Soton 0 Celtic 2

WELCOME to www.celticfc.net for Celtic’s first pre-season match of 2008/09 – the Claus Lundekvam Testimonial against Southampton at St Mary’s.
Hoops manager Gordon Strachan takes his title-winning squad back to his former club to pay tribute to the career of the Norwegian defender.
Lundekvam was a Southampton player for 12 years, making over 400 appearances and playing a pivotal role in the club’s successful seasons in the Premiership.
Celtic were his No.1 choice for this testimonial and Hoops supporters will be eager to catch a glimpse of their heroes for the first time since that historic night at Tannadice on May 22.
Eight players who started that match against Dundee United will feature from the start tonight as the Hoops name a strong line-up.
Missing are Artur Boruc, Shunsuke Nakamura and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who are not due back from their extended break until this weekend, while summer signing Paddy McCourt is carrying a slight injury. Georgios Samaras is on the bench.

Tonight’s teams:
SOUTHAMPTON: David; James, Thomas, Schneiderlin, Gillett, McGoldrick, Lallana, Holmes, Perry, Surman, Wright-Phillips
Subs: Lundekvam, Svensson, Le Tissier, Racine, Bialkowski, Mills, Wotton, Euell, Kaland

CELTIC: M.Brown; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Hartley, S.Brown, Robson, McGeady; Killen, McDonald
Subs: Fox, Caddis, O’Dea, Balde, Mizuno, Samaras, McGowan, Sheridan, Donati, Wilson

Celtic will be wearing the new gold away kit for tonight's match. The warm-ups have just been completed with the teams due out any minute. Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier will make a cameo appearance in the second half.

Man of the moment Claus Lundekvam appears to a standing ovation as the teams form a guard of honour.

Celtic kick off.

Chris Killen is sent through but fires over the bar

McGeady tries to release McDonald. Saints get back to cover

Bradley Wright-Phillips comes close for the home side

McDonald races through on the right edge of the box and forces a save from Kelvin Davis as Celtic up the tempo

McGeady picks out Killen in the box with a sublime chip. The Kiwi controls, but Davis saves his low shot

McGeady again releases Killen. The striker races in from the right and stings the palms of Davis

Robson surges forward from deep and lashes a rising drive inches over the bar

Celtic work an opening on the right wing. The ball ends up with Robson, whose cross is too deep

McDonald comes close for Celtic. Robson fires in over a superb cross for the Aussie, who nods narrowly over

Davis produces to spectacular stops in a matter of seconds. First, he bats away a McDonald shot and then tips over Robson's header

Davis saves once more from McDonald. Brown makes the chance with a storming run, but the Aussie's curling shot is saved

Celtic also win a late corner. Robson again delivers and Caldwell's header sails harmlessly wide

HALF-TIME: Southampton 0 Celtic 1 - Chris Killen's goal is the difference between the two sides as Celtic head into the break in front.

Celtic have made five changes at the interval. Darren O'Dea, Mark Wilson, Massimo Donati, Georgios Samaras and Cillian Sheridan are on for Caldwell, Naylor, Scott Brown, Killen and McDonald

Lee Holmes has the first effort of the second half for Saints. His rising drive flies over

New strike pairing Sheridan and Samaras combine to create an opening. The Greek's low shot is saved

Robson makes a fantastic block in the Celtic box. The Bhoys move to the other end and Hartley's long-range effort is blocked

The games continues to be played at a high tempo

Donati intercepts a clearance and feeds Sheridan, who scuffs his shot. Robson's long-range effort is deflected over

Southampton sub - Holmes off for Mills

Robson is caught late by James. Celtic have a free-kick in a dangerous area and Hartley's low cross is scrambled clear

Mark Brown gathers a dangerous cross from Mills

Hinkel is forced to concede a corner as Southampton push forward. McManus heads clear

Brown catches another cross as the home side search for the equaliser

Celtic sub - McGeady off for Mizuno

Wotton and Euell are introduced by Southampton

Celtic sub - Caddis on for Robson

Mizuno almost finds Sheridan with a floated cross

Caddis shows skill and pace to skin his marker and cut back for Samaras. His low shot is saved

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier comes on to a standing ovation

Caddis again shines on the right flank. Cutting infield, he races past three players and fires a low shot wide

Bobo Balde and Scott Fox, making his debut, come on for McManus and Mark Brown

Fox's first involvement is to tip over a thunderbolt from Euell

Samaras races away on the break and slips a pass to Sheridan, who is flagged offside

Lundekvam makes his long-awaited entrance as a substitute and is given a rousing welcome

Sheridan flicks a cute pass inside to Samaras. He creates space but his shot is saved

Sheridan slides a shot wide at the far post as Celtic push for a third

Samaras sees a free-kick easily saved

FULL-TIME: A comfortable 2-0 win for Celtic on an entertaining night in Southampton, with goals from Killen and Robson. Over 18,000 fans turned out to pay tribute to Saints legend Lundekvam, including around 3000 Hoops supporters. Next up is Fulham on Saturday