JOE Ledley scored the only goal as Caley Thistle were edged out 1-0 by Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday in the Clydesdale Bank SPL.
Both teams finished with 10 men as Daniel Majstorivic was controversially sent off in the second half, with ICT’s on-loan defender from Bradford City later joining him.
Inverness had lost 2-0 to Celtic this season three times this season before Saturday, most recently of course was the William Hill Scottish Cup defeat in the Highlands seven days previously.
It was a display that manager Terry Butcher described as their worst of the campaign, so visiting Parkhead where the Hoops were looking to make it a whopping 17 straight domestic victories on their way to a possible treble.
Goalkeeper Ryan Esson was promoted back to the starting 11 for the visitors, one of four changes from that cup-tie.
In for his first start came Frenchman Claude Gnakpa, while Williams returned from injury in place of Ross Tokely, who dropped to the bench.
Shane Sutherland replaced Gregory Tade, who had picked up a knock.
Celtic were quick out the traps and Majstorovic whisked a header just over the bar from a Charlie Mulgrew corner.
Caley Thistle settled into the game, without ever threatening the home goal.
Lennon, in his 100th game in charge of the Glasgow club, grabbed the lead on 16 minutes.
In-form captain Scott Brown, January’s SPL player-of-the-month, found James Forrest on the right and his low cross was knocked into the net by Joe Ledley to get the crowd on the feet and their voices raised a few notches.
Esson had to be lively four minutes later when he touched over a terrific 25-yard free-kick from Mulgrew after he’d been tripped by Richie Foran.
Foran was booked by referee Steven McLean on 28 minutes when he brought Brown to ground after the Celtic skipper won possession from him in the centre circle.
The Inverness side were working hard, but the best chances were all coming for the hosts.
Mulgrew then had another pop from distance, this time from open play, but his low drive flashed past Esson’s left post.
ICT won a couple of corners just before the break, but Celtic were in little danger of conceding and they were happy to lead 1-0.
Williams was booked five minutes after the re-start for a challenge on Hooper near the left corner flag as Celtic pushed forward once more.
On 57 minutes, Celtic pierced through the Inverness CT defence and Ledley’s deft shot from just inside the box for deflected wide from a corner, which came to nothing.
On the hour mark came a moment which enraged the home support.
With Hayes in the race for the ball with Majstorovic, the Celtic defender got a touch to divert it back to keeper Fraser Forster.
Amazingly, referee McLean then awarded a free-kick to ICT on the edge of the box and flashed a red card to Majstorovic.
The crowd were furious and vented their anger at the referee.
Caley Thistle, however, amid the noise, failed to cash in from the set-piece.
ICT, on 68 minutes, carved open their best opportunity so far when Gnakpa’s shot from a Hayes cross finished wide of the left post.
Ten minutes later, it became 10 v 10 when Williams was sent packing when he was booked for a foul on Samaras, his second of the afternoon.
With nine minutes to go, Kenny Gillet picked out Nick Ross at the back post with a long-range pass, but the midfielder fired his volley high over the crossbar.
And Ross almost got on the end of a low cross from Hayes in the next attack, but he was closed out by Victor Wanyama as ICT pressed for a late leveller.
However, they could not find a way through and Celtic regained their four-point advantage over Rangers at the top of the table.
Celtic: Forster, Matthews, Majstorovic, Wilson, Brown, Samaras, Ledley, Mulgrew, Forrest (Common 82), Wanyama, Hooper (Ki 64). Subs not used: Zaluska (GK), Stokes, Du Ri, Brozek, McCourt.
Inverness CT: Esson, Hayes, Tansey, Foran, Ross, Sutherland (Tudor Jones 90), Gillet, Graeme Shinnie, Williams, Gnakpa, Meekings (Piermayr 86). Subs not used: Tuffey (GK), Tokely, Proctor, Morrison.
Referee: Steven McLean.
