Henrik Larsson pounced to score his 24th goal of the season at Parkhead and give the Scottish champions a great chance of ending their double European hoodoo after the 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo.

	Henrik Larsson (centre) heads home (MatthewAshton/Empics)

Celtic have never got past a Spanish side and, for the last 23 years, they have not even stayed in European competition past the New Year.

But the Sweden striker's killer instinct in the second half gave Celtic a great chance of re-writing the record books and going beyond the third round of the UEFA Cup.

It came at a cost, however, as manager Martin O'Neill looked set for a lengthy touchline ban following his late dismissal from the touchlines.

He was ordered from the dug-out during the visit to Juventus last season and now UEFA could come down on him hard despite a truly awful display from French referee Claude Colunbo.

But O'Neill at least will be cheered by Larsson's winner and the defence's ability to keep a clean sheet which puts Celtic in a great position.

Influential midfielder Stilian Petrov, however, deserved extra praise after producing a superb display despite having 15 stitches in a facial wound at the weekend while the tactic of using Chris Sutton in midfield again paid dividends.

But despite O'Neill's pre-match warning against conceding an early goal, which cost them against FC Basle, the hosts almost suffered disaster inside the first 30 seconds.

Joos Valgaeren lost the ball and Catanha seized on it before feeding former Arsenal full-back Silvinho down the left channel.

The Brazilian looked up and pulled the ball across goal to Gustavo Lopez, but his low first-time effort was well saved by Robert Douglas at the second attempt.

But Celtic survived and they went close themselves in the fourth minute when the ball broke to Petrov and he drove a right-footed shot past the upright from 25 yards.

The home crowd turned up the volume again and they were screaming for Celta Vigo goalkeeper Jose Pinto to be punished in the 11th minute.

He raced out of his box in an attempt to stop John Hartson from getting on the end of Larsson lob, but the fans were convinced he had handled the ball outside the area.

The French referee was not interested, but Celtic will wonder how they failed to go in front a minute later.

	Larsson celebrates after heading home for Celtic (MatthewAshton/Empics)

Larsson got on the end of Didier Agathe's cross, but his effort was pushed out by Pinto. The ball ricocheted off Steve Guppy and flew over the crossbar from five yards.

The home side breathed a huge sigh of relief in the 19th minute when Alexander Mostovoi played a quick corner to Garcia Juanfran and he struck an inviting shot across the goalmouth.

But a minute later Agathe should have put Celtic ahead when he squandered a glorious chance with an open goal at his mercy. Pinto flapped at another inviting cross from Guppy and the ball landed at the feet of the winger, but he slashed his right-foot shot over from inside the box.

As expected Mostovoi was making the visitors tick and they looked a threat on the counter-attack. The Russian was involved in the move which saw Peter Luccin burst into the box, but with Douglas racing off his line the Celta player flicked the ball wide.

Sutton then flashed a powerful right-footed volley over the bar from Larsson knock-down before Catanha was booked for a show of petulance.

But some woeful decisions from the referee and the linesman helped fire up the home crowd and a typically animated O'Neill even further.

The home side again went close in the 50th minute when Sutton's effort from inside the box clipped Juanfran and flew just over the bar.

Celtic always looked a threat in the air and from the resulting corner the Scottish champions went ahead thanks to the reliable Larsson.

Hartson headed Guppy's kick back across goal and the Swedish striker charged through a number of bodies to head the ball into the back of the net from close range.

But that failed to settle the home side and a mistake from the impressive Bobo Balde almost undid the good work moments later.

He was caught in possession by Mostovoi and he pulled the ball to the unmarked Edu but Petrov got back to make a vital block.

Another surprising decision by the referee again sparked disbelief among the Celtic fans when he ignored a glaring foul from Juanfran on Larsson.

And it was not a surprise in the 66th minute when Colunbo rejected the home side's appeals for a penalty when Hartson appeared to be tripped in the box by Sebastian Mendez after exchanging passes with Sutton.

Larsson had a glorious opportunity to extend the home side's advantage in the 70th minute when Hartson headed Balde's thump downfield into his path on the edge of the six-yard box, but the goalkeeper did well to keep the striker's shot with his feet.

O'Neill let his anger with the officials boil over and he was sent to the stand with three minutes remaining.