Well, yes. Celtic extended their impressive winning run in the SPL to thirteen games and Thistle are still looking for three points but they ran us as close as any domestic team has done at Celtic Park this season.

It was never going to be a walk in the park for Celtic after the players ran themselves into the ground against Bayern Munich in mid-week and Martin O’Neill will doubtless have been relieved that it was “only” Partick we were playing. With that in mind, several changes were made to the team that started against the Germans with Sylla in for the injured Agathe, Miller and Mjallby coming back into the reckoning after starting last week’s win over Dundee United and youngsters John Kennedy and Ross Wallace getting rare starts; indeed, a first start for Wallace.

Personally, I was very encouraged with the latter two changes. With some very impressive youngsters coming through, it is essential they get as much experience as possible and if you can’t throw them in at home against a team anchored to the bottom of the league, then when will they ever get a chance. No doubt a few more will get their chance in this week’s CIS Cup tie at Firhill and let’s hope those that do feature will seize their chance to make an impression.

Wallace has certainly done just that already this season, with a goal and some impressive link-up play being the highlights of an otherwise drab afternoon against Dunfermline three weeks ago and he did well again from the start this time, setting Stan Varga up for a shot on goal after ten minutes.

However, it was Partick who unexpectedly took the lead with Kennedy giving away a free kick that was sent into the box and finished by wee James Grady of all people. The renowned “crazee Celtic fan” (© The Great Lorenzo) will have enjoyed that one and it certainly kicked the game into life for a slightly under-par Celtic side.

Normal service soon resumed, though, when Larsson equalised with his 17th goal of the season and 217th overall, bringing him level with the legendary Jimmy Quinn to share joint fourth place in the overall goal-scoring standings. The Mighty and The Magnificent – some partnership that would have been! Though, it won’t be long before Henrik has overtaken Quinn and also pulled himself clear of Lisbon legend Stevie Chalmers (219) to settle into third place overall behind James McGrory and Bobby Lennox. That just shows you what a player the Swede is and why we should savour every moment of this his final season.

Celtic began to get into the game a wee bit more after that, with Kennedy and Wallace getting some good touches to settle them down. Hartson went agonisingly close with a header from a Larsson cross before a free kick from (that man again) Larsson was deflected into the net by Chris Sutton to make it 2-1 at the break.
The second half was very much a case of normal service has resumed, with Celtic turning the screw and putting the game to bed without really straining themselves and the game was over on sixty minutes when Celtic got their third with Sutton scoring his second of the day after good work by Miller and, yes, Larsson.

That’s ten goals for Sutton in only eight SPL games since he came back from that suspension and he’s certainly been playing like a man with a point to prove with some first class performances in Europe too. Whether it be at centre-half, midfield or up front, the man also gives his best and always looks like a class act. In my book, he’s our player of the season so far without a shadow of doubt. So, when are we ever going to sing a song about him, eh….?

So, another three points for the Celts, Henrik making an impression on the record books, Sutton continuing to make Eriksson look a bit of a fool and more promise from the wee’ans. I’ll drink to that!