Jack Kirwan’s first goal of the season earned Celtic full points against a dogged Dunfermline at Firhill.
Shortly after replacing Denny Johnstone Kirwan raced onto a free kick from Bahrudin Atajic and stroked the ball low past keeper Hrivnak to give the home side three well earned points.
Goalkeeper Lubos Kamenar came in for his first competitive appearance after joining on loan at the end of the transfer window. The back four was along familiar lines with Stuart Findlay and Marcus Fraser in the centre while Joe Chalmers and Darnell Fisher were in their usual full-back slots.
Rabui Ibrahim was joined in the centre of midfield by Mikey Miller and Lewis Kidd with Atajic and Patrik Twardzik supporting Johnstone in attack.
Afterthe excitement of the cup ties with Hearts and Aston Villa there was a flatness about the match with little of note during the first half.
Joe Chalmers sent in a few threatening crosses from the left but the main creative threat was coming from Ibrahim and Atajic although the Dunfermline defence was barely stretched.
In the 37th minute Kamenar pulled off a spectacular close range save when Kane deflected a cross goalwards but there wasn’t much for either side to take from the opening 45 minutes.
Dunfermline showed little intention to attack in the second half but the home side were toiling to break through the well drilled Pars defence.
The game looked likely to end goal-less but 20 minutes from time Kirwan broke the deadlock just 8 minutes after replacing Johnstone.
Atajic rolled a free-kick from 30 yards into the penalty box with Kirwan moving onto the ball and confidently stroking it low into the net from 15 yards out.
Shortly after the breakthrough Atajic and Fisher came close to extending Celtic’s lead as Dunfermline belatedly showed some attacking instinct.
In the final minute Findlay headed off the crossbar from close range as Celtic returned to winning ways after a draw at Hearts and losing at home to St Johnstone.
FINAL SCORE CELTIC 1-0 DUNFERMLINE
CELTIC: Kamenar; Fisher, Fraser, Findlay, Chalmers; P. Twardzik (O’Connell 78), Kidd, Miller, Atajic; Ibrahim; Johnstone (Kirwan 62)
SUBS: Daniels, McNally, Kelleher, O’Connell,
DUNFERMLINE:Â Hrivnak, Martin, Young, Munro, Drummond, Whittle, Kane, Byrne, Ritchie, E Bakhtaoui, Smith
At all levels it’s nice to play silky, fast moving football…but sometimes you just have to roll up the sleeves and work even harder.
All credit to the bhoys tonight and great for young Kirwan sure it will do him the world of good.