byline and, when the battling Hamilton midfielder then took a return pass from captain Dougie Imrie, he rolled the ball along the 18-yard box where Redmond curled hit high past Celtic keeper Craig Gordon.

It took a while for Celtic to respond, but respond they did.

Striker Odsonne Edouard headed an Armstrong corner over the bar before Celtic restored their lead in the 40th minute, winger Forrest taking an Armstrong pass before rounding Woods and sliding the ball into the net.

Barely a minute later, with the visitors reeling, Forrest played the ball across the penalty area to Sinclair and from 16 yards he delightfully curled the ball past the helpless Accies keeper for No. 3.

Woods thwarted Edouardo twice as Celtic threatened in the early stages of the second half, while the valiant visitors pushed forward as often as they could without leaving too many gaps.

Rodgers brought on Leigh Griffiths for Edouard in the 68th minute to boost their bid for a fourth goal.

Moments later, however, some nifty footwork from Accies midfielder Greg Docherty saw him escape home defender Dedryck Boyata down the right but his terrific cross was knocked wide by striker Rakish Bingham.

Hamilton had more chances.

Docherty fired wide of the target in another break moments later before Bingham beat Gordon with a low drive only to see it come back off the post, and thereafter Celtic continued to huff and puff around the Hamilton box but found no more joy.