Celtic March in Champions League

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Celtic set up a Champions League third qualifying round tie against Elfsborg by easing aside Cliftonville.

Already 3-0 up from the away tie in Belfast, the Glasgow side extended their lead through Efe Ambrose's powerful 16th-minute header.

But it took until the 70th minute for their pressure to bring a second, a close-range Georgios Samaras header.

While Cliftonville's hard work avoided the feared rout, it is Celtic who will host Swedes Elfsborg next Wednesday.

Elfsborg, who have on-loan Celtic striker Mo Bangura and former Portsmouth forward James Keene in their squad, had earlier completed their own demolition of Daugava.

Already 7-1 up from the home leg, they showed they will be a tough hurdle to overcome for Neil Lennon's side, hopeful of matching the £23.5m earned from last season's march to the last 16, winning 4-0 in Latvia.

Despite striker Gary Hooper's recovery from a groin strain, Northern Irishman Lennon named an unchanged side from the one that won in his homeland.

Last season's top scorer was on the bench even though he has been the subject of a transfer bids from Norwich City and, most recently, QPR.

Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin had voiced his determination not to leave Scotland with a humiliating scoreline and not surprisingly named a more defensive formation, with former Werder Bremen striker Liam Boyce on his own up front.

The expected onslaught began with a Samaras shot being beaten away by goalkeeper Conor Devlin.

It was clever play by Sweden full-back Mikael Lustig that finally prised open the visiting defence, setting up Anthony Stokes to deliver a cross that was dispatched past Devlin by Nigeria defender Ambrose.

Part-timers Cliftonville battled away gallantly and threatened momentarily when Marc Smyth had a close-range effort blocked after a rare corner for the Northern Irish champions, while Ciaran Caldwell fired wide.

That was a brief respite as Kris Commons and James Forrest threatened a second goal from range, with the latter's effort clipping the top of the crossbar.

Celtic's intensity dipped after the break, but Stokes forced a fine fingertip save from Devlin with a clever drive the Irishman steered towards the far corner.

Stokes was not so smart when presented with an easier chance after being set up by Scott Brown, the striker curling his shot wide of Devlin and the post.

Just as Cliftonville appeared to be tiring, a desperate clearance from Kelvin Wilson prevented a cross presenting Boyce the chance of a surprise tap-in equaliser.

Minutes after Hooper came off the bench, Celtic extended their lead when a fine Commons cross found the head of Samaras eight yards from goal.

Hooper fired an effort against the base of the post and summer signing Amido Balde headed just wide on his debut from the bench, but Cliftonville managed to restrict Celtic to a two-goal victory.

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Celtic Loss Starts Lennon Quit Talk

Celtic manager Neil Lennon sensationally threatened to quit after the 1-0 home defeat to Inverness.

Billy Mckay was the match-winner as Caley secured their first ever league win at Celtic Park, and Lennon was involved in a fiery altercation with a fan in the aftermath.

He said afterwards: "They are frustrated. I disagreed with them, I didn't like what they said about the team. Look, if they are not happy with what I am doing and they want me to go, I will.

"If the fans make it clear that they are not happy and they want me out then that's okay, I will do the honourable thing.

"I can't repeat it (what fans said) because it is public arena but there were a lot of expletives and heavy criticism, which I didn't think was justified and (there was) a lack of patience with the team as well.

"If there was a lack of application and commitment I would be the first to criticise the team. I didn't see that but I did see a lack of composure and quality in the final third and that's what cost us.

"If I think it is justified then I don't have a problem with it but I don't think it was justified today. But they pay their money, they are allowed to say what they like. I've got my opinions on it and sometimes I give them as well.

"I am not happy with the league form, it is my team at the end of the day so I take the responsibility for it. It's not for the lack of trying to find the answers."

Just over two weeks ago, Lennon was the toast of the town having guided the Bhoys to an historic 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona.

Lennon Enjoys Celtic SPL Title

Celtic clinched the Scottish Premier League title in fine style on Saturday by crushing Kilmarnock 6-0 at Rugby Park.

Left-back Charlie Mulgrew was the force behind their first-half domination, scoring twice and setting up goals for Glenn Loovens and Gary Hooper to give the rampant visitors an unassailable interval lead.

In what was one of the most impressive performances of the season, late goals by midfielder Joe Ledley and Hooper confirmed with some conviction that the championship is back at Parkhead for the first time in four years.

Celtic can now look forward to next week's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts at Hampden and on this form, Neil Lennon's side must be favourites for the double.

Lennon, who was given a hero's reception by the Celtic fans after the game, was certainly vindicated in the three changes he made for the trip to Ayrshire.

In came right-back Adam Matthews, stopper Kelvin Wilson and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng with Mikael Lustig, Thomas Rogne and Anthony Stokes dropping out, with only the Irishman starting on the bench.

Killie's on-loan defender Lewis Toshney was not allowed to play against his parent club and his place was taken by Liam Kelly.

Kilmarnock had beaten Celtic in the Scottish Communities League Cup final at Hampden last month but, with the mood the Parkhead men were in, there was never any chance of a repeat.

The Ayrshire club had moved some of their supporters from the East Stand to allow Celtic fans three of the four stands at Rugby Park.

The move to accommodate the hordes of Hoops fans looking to attend what they hoped would be a title party made around £150,000 for Killie's coffers but it was akin to a home game for Lennon's men with a matching atmosphere which helped the visitors race into an early two-goal lead.

Celtic started strongly with Kris Commons pushed up alongside Georgios Samaras and Hooper but it was Mulgrew who headed them into the lead after only seven minutes.

Ki's powerful drive was deflected for a corner and when the South Korean swung the ball in from the left, Mulgrew rose high inside the six yard box to steer the ball into the net.

From then on it was all Celtic and all Mulgrew.

In the 16th minute he took a Scott Brown pass wide on the right before swinging in a cross to the back post where the unmarked Loovens headed past Cameron Bell for his first goal of the season.

Celtic were overwhelming a startled Killie side who did not have any sort of antidote and in the 34th minute Mulgrew all too easily drifted in from the left before curling his shot past Bell and into the far corner.

Moments later only a brilliant block from the foot of Bell prevented Samaras making it four, after the Greece striker had been unselfishly set up by Commons 12 yards from goal.

It was too easy for the visitors and a minute from the break, from wide on the left, Mulgrew crossed to the back post for Hooper to volley high past the helpless Bell.

Killie boss Kenny Shiels replaced Garry Hay and Lee Johnson with James Dayton and Ross Barbour for the start of the second half while Filip Twardzik soon came on for Hoops skipper Brown.

Celtic were free-wheeling while it was purely a damage limitation exercise for the bewildered home side although a brief spell of pressure on the Celtic goal in the 52nd minute ended with Kelly firing high over the bar from outside the box.

Celtic fans rejoiced, mostly in the possible demise of their administration-hit Old Firm rivals Rangers.

In the 62nd minute, in a swift Celtic counter, Commons sent Loovens through on goal but the big Dutchman shot wide as he collided with Bell, both players continuing after treatment.

Stokes, who had replaced Samaras, had a great chance in the 75th minute when he was sent clean through by Mulgrew but the former Sunderland player hesitated in possession and was robbed by back-tracking Killie defender Mo Sissoko.

Two minutes from time Ledley grabbed the fifth with a dink over Bell after the Killie defence crumbled before Hooper volleyed in number six a minute later to seal a commanding performance.

The travelling fans in the crowd of 15,926 stepped up their celebrations all the way to the final whistle which brought a huge roar as the Hoops claimed the 43rd league title in their history.