RAGING Celtic star Aiden McGeady today branded AC Milan keeper Dida a cheat and pleaded with Uefa not to punish the Parkhead club.

The Hoops are facing disciplinary action from the governing body for an incident at the end of last night's sensational 2-1 win over the Champions League holders.

A Celtic fan ran on to the pitch and was involved in an exchange with the rival goalie after Scott McDonald had snatched a dramatic late winner.

The 90-times capped Brazilian had to be stretchered off and that will go in match delegate Andreas Akkelides' report to Uefa.

The Scottish champions could be fined, docked Champions League points and forced to play their remaining home matches behind closed doors.

Dida was hit by a flare thrown by an Inter Milan fan in the Champions League quarter-final at the San Siro back in April 2005.

Inter were made to play their next four European games - including one against Rangers - behind closed doors and fined £132,000.

But McGeady, who was superb out wide for Gordon Strachan's side against the Italian giants, is fuming as he reckons the player was at it.

Aiden rapped: "Nothing really happened. I watched it on TV last night. The fan touched his neck and he fell down as if he had been struck by a missile.

"Fair enough, the fan shouldn't have been on the pitch in the first place, but I reckon their keeper was fine and made a right meal out of it.

"You are going to get a dive here and there when you are playing against a continental team. Players play up to the referee. That is what happened last night.

"I hope that if Uefa do have a look at the incident they are sensible about it. I am pretty sure they will decide that nothing sinister happened."

McGeady is keeping his fingers crossed that the Scottish champions escape punishment, because he thinks they have a great chance of reaching the knockout stage for the second year running.

In one of the greatest European nights in Celtic's history, a goal by captain courageous Stephen McManus gave the home team a deserved lead in 62 minutes.

German referee Markus Merk awarded the visitors a controversial penalty minutes later when Lee Naylor fouled Massimo Ambrosini in the box. Kaka slotted home the spot kick.

But Aussie ace McDonald rounded off a well-worked passing move by Celtic in the final minute to seal a historic victory over Carlo Ancelotti's men.

Aiden beamed: "It was an incredible night. All the lads were really buzzing after it. To beat the European champions at home, after not getting off to the best start in the Champions League, was fantastic.

"Everybody was a little bit surprised when the referee awarded them a penalty. Exactly the same thing happened against Spartak Moscow, as well.

"It is tough to get a goal against teams like AC Milan, so when they scored the penalty to equalise I thought it would be tough to get our noses back in front.

"But we kept pressing and got the goal we deserved in the end.

"We were delighted with the result. Now we hope to build on it against Benfica in our next match."