Rasmussen off the mark to boost Celtic´s title challenge

Celtic closed the gap on Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers after Morten Rasmussen’s first goal for the club clinched a 1-0 win against Hamilton on Saturday.

Tony Mowbray’s side struggled for long periods at New Douglas Park but Danish striker Rasmussen came off the bench to steal the points with a second half winner.

Rasmussen’s goal enabled second placed Celtic to move within seven points of Rangers, who host Falkirk later on Saturday.

Mowbray rang the changes after Celtic’s midweek defeat against Hibernian and handed former AIK Solna defender Jos Hooiveld his debut, while Cameroon’s Landry NGuemo, back from the African Nations Cup, returned to the midfield and South Korea’s Ki Sung-Yueng came in for Marc Crosas.

Mowbray’s switches didn’t have the desired effect in the first half and his team almost conceded in the fourth minute when Andreas Hinkel was forced to head Brian Easton’s corner off the line.

Aiden McGeady led the Hoops response and the midfielder went close with a drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Celtic were struggling to find their rhythm and Hamilton’s Mark McLaughlin intercepted a pass intended for Georgios Samaras, strode forward and shot just wide.

Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny was called into action for the first time as he blocked Marc-Antoine Fortune’s shot before the striker smashed the rebound over the bar.

Darren O’Dea nodded a Ki corner over the bar before half-time as Celtic laboured to make any headway.

Celtic still seemed out of sorts after half-time and Ki sent a weak header tamely past the far post after Samaras’s cross presented him with a sight of goal.

Mowbray responded by taking off China’s Zheng Zhi and Samaras,with Niall McGinn and Rasmussen sent on.

The move finally sparked Celtic into life and Ki drew a fine save from Cerny with a powerful drive from just inside the area.

Celtic were the dominant force now and, in the 67th minute, former Brondby star Rasmussen broke the deadlock when he turned and drove home from close range after Ki’s shot was blocked.

Fortune squandered a chance to give the scoreline a more flattering look in stoppage time when McLaughlin fouled the forward in the penalty area to concede a penalty.

Although Fortune struck his spot-kick well enough, Cerny made a great save to keep the score down.