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Celtic maintained their revival with the Old Firm derby looming as they powered past Scottish Premiership strugglers Hamilton Academical for a fifth straight win.
Leigh Griffiths hit a post as Celtic’s first-half dominance went unrewarded.
But an Odsonne Edouard penalty and Griffiths strike soon followed before David Turnbull capped victory.
It keeps Neil Lennon’s side 16 points behind Rangers – who they face next Saturday – with three games in hand.
Second-bottom Hamilton, having had a victory over St Mirren suspended on the morning of the game pending the Paisley club’s appeal, are a point above Ross County.
That was an unexpected blow that Hamilton – having initially been awarded the points after St Mirren were found guilty of Covid-19 protocol breaches – could have done without amid an injury crisis depriving them of 10 players.
And from the moment stand-in goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay superbly denied Griffiths in the opening minutes, Celtic’s third consecutive league victory seldom looked in doubt.
Yet Hamilton valiantly survived on the scraps of 20% first-half possession to delay the opener.
Griffiths met Jeremie Frimpong’s cross to rattle an upright with a header, and had a drive parried over by Gourlay, who impressed again just before half-time when Edouard’s touch on a Turnbull shot couldn’t deceive the keeper.
Edouard, Ryan Christie and Nir Bitton also had efforts off target, but Hamilton’s resistance crumbled within 10 minutes of the second period.
Aaron Martin fouled Edouard, who slammed the penalty into the net before linking well with his strike partner to put the game beyond the hosts, laying the ball off for Griffiths to fire home from the edge of the box.
Hamilton were helpless as Celtic kept up the tempo and Turnbull curled inches wide before Ryan Christie stung the palms of Gourlay.
A deserved third arrived when Turnbull pounced to convert the rebound after Edouard’s header from a Callum McGregor cross rebounded off a post.
Lennon’s side could have enhanced their goal difference further as Turnbull smacked the side-netting and substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi’s goal-bound header was diverted wide by Lee Hodson.
But after their struggles of recent months, the Celtic recovery continues with a third Premiership win and clean sheet in succession.
Man of the match – Odsonne Edouard
What did we learn?
Depleted Hamilton’s injury woes offered Celtic the ideal opportunity to rebuild confidence prior to next weekend’s visit to Rangers.
And Lennon’s side looked much more like the dominant force of last season, with the front two of Edouard and Griffiths particularly impressive.
Hamilton gave their all to keep the scoreline respectable and will hope to have bodies back to help ease their plight in the coming weeks.
What did they say?
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “I thought we were outstanding. The attitude of the players was brilliant – and the way we played – we look far more like ourselves.
“That’s the best we’ve played for a long time. Everything about the team today was excellent.”
What’s next?
Hamilton are away St Johnstone on Wednesday (15:00 GMT) in their final fixture of 2020 before hosting Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell on Saturday (15:00)
Celtic welcome Dundee United on Wednesday (15:00) then begin the new year with a seismic old Firm derby against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday (12:30).
Player of the match
McMannScott McMann
Hamilton Academical
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Squad number3Player nameMcMann
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Squad number4Player nameStirling
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Squad number2Player nameOdoffin
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Squad number27Player nameHodson
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Squad number5Player nameEaston
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Squad number19Player nameWinter
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Squad number14Player nameTrafford
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Squad number20Player nameMoyo
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Squad number16Player nameMartin
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Squad number6Player nameHamilton
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Squad number22Player nameGourlay
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Squad number36Player nameOwolabi
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Squad number18Player nameMimnaugh
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Squad number21Player nameMunro
Celtic
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Squad number19Player nameJohnston
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Squad number10Player nameAjeti
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Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
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Squad number11Player nameKlimala
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Squad number9Player nameGriffiths
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Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
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Squad number22Player nameEdouard
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Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number17Player nameChristie
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Squad number12Player nameSoro
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Squad number30Player nameFrimpong
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Squad number65Player nameHazard
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Squad number35Player nameAjer
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
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Squad number6Player nameBitton
Line-ups
Hamilton
- 22Gourlay
- 6Hamilton
- 16Martin
- 5Easton
- 2Odoffin
- 27Hodson
- 4StirlingSubstituted forMimnaughat 82′minutes
- 14Trafford
- 3McMannBooked at 31mins
- 19WinterSubstituted forOwolabiat 69′minutes
- 20MoyoSubstituted forMunroat 90′minutes
Substitutes
- 15Hughes
- 17Stanger
- 18Mimnaugh
- 21Munro
- 36Owolabi
- 37Johnson
- 41Scully
Celtic
- 65Hazard
- 30Frimpong
- 6BittonBooked at 5mins
- 35Ajer
- 3Taylor
- 12Soro
- 42McGregor
- 17ChristieSubstituted forElyounoussiat 83′minutes
- 14TurnbullSubstituted forJohnstonat 78′minutes
- 22EdouardSubstituted forKlimalaat 77′minutes
- 9GriffithsSubstituted forAjetiat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Barkas
- 4Duffy
- 8Brown
- 10Ajeti
- 11Klimala
- 18Rogic
- 19Johnston
- 27Elyounoussi
- 93Laxalt
Live Text
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Match ends, Hamilton Academical 0, Celtic 3.
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Second Half ends, Hamilton Academical 0, Celtic 3.
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Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Kyle Munro replaces David Moyo.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Hodson.
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Attempt blocked. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Jeremie Frimpong.
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Attempt missed. Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
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Attempt blocked. David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Ryan Christie.
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Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Reegan Mimnaugh replaces Ben Stirling.
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Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ben Stirling (Hamilton Academical).
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Foul by Albian Ajeti (Celtic).
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Ben Stirling (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Celtic. Michael Johnston replaces David Turnbull.
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Substitution, Celtic. Patryk Klimala replaces Odsonne Edouard.
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Goal! Hamilton Academical 0, Celtic 3. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
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Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
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Substitution, Celtic. Albian Ajeti replaces Leigh Griffiths.
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Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ismaila Soro.
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Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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