Ten-man ICT beaten by Celtic

For Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher's latest column see Tuesday's Inverness Courier

Referee: S. O'Reilly.

Attendance: 6435.

CELTIC - Forster; Matthews, El Kaddouri (McCourt, 69), Majstorovic, Samaras (Ki, 55), Stokes, Ledley, Kayal, Forrest (Commons, 82), Wanyama, Hooper. Subs unused: Fraser, McGeough, Twardzik, Zaluska. Booked: Kayal, Majstorovic, El Kaddouri.

CALEY THISTLE - Esson; Meekings, Gillet, Tokely, Hogg, Davis, Hayes, Tansey, Tade (Sutherland, 78), A. Shinnie, Foran (Proctor, 78). Subs unused: Ross, Morrison, G. Shinnie, Chippendale, Tuffey. Booked: Hogg, Foran, A. Shinnie. Sent-off: Tansey.

Andrew Shinnie and Hayes had late efforts as Caley Thistle fought manfully to get back into proceedings, but Forster was equal to them both.

Esson did well to palm away a Stokes effort, but the Irish striker had his second of the game in the 72nd minute, superbly volleying home from an acute angle after a shot by Forrest was kindly deflected into his path.

James Forrest flicked the ball on to Hooper and he played the ball across the edge of the six-yard box to the unmarked Stokes to apply the finishing touch.

It took Celtic some time before eventually making their numerical advantage count - 61 minutes to be exact.

Replays showed it was more an accidental clash between the two as Tansey's arm came into contact with the face of the Greek striker, but referee Stevie O'Reilly had no hesitation in giving the Caley Thistle midfielder his marching orders.

As half-time approached, Caley Thistle were harshly reduced to 10-men, Tansey being shown a straight red card following a coming together with Georgios Samaras.

Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes, although only an timely intervention by Josh Meekings prevented Stokes from converting Gary Hooper's cut back.

At the other end, Tansey set up Jonny Hayes on the edge of the box and the winger produced a low shot that Fraser Forster had to scramble around his post.

Caley Thistle went into this encounter looking to repeat last season's heroics when they beat Celtic 3-2, but it was the Hoops who had the first real effort on goal, Anthony Stokes swiftly turning past Ross Tokely before firing in a 16-yard effort that Ryan Esson held.

There was one change to the Inverness side that thumped Kilmarnock 6-3 last time out, Chris Hogg returning after suspension in place of David Proctor.

CALEY Thistle were on the wrong end of yet another controversial refereeing decision with Greg Tansey red carded in the first half as Celtic claimed victory in the Highland Capital.