Celtic up to the task

Celtic gave a massive boost to their chances of qualifying for the lucrative knockout phase of the Champions League after a gutsy 3-1 win over group A rivals Anderlecht on Wednesday.

Celtic went down to a 1-0 defeat to ten-man Anderlecht two weeks ago but turned up the tempo at Celtic Park by shell-shocking Hugo Broos's Belgian league leaders with three goals inside the first half hour.

Prolific Swedish striker Henrik Larsson opened the scoring with a well-taken header before Ireland under-21 striker Liam Miller - on his first full Champions League start - added a second before Chris Sutton headed home in the 29th minute.

The win means Celtic are unbeaten at home in 62 matches - their last defeat of any kind being to Dutch masters Ajax over two years ago in the third qualifying round of the competition.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill will now feel a little more confident ahead of the visit of Bayern Munich in three weeks' time.

After the match the northern Irishman was quick to single Miller out for special praise.

"They knew what they had to do out there and we were just sensational," beamed O'Neill.

"We scored three, we could have scored five and for the remainder of the match we were in control of the game, except for the penalty in the second half.

"Liam Miller was wonderful. Everything he did out there was very positive," added O'Neill, who was delighted with Lyon's 2-1 win in Munich.

"It was a combination of everything, wonderful football and some great support. And I've just heard the result of the Lyon game so it means it's still a very tight group."

After a scrappy start, Larsson's opener provided some welcome breathing space.

John Hartson's holding up of the ball caused major problems for the Anderlecht defence throughout the night, and when the big Welshman laid the ball of to Didier Agathe the little Frenchman crossed for an unmarked Larsson at the near post, the Swede sending a dipping header past Anderlecht keeper Daniel Zitka.

Celtic immediately kicked into life and only five minutes later Miller repaid O'Neill's confidence in his abilities with a well-drilled second goal.

Again, Hartson's headed lay-off - as he fought off two defenders - gave Miller a perfect scoring chance, and he smashed a left-foot shot past Zitka.

Celtic continued to dominate and Anderlecht simply had no reply as the hosts' front men ran riot. First, Hartson laid off for Miller on the right and he sent in a dangerous looping cross that fooled Zitkal. Larsson, at the back post, battled to keep the ball in but the Swede could not direct it into the net.

Two minutes later Zitka had to be at his best to keep out a goal-bound header from midfielder Stilian Petrov at the back post after the Bulgarian was set up nicely by Miller with a cross from the right side.

However the big keeper could do little about Celtic's third goal just before the half hour when a Hartson flick-on gave an unmarked Chris Sutton the easiest of opportunities and the former Chelsea striker sent a diving header past Zitka.

After the interval Celtic came out fighting but the first real chance fell to Anderlecht.

Aruna Dindane did well to hold off the pysical threat of Bobo Balde in front of the Celtic goal however the Ivory Coast forward's shot was deflected and shot to safety.

It took Celtic almost 11 minutes to get a shot on goal, with Sutton supplying Harton on the edge of the box before he fought off defender Vincent Kompany and tested Zitka, who saved well.

Three minutes later defender Christian Wilhelmson was cautioned for handling the ball as Petrov bore down, but Larsson's resultant freekick from the edge of the box flew well wide of Zitka's goal.

O'Neill then made his first substitution of the night, sending on Michael Gray for Miller in the 75th minute, the Irishman walking off to a memorable standing ovation.

A minute later, Anderlecht pulled a goal back through Aruna after being awarded a penalty when the Ivory Coast forward fell in the box after a tackle by Balde.

Ivica Mornar saw his spot kick saved by Magnus Hedman in the Celtic goal - and it was left to Aruna to smash the ball high into the net.