Celtic maintained their 16-point lead at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a 1-0 home win over Falkirk which concluded in extraordinary fashion.

Thomas Gravesen's opener after 24 minutes gave the champions a half-time advantage.

But, in the dying moments, Neil Lennon was sent off by referee Iain Brines after becoming involved in an altercation with Falkirk striker Anthony Stokes after Kenny Milne had conceded a penalty for a foul on the Hoops skipper.

After the Irishman remonstrated with the linesman as he left the pitch, Parkhead substitute Kenny Miller, on for Maciej Zurawski, hit the post with the spot-kick for a dramatic end to the match.

The fans who left Celtic Park must have wondered where such a show of acrimony had come from because the match had, for the most part, been played in a decent spirit.

The visitors forced the first corner of the match in the 12th minute and may have taken the lead with a bit more composure from Stokes in front of goal.

Alan Gow's cross from the right was headed back by Stephen O'Donnell to Karl Dodd, who knocked the ball towards the on-loan striker standing around six yards out.

But Stokes was unable to set himself quickly enough and volleyed over the bar from close range with his weaker right foot.

The home side responded when Maciej Zurawski's close-range drive forced a fine save from Falkirk keeper Scott Higgins after the Polish striker took advantage of some slack defending in the visitors' penalty area.

However, Falkirk were not cowed and when Patrick Cregg played O'Donnell in on the left-hand side of the Hoops' penalty area, only a great save from Artur Boruc prevented the opener.

But seconds later, in the 24th minute, the Parkhead side ran up the other end of the pitch and took the lead with a fine strike by Gravesen.

The Danish midfielder tried to play a one-two with Aiden McGeady, got the break of the ball 25 yards from goal and curled a delightful shot past the helpless Higgins and into the top corner.

Falkirk defender Jack Ross claimed the Hoops player had used a hand to control the ball in the challenge but referee Iain Brines ignored his plea.

In the 28th minute, with the champions settling into their game, Gravesen almost grabbed his second but his powerful right-footed volley from 16 yards was well blocked by the alert Bairns keeper.

After the interval, Falkirk immediately showed they would not be intimidated by the champions - defender Vitor Lima blasting a shot from distance high over the bar as the visitors pressed.

That early second-half enthusiasm soon dissipated and the home side might have extended their lead in the 55th minute after good work from their energetic left-back Lee Naylor.

The former Wolves defender drove into the Falkirk penalty area and set up Jarosik with a perfect cut-back but the striker drove high over from around 14 yards out to howls of derision and disappointment from the home support.

Play became stretched. In the 63rd minute a fine cross from Zurawski from the left found Paul Telfer running in at the back post but the Celtic defender's perfectly-executed volley from 12 yards out was parried by Higgins.

At the other end, Boruc pulled off an even better full-length save from Stokes' drive with O'Donnell unable to profit from the rebound.

The Hoops fans were allowing themselves to be upset by perceived leniency of referee Brines but in the 70th minute they almost had something concrete to complain about when Gow's delightful chip from the edge of the Celtic penalty area beat Boruc only to strike the bar before being cleared to safety.

Gravesen, Zurawski and McGeady gave way to Kenny Miller, Evander Sno and Derek Riordan as the Parkhead side tried to stem the enthusiasm of the visitors who sensed they could take a point from the proceedings.

But there was sensation in injury time after Lennon was fouled inside the Falkirk penalty area by Milne.

The penalty was awarded, but, in the melee that followed, Lennon was sent off after becoming involved in an altercation with on-loan Arsenal man, Stokes.

The Irishman threw his captain's armband to the floor before confronting the linesman as he left the field and it was several minutes before calm was restored.

Miller struck the post to conclude an incredible end to what ought to have been a routine SPL win for the home side.

Teams

Celtic Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura,Lennon, Gravesen (Sno 75), McGeady (Riordan 78), Jarosik,Zurawski (Miller 73).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Beattie, Pearson, O'Dea.

Sent Off: Lennon (90).

Booked: Gravesen, Balde, McManus.

Goals: Gravesen 24.

Falkirk Higgins, Ross, Craig (John Stewart 88), Barr, Milne,Dodd, Lima (Latapy 71), Cregg, O'Donnell, Gow, Stokes.

Subs Not Used: Lambers, Scobbie, Uras, Mcstay, McManus.

Booked: Ross, Dodd, Milne, Stokes.

Att: 55,000

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).