Football: Martin's Bhoys cruise it

CELTIC manager Martin O'Neill was able to rest captain Paul Lambert and still watch his side cruise to another crushing victory.

After the Bhoys' latest five goal demolition act, O'Neill revealed that Lambert is close to signing a new deal and joked: "Paul is getting almost near my age now and he will be playing for Scotland on Wednesday so we decided to give him a break.

"I want to have Paul Lambert playing well at the end of the season just as much as at the start."

"I should also point out that despite reports to the contrary Paul is not a million miles away from concluding a contract with us.

"He is a player who continually tries to improve his game - like attempting to use his left foot more!"

O' Neill also heaped praiseon Stilian Petrov. He said: "Stan was magnificent, he had a superb game in the Champions League on Wednesday and showed his quality today."

Magnus Hedman making his home debut confessed to being a little nervous before the start.

He said: "I didn't want to make any mistakes. Unlike much of my time with Coventry when I used to be very, very busy I had to conventrate very hard out there because we had so much of the possession.

"I have experienced that a bit playing for Sweden against weaker opposition and it's something that I will work on.

"I enjoyed it though and I thought there was a very good atmosphere.

The Dundee United manager Alex Smith claimed that his side paid the penalty for a few moments of madness

He said: "For 20 minutes I thought we did alright.

"Then an innocuous free kick brought the breakthrough, it was a great strike my Macnamara from the pass which deceived us.

"Immediately after that we conceded a schoolboy goal and if you lose possession to quality players you will suffer."

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