Celtic unfurled their championship flag at a sunny Parkhead and then got the defence of their Bank of Scotland Premier League title off to comfortable start with a 2-0 win over Motherwell. A seventh-minute goal from captain Jackie McNamara got the home side off to a flyer and Chris Sutton's near-post strike 10 minutes into the second half settled any nerves the home fans may have had.
It was a convincing enough start to the new campaign for the Hoops who, despite not firing on all cylinders, never really looked like dropping any points against an uninspiring Lanarkshire side.
In the fifth minute an in-swinging corner from Irish youngster Aidan McGeady had Fir Park keeper Gordon Marshall in trouble although the danger was eventually cleared. However, there was no respite for the visitors and in the seventh minute McNamara, picked up a poor clearance and opened his account for the season when he hammered a 25-yard shot with his right foot past a despairing Marshall and into the corner of the net.
The Celtic midfield, such a powerful part of the Parkhead side, had a grip of the game now and John Hartson's ambitious angled volley from 14 yards, although going well wide, showed the confidence flowing through the Hoops side.
Alan Thompson flighted a 25-yard free-kick over the bar and Sutton's left-footed strike from outside the box was easily saved by Marshall but the rattled visitors braced themselves for a tough afternoon ahead.
Motherwell's only retort was a Jim Paterson free kick from the left in the 26th minute which was headed weakly past the far post by Fir Park defender William Kinniburgh.
In the 29th minute a Thompson snapshot from 25 yards was fumbled by Marshall who had to be rescued by Kinniburgh. A minute later Hartson found himself unmarked and with the ball at his feet inside the six yard but the big striker shot wildly over.
At the other end, in a rare Fir Park attack, David Clarkson's turn and shot after being set up by Paterson was wide of the target before striker Alex Burns looped a header over the bar as the Hoops defence seemed to fall asleep.
Seconds after the restart, Stilian Petrov set up Hartson inside the Well penalty area with a slide-rule pass but the big Welshman dithered and the chance came to nothing.
Motherwell went up the park and won a corner and from a Shaun Fagan in-swinger, Martyn Corrigan headed down for Clarkson who swung and mis-kicked from close range.
The second half did not burst into life however and the home supporters were becoming increasingly frustrated as their heroes made hard work of what should have been an easy game. In the 55th minute, however, their anxieties were eased when they doubled their lead with a well-worked goal.
Thompson motored up the left wing and when his cross came over to the near post, Sutton dived in to bundle the ball past Marshall and into the net. Moments later Sutton should have scored his second and Celtic's third but his angled shot from 18 yards went agonisingly past Marshall's far post.
In the 66th minute Thompson's great through-ball set up Petrov but the Bulgarian blasted his shot wildly over the bar from just inside the box. Immediately, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill brought on striker Henri Camara for his debut, with Hartson coming off.
McGeady, who had been less effective in the second period, made way for ex-Fir Park player Stephen Pearson, who was subjected to jeers from the small band of Motherwell fans.
In the 80th minute Thompson, who had improved as the game went on, curled a 30-yard shot over the bar.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
