Martin O’Neill’s men made Blackburn Rovers and the critics eat their words in the UEFA Cup in midweek to set up a mouth-watering showdown with Spanish side Celta Vigo.

And today they proved they were still the team to catch in the top-flight as they regained top spot, by two points, for the first time since early September courtesy of an own goal from Derek Whyte, a well-taken Stilian Petrov double and Henrik Larsson goal.

O’Neill was determined to hit the summit before international week and his strong team selection illustrated that with Paul Lambert, Alan Thompson and Jacki McNamara coming in for John Hartson, Steve Guppy and Ulrik Laursen.

That meant Chris Sutton returned to partner 21-goal Larsson in attack, but while the understanding was there it was the Bulgarian Petrov who stole the show after being forgiven by the Celtic boss for his recent outburst over his contract.

John Lambie’s men, however, remain three points off the foot of the table and they had no chance of success despite having Kenny Arthur in goal.

The Partick goalkeeper was their star man in the recent CIS Insurance Cup match which went to penalties and he stopped the home side taking an early lead after just four minutes.

Sutton found Larsson at the second time of asking and the Swede brought the ball down and shot first time, but the Thistle man was quick off his line to block his effort.

It took little time for the two strikers to hit it off again and the Englishman again found Larsson in the 10th minute, but his low shot was easily saved by Arthur.

But the Thistle keeper could do little to prevent the champions from going ahead in freak fashion just moments later.

Lennon spread the ball wide to Sutton and his intended cross for Larsson was sliced by former Celtic defender Whyte under his own goalkeeper.

Celtic had the ball in the net six minutes later after Larsson and Sutton had combined again to put Lambert through and his centre was finished off by Stilian Petrov, but the linesman ruled the goal out for offside much to the displeasure of the home crowd.

The Glasgow giants were looking to kill the game off early and after 22 minutes Sutton almost bagged his third goal in three games in brilliant fashion.

Larsson teed the ball up to him after Scott Paterson had made a hash of his clearance and the versatile Englishman volleyed just past the upright with Arthur beaten.

The Partick keeper continued to frustrate the home side with a save from Sutton and a great stop to deny Thompson in the 29th minute.

The visitors – as most Scottish sides do at Parkhead – offered very little in attack and it was no surprise when the home side extended their advantage two minutes later.

Lennon won the ball in midfield and threaded the ball through to Petrov, who coolly side-footed the ball into the post corner past Arthur.

Two minutes later and Larsson should have killed the game off completely when he was sent through by Agathe, but he sliced his right-foot shot well wide of the mark.

Celtic continued to dominate after the restart and Petrov almost fired his second of the game in stunning style three minutes later when Thompson teed him up outside the area, but the Bulgarian’s right-foot volley flew inches past the upright.

He was perhaps a touch selfish in the 62nd minute when he struck his right-foot shot from the edge of the box wide with Lambert crying out for the ball in acres of space.

Sutton should have got his name on the scoresheet in the 64th minute after he started a move involving Petrov and Larsson, but Arthur was given the chance to turn his header over from six yards despite having all the goal to aim for.

But Petrov showed him how to finish in the 69th minute when Larsson and Sutton combined again before the latter picked him out in the centre and he casually chipped Arthur.

The Celtic favourite had the home crowd in stitches moments later as he got confused when the substitutes board went up and he wrongly headed for the changing rooms to a standing ovation before it was pointed out that Partick were making the change.

He rightly left the pitch late on and was given a warm hug by O’Neill as he walked past the dug-out – before Larsson scored his 22nd goal of the campaign late on.

The supporters showed what Petrov meant to them despite his recent comments over their contract offer, but the threat of him going is a massive concern for them and the manager.