Celtic supersub Miller stuns Lyon

Substitute Liam Miller's second-half goal ensured Celtic's Champions League campaign got back on track as they went on to beat French title holders Lyon 2-0 in their Group A tie at Parkhead.

After Miller's 70th minute opener, English striker Chris Sutton headed in a second eight minutes later to wrap up all three points for the home side.

It was just what Martin O'Neill's men needed after conceding a pair of late goals in a 2-1 defeat away to Bayern Munich that saw their Champions League season start badly.

Home fans could have been forgiven for thinking that it was not going to be their night when Alan Thompson saw a first-half penalty saved by Gregory Coupet. But in the end it didn't matter.

Celtic lined up with Bobo Balde in their defence despite the red card he received against Hibernian last weekend.

Last season's beaten UEFA Cup finalists brought in Wales striker John Hartson in place of Shaun Maloney, which meant that Sutton dropped back.

Lyon, who started their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win over Anderlecht and came into this game on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Lens, sparkled early on with some neat football.

But Celtic, with their more direct approach, had a seventh minute penalty appeal rejected when Hartson went down after being challenged by Lyon captain Patrick Muller.

Then, in perhaps the best constructed move of the first half, Lyon almost scored on the counter-attack in the 22nd minute. Vikash Dhorasoo's ball forward found the head of Giovanni Elber but his looping header was saved by back-pedalling Celtic keeper Magnus Hedman.

However, Celtic - roared on by their passionate fans - continued to press and in the 39th minute Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde awarded the Hoops a penalty after ruling Anthony Reveillere had brought down Larsson.

Replays suggested it was a harsh decision but Gregory Coupet pushed away Thompson's penalty although he was two yards off his line.

After the break, Coupet turned away a powerful Larsson strike as Celtic maintained the pressure.

It was something of a surprise when Miller replaced the hardworking Hartson in the 65th minute.

But five minutes later it appeared a tactical masterstroke on O'Neill's part. Larsson burst own the inside left channel and his curling cross was headed home by the onrushing Miller.

And Larsson, showing there was more to his game than just scoring, turned creator again when another of his curling crosses was headed in by a stooping Sutton at the back post.