Celtic leapfrogged Old Firm rivals Rangers to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League by a point with a narrow win over Hamilton at a sodden New Douglas Park but they did not make it easy for manager Tony Mowbray.

A textbook volley from Shaun Maloney after 15 minutes and a close-range drive from Scott McDonald just before the half-hour mark gave the visitors a comfortable interval lead.

The Parkhead side were cruising through the second half until Mickael Antoine-Curier revived the home side with a goal seven minutes from the end to set up a rousing finale.

After what looked like being a routine win, Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska, in for the injured Artur Boruc, became the Hoops' hero when he made a point-blank save from James McArthur to prevent the home side stealing a point.

The victory will take the pressure off Mowbray and put it back on Ibrox boss Walter Smith as both sides look ahead to Co-operative Insurance Cup ties in midweek, but the Celtic boss will simply be glad to have left Lanarkshire with all three points.

The game got off to a disjointed start, with the visitors looking anything but ready to end their four-game winless run.

However, Hamilton were architects of their own downfall in the 15th minute when the visitors took the lead through Maloney.

Midfielder Marco Paixao carelessly lost possession to Andreas Hinkel deep in his own half and when the German's cross came over to the back post, Maloney volleyed across Accies goalkeeper Tomas Cerny and into the corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

In the 29th minute the visitors all-but sealed the points when McDonald doubled their lead.

Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras combined at pace down the right and when the ball broke to the Australia international eight yards out, he slammed it past Cerny with the aid of a deflection.

Accies looked doomed but nine minutes from the break, with Celtic skipper Stephen McManus off getting stitches in a head knock, Zaluska was called into action almost for the first time.

Paixao's driven free-kick made its way through a packed penalty area and after the Polish goalkeeper parried, it was a relieved Celtic side who eventually got the ball clear.

Paixao then lost possession again which was too much for boss Billy Reid to take, and he was replaced by Jordan Kirkpatrick.

McManus returned to the action at the start of the second half with a plaster over his left eye.

The game was turning into something of a training exercise for Celtic and they almost made it 3-0 in the 57th minute when, following another spell of pressure, McGeady fired in a drive which Cerny did well to save down at his left-hand post.

Maloney then curled a free-kick from 25 yards just wide of the target before he set up Samaras, who drove over from 16 yards in his attempt to burst the net.

In the 73rd minute Accies midfielder McArthur had a half-hearted effort from 25 yards but failed to trouble Zaluska.

Niall McGinn and Marc Crosas then replaced Maloney and McDonald but in the 83rd minute the home side gave themselves a lifeline when striker Antoine-Curier re-directed a McArthur drive past Zaluska from close range.

With two minutes remaining, as Celtic wobbled for the first time in the game, Zaluska saved the day and it was a relieved travelling support who welcomed the final whistle.

Teams

Hamilton Cerny, McClenahan (Evans 84), Canning,Elebert (Beuzelin 66), McLaughlin, Hastings, Mensing, McArthur,Wesolowski, Marco Paixao (Kirkpatrick 39), Antoine-Curier.

Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Neil, Andrews, Gow.

Goals: Antoine-Curier 83.

Celtic Zaluska, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor,Maloney (McGinn 73), Robson, Zhi, McGeady (McCourt 67),McDonald (Crosas 73), Samaras.

Subs Not Used: Cervi, Wilson, Thompson, Caddis.

Booked: McGeady, Robson.

Goals: Maloney 15, McDonald 29.

Att: 4,689

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).