Celtic surged 10 points clear at the top of the SPL with a 2-1 home win over Falkirk as Roy Keane scored on his first home appearance in a match that also marked Dion Dublin's debut.
Keane's goal and a second from Stephen McManus looked to have put Gordon Strachan's side on the way to a comfortable victory but a late Kenny Milne goal ensured a nervy finish for the Parkhead crowd.
Celtic started brightly and Shaun Maloney almost put them ahead after only a minute played with a first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area which went inches wide.
But the home side deservedly went in front in the 34th minute. Maloney swung across an inswinging free-kick from the left, which Falkirk's Craig Ireland could only partially clear to the edge of the box.
Unfortunately for the visitors Keane was perfectly placed to rifle a first-time right-foot shot, past Falkirk goalkeeper Alan Ferguson, via a slight deflection, for his first goal in the famous green and white hoops.
Celtic doubled their lead in the final minute of the first half. Maloney again was involved when his cross was nodded on by Guinean Bobo Balde, on his return from the African Nations Cup, and McManus was on his own at the back post to lash it into the roof of the net.
Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura came close to a third in the 54th minute with a free-kick from 18-yards, which sailed just past the post.
Dublin, making his debut for Celtic since signing from Leicester at the end of January, flashed a header inches over in the 60th minute. And in the 67th minute Polish international Maciej Zurawski fired a shot across the bar from six-yards after Nakamura had driven the ball across the face of goal.
But with only seven minutes remaining Falkirk pulled one back with their first shot on target. Portuguese player Pedro Moutinho did well on the left to find Milne on the 18-yard line and he sent a looping left-foot shot into the top corner of the net giving Polish keeper Artur Boruc stranded.
And in the final minute Falkirk's Australian striker Daniel McBreen should have levelled the game when he found space at the heart of the Celtic defence but his shot from 18-yards went inches wide with Boruc beaten. However, Celtic held on for all three points which gives them a double figure lead and an 18 point lead over Rangers before Sunday's Old Firm match.
