Hartson makes case for inclusion against Blackburn

Dundee United ... 0 Celtic ... 2 John Hartson strengthened his case to face Blackburn Rovers in the UEFA Cup with his 11th goal of the season at Tannadice yesterday - but Stilian Petrov could be in the dock with Martin O'Neill.

Chris Sutton added a second late on as Paul Hegarty was denied his first win since being appointed Dundee United manager, while the champions kept the pressure on Rangers at the top of the table.

Welsh international Hartson revealed this week he has expressed his concerns over limited first-team chances to the Celtic boss and admitted he could be forced to leave.

But in his third consecutive game - again at the expense of Paul Lambert - Hartson bagged his 11th goal in six starts to make it almost impossible for O'Neill to leave him out for the trip south.

The Celtic boss once again chose to play Sutton in midfield, but while Hartson continued to battle for his place, midfielder Petrov could have gone into his bad books.

The Bulgarian international was curiously left out of the 16 after he was quoted in a newspaper yesterday morning saying he is refusing to sign a new deal and would be looking to quit Parkhead for better money.

Petrov looked glum as he sat in the director's box before kick-off and the timing could not have been worse ahead of Thursday's second part of the thrilling "Battle of Britain" saga.

The Celtic boss was not too concerned with the comments - but more angry with him going behind his back to do an interview.

"I don't think I have any reaction to it," snapped O'Neill. "If you're asking me why he didn't play the game, then I decided to change the side around.

"He will be right in contention for a place in the side on the Thursday night.

"I haven't spoken to him. The players can say what they want and how they feel as long as they have permission to do so - and he didn't."

Lambert must also be concerned ahead of the game, but Hartson is a man on form and almost made his mark in the seventh minute.

The ball just would not fall for the Welshman from Neil Lennon's corner, and United goalkeeper Paul Gallacher brought the goalmouth scramble to an end by eventually diving on the ball.

Hartson put the champions in front in the 14th minute. Alan Thompson showed good awareness to find Steve Guppy in acres of space on the left flank.

The English winger then swung an inviting cross into the box and Hartson arrived at the perfect moment to head past Gallacher from six yards.

Sutton got the second when he headed home Thompson's free-kick with two minutes left.

DUNDEE UTD: Gallacher, McCunnie, Lauchlan, McCraken, Wilson, Easton, Miller, McIntyre, Paterson (Smart 72), Lilley, Thompson. Subs Not Used: Combe, Duff, Hamilton, O'Donnell. Booked: Lauchlan, Lilley.

CELTIC: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Sylla (Agathe 69), Sutton, Lennon, Thompson, Guppy, Larsson, Hartson (Lambert 83). Subs Not Used: Gould, Maloney, Crainey. Booked: Balde, Sutton, Thompson. Goals: Hartson 14, Sutton 88.