Ledley and Samaras help Celtic ko HJK Helsinki in Champions League

Second half goals from Joe Ledley and Georgios Samaras saw Celtic past HJK Helsini and into the final qualifying round of the Champions League.

Ledley scored some crucial goals last season and was at the heart of the action tonight chesting home a Charlie Mulgrew cross in the 67th minute then teeing up Samaras to put the tie behind the Finns in the 85th minute.

Neil Lennon’s men will be seeded in Friday’s fourth round draw with the confidence of being unbeaten in their last four European away ties.

Ledley’s 67th minute header from a Charlie Mulgrew cross should have ensured a comfortable closing 20 minutes but a second yellow card for Victor Wanyama ensured that the visitors had to graft all the way to the final whistle.

Scott Brown passed a late fitness test with Mulgrew returning from suspension at the expense of Anthony Stokes and Beram Kayal who were joined on the bench by James Forrest.

Mulgrew partnered Thomas Rogne in defence pushing Wanyama into a five man midfield alongside Brown, Ledley, Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras.

The first chance of the match fell to Celtic but Brown put his 12th minute effort failed to find the target.

Celtic had settled quickly onto the plastic surface, taking the sting out of the match with most of the noise coming from the 700 away supporters with only a soft yellow card for Commons to worry Neil Lennon.

HJK moved up a gear after the interval with Fraser Forster having to be at his best to prevent a 47th minute shot from Sebastian Sorsa finding the net.

Mulgrew and Wanyama joined Commons in the referees book as the homeside pushed for the goal that would transform the match with Forster making an unorthodox save from a Mathias Lindstrom shot in the 62^nd minute.

Five minutes later the anxiety was eased when Ledley used his head to bundle a cross from Mulgrew into the net.

Any thoughts of a straightforward passage into Friday’s fourth round draw were dispelled when Wanyama picked up his second yellow card leaving the hoops to see out the last 20 minutes with just ten men.

Shortly afterwards Lennon made a double substitution with James Forrest and Kayal replacing Commons and Hooper with Samaras being pushed into attack in front of a four man midfield of Brown, Kayal, Ledley and Forrest.

Five minutes from time Ledley broke out of midfield into the penalty box before picking out Samaras who scored with ease.

CELTIC: Forster; Matthews, Rogne, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Brown, Wanyama, Ledley, Commons (Forrest 73); Samaras (Murphy 86), Hooper (Kayal 73)

Subs: Zaluska, Stokes, McCourt, Lustig, Kayal, Forrest, Murphy.