Ferdinand rises to the challenge

Celtic 1 Collins pen 29 Newcastle United 1 Ferdinand 56 Attendanc e: 31,

AS PRE-SEASON friendlies go, this was one of the better examples; a game which left both managers satisfied with their team's build-up to date. It was a day for new faces, with Celtic parading their signing from Bayer Leverkusen, Andreas Thom, while Newcastle unveiled their striking partnership of Les Ferdinand and David Ginola.

Rod Stewart was on hand to open Celtic's 26,000-seater North Stand on the day the club returned to the newly rebuilt Celtic Park. The ceremonies before the game were greeted by an ecstatic home support, who remained in affable mood throughout the afternoon, as their side set about dominating the game.

For Newcastle, there was the consolation of a trade-mark Ferdinand goal 11 minutes into the second half, and the new striker might well have won the game for his new club in the dying minutes when he shot against a post.

Afterwards, his manager, Kevin Keegan, said: "I thought Celtic played very, very well and dominated the first half, but the second half showed a massive improvement from us. When Les Ferdinand is up front, you don't starve him: when you've got a monster up there, you have to feed it."

On Ginola, Keegan added: "He showed some class and certainly he's different to anything we've had before. He could be potentially dangerous, and if he plays as well as he can, he might have to carry a Government health warning!"

In the first half Ginola and Ferdinand showed intermittent signs that they could form a potent partnership. It took the Frenchman just 19 seconds for his first shot on goal, an effort which was pushed over the bar by Gordon Marshall. Ferdinand later shot wide, and in the second half contrived to beat Marshall in the air, only to see his header clear the crossbar.

Both Ferdinand and Ginola displayed impressive close skills, and each will surely make a contribution in the coming months. Ferdinand rose at the far post on 56 minutes to place a header beyond the Celtic goalkeeper from a Scott Sellars cross to give Newcastle their goal. With two minutes remaining he might have won the game, but shot against the post after travelling half the length of the field with the ball at his feet.

Overall, Newcastle looked competent, with Ruel Fox as industrious as ever, while Peter Beardsley simply goes on being Peter Beardsley.

Celtic, however, rose to the occasion in the first half, producing some of the best football they have played for some time. This was their first game at Celtic Park in over a year; indeed, it was the first time their manager, Tommy Burns, had been in charge of the side here.

Their Dutch striker, Pierre Van Hooijdonk, shot against the post after 27 minutes, and two minutes later, John Collins put the home side ahead. Thom evaded the first challenge of Darren Peacock inside the area, but when the Newcastle defender lunged back with a second tackle, a penalty was awarded as the German crashed to the ground. Collins made a now-customary job of sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Billy Stark, the Celtic assistant manager, later praised the performance of Thom, who was replaced by Andy Walker after 70 minutes. "He showed in flashes the kind of form which prompted us to buy him," Stark said.

Keegan later shrugged off suggestions that his side are capable of winning the Premiership this season, and while it is early in their preparations - they play another two games this week - there were signs that if they do not win the title, they will once again light up the Premiership with some sparkling football.

Celtic: Marshall, Boyd, McKinlay, McNally, Mowbray, Grant, Vata (Donnelly, 75), O'Donnell, Van Hooijdonk, Thom (Walker, 70), Collins.

Newcastle United: Srnicek, Hottiger, Beresford, Peacock, Fox, Howey, Lee, Beardsley, Ferdinand, Ginola, Sellars.

Referee: H Dallas (Bonkle).