SPL round-up:Joe Ledley set Celtic on their way to a 2-0 victory which keeps them four points behind Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League. First-half goals from Ledley and James Forrest eased the anxiousness which had gripped the home side for much of the opening period.
Striker Anthony Stokes missed a great chance after the break and as the enthusiasm of Inverness was doused, Celtic cruised through the second half to stay on the tails of their Old Firm rivals.
Neil Lennon’s men can look forward to Thursday’s Europa League clash with Udinese at Celtic Park with confidence, but the Hoops manager will be aware the Italians present an altogether different challenge to the SPL’s bottom side.
Steven Naismith scored twice as Rangers bounced back from their shock League Cup exit to Falkirk with a convincing 4-0 win at Dunfermline.
Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu also each grabbed a goal as the Scottish champions responded positively to the midweek defeat by the First Division side.
Victory at East End Park allowed SPL leaders Rangers to keep the pressure on Celtic, and was also the perfect 49th birthday present for manager Ally McCoist.
Hibernian came from two goals down to rescue a point from an enthralling 3-3 draw with Dundee United at Easter Road.
Garry O’Connor gave Hibs the lead but United turned the tide in a manic five-minute spell. Jon Daly levelled the scores, tapping in from close range after a John Rankin shot. Danny Swanson then gave the visitors the lead as coolly fired past Graham Stack and Daly stooped to make it 3-1 after 67 minutes.
But the home side showed outstanding character to bounce back through an own goal from Scott Robertson and a super Agogo finish to salvage a draw from a thrilling encounter.
Peter Houston will struggle to fathom how his side threw away such a commanding position, while Hibs — despite being yet to record a home league victory this campaign — have now gone four matches without a defeat.
Substitute Robert McHugh was the Motherwell hero as he netted a solo goal seven minutes from time to secure a 1-0 victory at home to Aberdeen.
He had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he latched on to a clearance following an Aberdeen corner and slotted past visiting goalkeeper David Gonzalez.
Chris Humphrey and Tim Clancy had hit the crossbar in each half for the hosts, while Aberdeen remain without an away goal in league action so far this term.
St Mirren moved up to fifth with a 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock thanks to two goals from Paul McGowan and another from substitute Nigel Hasselbaink.
McGowan, recalled to the starting line-up after being left out in midweek, headed in Jereon Tesselaar’s excellent cross from the left on the half hour and added the second from the penalty spot a minute before half-time after Zdenek Kroca was harshly penalised for handling in the box.
Kroca headed against the bar twice late in the second-half but Hasselbaink wrapped up all three points with a neat header at the back post with five minutes remaining.
