Another save from O’Donnell in the 49th minute, when the Celtic midfielder’s shot was denied by the keeper’s fingertips, proved crucial.The high tempo did little to aid flowing football but what there was came strictly from Celtic. They ought to have gone further ahead when Larsson was brought down in the penalty area by Craig Ireland in the 75th minute but the referee, John Underhill, dismissed their vociferous appeals.Maybe that fuelled the sense of injustice that Larsson seemed to carry as he stupidly barged into Richard Huxford in the centre circle, eight minutes later Such an innocuous moment was the source of Celtic’s undoing. They felt their way into the game in the calm manner in which the Dutch coach has tutored them.Dunfermline’s resistance was stubborn, if unadventurous, for at least half an hour, although Simon Donnelly had an excellent chance to break the deadlock in the 31st minute when Henrik Larsson put him in behind Dunfermline’s back four, but their goalkeeper, Ian Westwater, did just enough to put the Celtic striker off. Sure, there will be a lot of tension but I am sure we can cope.”The sense of anticipation of a first title since 1988 had thousands of Celtic supporters flooding into Fife more than three hours before kick- off despite the fact that the match was being shown live on TV.

Another 15,000 fans were also back at Parkhead watching the action being beamed on to giant screens In Dunfermline, tickets were changing hands for pounds 300 No one wanted to miss the party Even Billy McNeill turned up in the stand. When Jansen’s players emerged on to the pitch, they were met by a sea of green and white from the 10,000 fans who had got tickets to get into East End Park.The deafening backing from those fans was impassioned but, sensibly, Jansen’s team refused to get caught up in it all. Unknown Craig Falconbridge proved to be the best form of crowd control possible with an 83rd-minute goal which ripped the title from Celtic’s grasp and kept the Premier Division race going until the final day.
Until Falconbridge, who had come on as a substitute just seven minutes earlier, scored with a looping header, Celtic had looked certain to clinch their first title in 10 years and their 36th overall. Now the champions- in-waiting and their fans will have to hold out for just a little longer.Rangers’ slip against Kilmarnock on Saturday means that the point gathered here leaves Celtic two ahead of their Old Firm rivals. Victory over St Johnstone at home next week should be enough while Rangers must travel to Dundee United, but Wim Jansen’s side have managed just three wins in their last eight league games and can take nothing for granted.As is always the case with someone who enjoys his 15 minutes of fame, Falconbridge’s life story could have been written by a scriptwriter.

The striker, who turned 20 last week, is only at Dunfermline because his own club, Coventry City, placed him there as part of his rehabilitation from a broken leg. Now Falconbridge is considering asking his manager, Gordon Strachan, who has offered him a two-year contract, if he can stay in Scotland permanently.Celtic, as expected, were stunned by the late intervention which spoiled their green party. Jansen said later: “We were seven minutes away from winning the League and Dunfermline scored a goal out of nothing. They never had any chances in the game but that is what happens when you don’t get a second goal to kill teams off.”We must now pick ourselves up and win the last game against St Johnstone.

People write you off, but it makes you stronger.”Emmanuel Petit, substituted at half time with a bad injury after an outstanding first half, said: “It was difficult for me on the pitch, but we enjoyed the game and we’ve done it. I won the championship with Monaco last year and I’ve won it now with Arsenal.”And two goal hero Marc Overmars added: “We know Everton needed the points, so 4-0 was a great result for us. This is why I came to another country to win another championship It’s been a great season. We’ve won the Premier league and now we play in the final, so it’s looking good.”.