Celtic leapfrogged Old Firm rivals Rangers to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League by a point with a narrow 2-1 win over Hamilton at a sodden New Douglas Park but they did not make it easy for manager Tony Mowbray.

A textbook volley from Shaun Maloney after 15 minutes and a close-range drive from Scott McDonald just before the half-hour mark gave the visitors a comfortable interval lead.

The Parkhead side were cruising through the second half until Mickael Antoine-Curier revived the home side with a goal seven minutes from the end to set up a rousing finale.

After what looked like being a routine win, Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska, in for the injured Artur Boruc, became the Hoops' hero when he made a point-blank save from James McArthur to prevent the home side stealing a point.

The victory will take the pressure off Mowbray and put it back on Ibrox boss Walter Smith as both sides look ahead to Co-operative Insurance Cup ties in midweek, but the Celtic boss will simply be glad to have left Lanarkshire with all three points.