Samaras hits two as Celtic stay in touch

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 3: A DOUBLE from striker Georgios Samaras helped Celtic to a comfortable 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park yesterday and took them back in to second place behind arch-rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

Earlier in the afternoon, Steven Davis and Nacho Novo both claimed their first goals of the season as Rangers saw off Motherwell 3-1. Both players struck in the second half before David Clarkson pulled a goal back with a few minutes remaining.

Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney curled home the opener on 25 minutes after missing a penalty after he had been tripped in the box by defender Garry Hay.

Samaras scored a wonderful solo goal 10 minutes after the break and an 80th-minute penalty before Killmarnock midfielder Mehdi Taouil scored a consolation from the spot after Celtic defender Gary Caldwell was sent off for handling a Simon Ford header on the line.

The champions looked the more threatening and in the 19th minute Hay clumsily tripped Maloney inside the box to concede a penalty. In the absence of dropped Barry Robson, Maloney took the kick but blasted wide of the target.

In the 25th minute Maloney made up for his mistake when he put the visitors ahead with a fine goal which owed everything to technique.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink battled with a ruck of defenders at the edge of the box and, when the ball broke to Maloney, he curled it first time in to the top corner.

The Parkhead men doubled their lead on 55 minutes with a fine solo goal from Samaras.The former Manchester City player took a Crosas pass and drove down the right flank leaving Kilmarnock centre-back Frazer Wright trailing before cutting in to the box and drilling the ball past Combe.

In the 81st minute Celtic were awarded their second penalty when Kilmarnock midfielder Craig Bryson pulled back Nakamura inside the box, Samaras scoring with the penalty but only after goalkeeper Alan Combe had got a hand to his shot.

With five minutes to go Caldwell handled the ball on the line to keep out a Ford header and the Celtic defender was sent off before Taouil scored from the spot-kick.

However, there was no danger of a comeback from the home side.