CELTIC maintained their 16point lead at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a 1-0 home win over Falkirk which concluded in extraordinary fashion.

Thomas Gravesen's opener after 24 minutes gave the champions a half-time advantage.

But, in the dying moments, Neil Lennon was sent off by referee Iain Brines after becoming involved in an altercation with Falkirk striker Anthony Stokes after Kenny Milne had conceded a penalty for a foul on the Hoops skipper.

After the Irishman remonstrated with the linesman as he left the pitch, Parkhead substitute Kenny Miller, on for Maciej Zurawski, hit the post with the spot-kick for a dramatic end to the match.

The fans who left Celtic Park must have wondered where such a show of acrimony had come from because the match had, for the most part, been played in a decent spirit up to that point.

The visitors forced the first corner of the match in the 12th minute and may have taken the lead with a bit more composure from Stokes in front of goal. Alan Gow's cross from the right was headed back by Stephen O'Donnell to Karl Dodd, who knocked the ball towards the on-loan striker standing around six yards out. But Stokes was unable to set himself quickly enough and volleyed over the bar from close range with his weaker right foot.

Flakirk went close again when Patrick Cregg played O'Donnell in on the left-hand side of the Hoops' penalty area, only a great save from Artur Boruc prevented the opener. But seconds later, in the 24th minute, the Parkhead side ran up the other end of the pitch and took the lead with a fine strike by Gravesen.

The Danish midfielder tried to play a one-two with Aiden McGeady, got the break of the ball 25 yards from goal and curled a delightful shot past the helpless Higgins and into the top corner. In the 28th minute, with the champions settling into their game, Gravesen almost grabbed his second but his powerful right-footed volley from 16 yards was well blocked by the alert keeper.

The champions remained in charge after the break, but after Jiri Jarosik and Paul Telfer went close, Stokes gave them a scare at the other end, drawing a full-length save from Boruc with O'Donnell unable to profit from the rebound.

The game looked to be petering out to another routine Hoops win before the late fireworks after Lennon was fouled inside the Falkirk penalty area by Milne. The penalty was awarded, but, in the melee that followed, Lennon was sent off after becoming involved in an altercation with on-loan Arsenal man, Stokes.

The Irishman threw his captain's armband to the floor before confronting the linesman as he left the field and it was several minutes before calm was restored. Miller struck the post to conclude an incredible end to what ought to have been a routine SPL win for the home side.