Miller, a Republic of Ireland under-21 striker, came off the bench to nod home Celtic's opener in the 70th minute with English striker Chris Sutton heading home a second shortly after to wrap up all three points for the Hoops.

In a first half dominated at times by the more technically-gifted French side Celtic missed a chance to go ahead when Alan Thompson saw his penalty saved by Lyon keeper Gregory Coupet.

However Martin O'Neill's men rallied in the second half to produce a memorable night at Parkhead - and help soften the blow of a 2-1 defeat away to Bayern Munich that saw their Champions League season start badly a fortnight ago.

Lyon, who started their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win over Anderlecht, sparkled early on with some neat football that initially had the home side at sixes and sevens.

But Celtic, who looked more lively when they won the ball back, had a seventh minute penalty appeal rejected when Hartson went down after being challenged by Lyon captain Patrick Muller.

Then, in perhaps the best constructed move of the first half, Lyon almost scored on the counter-attack in the 22nd minute. Vikash Dhorasoo's ball forward found the head of Giovane Elber but the Brazilian's looping header was saved by back-pedalling Celtic keeper Magnus Hedman.

Celtic - roared on by their passionate fans - continued to press and in the 39th minute Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde awarded the Hoops a penalty after ruling Anthony Reveillere had brought down Larsson.

Replays suggested it was a harsh decision and Lyon were given breathing space when Gregory Coupet pushed away Thompson's penalty.

After the break, Coupet again came up trumps for the visitors when he expertly turned away a powerful Larsson strike as Celtic maintained the pressure.

Miller replaced the hardworking Hartson in the 65th minute and barely five minutes later it turned out to be a tactical masterstroke on O'Neill's part.

Larsson burst down the inside left channel and his curling cross found Miller in the box, the Irishman's header slamming off the ground in front of Coupet before bouncing outwith the Frenchman's reach and into the net.

Larsson, who is set to leave Celtic at the end of the current season, turned creator again when another of his curling crosses was headed in by an unmarked Sutton at the back post in the 78th minute.