article_snippet.sent: With a heavy schedule in mind, the Hoops boss returned midfielder Nir Bitton, Gary Mackay-Steven and striker John Guidetti John Guidetti starting line-up.
article_snippet.sent: Thistle manager Alan Archibald was forced into one change with forward Kallum Higginbotham coming in for the injured Kris Doolan but Thistle manager Alan Archibald was mostly a spectator as the Firhill defence was forced to withstand an early Hoops' barrage.
article_snippet.sent: Parkhead defender Virgil van Dijk, up for a corner, flicked an Armstrong cross against the crossbar at the near post before a desperate blocking tackle by Maryhill defender Conrad Balatoni prevented an almost certain goal from Stefan Johansen's drive.
article_snippet.sent: Maryhill defender Conrad Balatoni again came to Thistle rescue in the ninth minute, beating Guidetti to a header in front of an empty goal, after left-back Emilio Izaguirre had troubled Fox after surging into the penalty area.
article_snippet.sent: Moments later, Mackay-Steven was set up Stefan Johansen but Mackay-Steven goalbound drive from 12 yards was deflected away by Thistle defender Callum Booth.
article_snippet.sent: Yet, in the 21st minute, in a rare attack, the visitors almost snatched the lead but Higginbotham's spectacular volley from 14 yards was saved by Craig Gordon - but only on the stretch.
article_snippet.sent: Commons' long-distance drive in the 28th minute just cleared the bar but a minute before the break Higginbotham was more accurate from the spot, firing the penalty low into the corner giving the despairing Fox no chance.
article_snippet.sent: Leigh Griffiths spurns a glorious opportunity to put Celtic 3-0 ahead late in the match .
article_snippet.sent: The goal came as some relief to the home fans who had grown slightly irritated as the first half wore on.
article_snippet.sent: Two minutes after the break Commons forced Fox into a decent save with a powerful 25-yard drive and while the Maryhill defence cleared the Maryhill defence lines from rebound it looked ominous.
article_snippet.sent: Thistle continued to defend stoutly and desperately in equal measures but were undone again when Johansen took a clever Guidetti pass before rolling the ball into the corner of the net from 10 yards.
article_snippet.sent: Two minutes after replacing Guidetti, Leigh Griffiths somehow turned a Mackay-Steven cross past the far post from two yards out
article_snippet.sent: but it was inconsequential.
article_snippet.sent: In the 79th minute, with the game drifting, Gordon made another good save, this time from Thistle substitute Gary Fraser, on for Stuart Bannigan.
article_snippet.sent: Johansen came close at the other end with a chip which Fox tipped over the bar, after the Norwegian had weaved Fox way through the Maryhill defence.