Following on from 5 wins in a row in the league which has pulled them back into an unlikely title race, Celtic faced a determined Thistle side on a perfect night for football at Seafield. Celtic were missing a couple of first team regulars including Robert Smith and the injured Connor Regan while Thistle also had a few out for the match.
It was Celtic that started the brighter of the two teams with the front three of Kennedy Moar, Shane Odie and Shay Regan looking to trouble the makeshift back four for the Jags and the breakthrough came midway through the half. A neat move in midfield set Aitken free and his through ball to Moar was calmly finished past Saul Swanson in the Thistle goal.
Thistle almost equalised straight away but Calvin Leask’s effort from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Kieran Glaser. At the other end, Celtic could have extended their lead following another break but Moar shot just wide.
Just minutes before half time, Swanson pulled off a terrific save to keep the score at 1-0. Aitken was again provider setting up Odie, however the front-man’s first time shot was excellently tipped clear to keep Thistle’s hopes alive.
The second half was again a fairly even affair with neither team really able to get a foothold in the game. Thistle had a glorious chance to equalise but Gary Sim’s effort was saved by the feet of Glaser and cleared to safety.
Swanson was a spectator for large spells of the half but when called upon, made another outstanding save from point-blank range. Moar swung in a dangerous cross which was caught on the volley at the back post by Odie but Swanson somehow got across his goal to save.
Minutes before the end however, Celtic did manage to kill of the tie and it was the same two players that combined when Moar found Odie who made no mistake this time around to make it 2-0. Best on the night for the home side was Matthew Murray and Moar while Stuart Ferguson was the stand out player for Thistle.
CELTIC TEAM: K Glaser, J Simpson, J Clubb, J Bradley, T Moncrieff, S Sim, M Murray, J Aitken, S Regan (D Clubb), S Odie (L Spence), K Moar