Normal service resumes for Celtic

SPL Round-up: Celtic duo Stephen McManus and Stilian Petrov scored either side of half-time to knock St Mirren off top spot in the SPL.

The newcomers had been looking down on the champions after opening the new campaign with two consecutive victories.

But McManus punished a moment of madness from goalkeeper Chris Smith before want-away midfielder Petrov settled nerves with an unstoppable second-half drive. The win put the champions back on track after their 2-1 loss to Hearts last week.

Falkirk head coach John Hughes was sent to the stand at half-time as the Bairns held out for a goalless draw in a niggly but entertaining clash at Hearts.

Hughes confronted Jambos strikers Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil at the interval, apparently unhappy about an off-the-ball incident just before the break between Bednar and Kenny Milne, which earned the Bairns defender a booking.

But his Falkirk side held firm under pressure from the home side, which included a late missed chance from Bednar. However, with St Mirren losing the point was enough to put Hearts top of the table.

Hibernian remain without an away win in the SPL since November 2005 after being held to a goalless draw at Inverness.

It is now 15 matches since the Easter Road side have tasted victory on the road - at Livingston - and, despite a strong end to the game, the closest the visitors came to scoring was from a first-half Michael Stewart drive which was brilliantly saved by Mark Brown.

Barry Wilson had the best of the chances for Caley, but saw an early effort cleared off the line by Steven Whittaker as neither team could break the deadlock.

Dundee United shrugged off the first-half dismissal of Lee Miller to claim a spirited point against lacklustre Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Former Scotland striker Miller was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 39th minute when he was adjudged to have elbowed Killie defender Frazer Wright.

Craig Brewster's men defended impeccably from that point though - with central defenders David McCracken and Alan Archibald outstanding - and Jim Jefferies' below-par side were unable to find a winner.

Motherwell's poor start to the season continued when they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Aberdeen at Fir Park.

Darren Mackie netted both goals but he was given a helping hand by Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith, who suffered a nightmare performance. The Steelmen have now lost their opening three games in the SPL.

Rangers can go top tomorrow if they beat Dunfermline at East End Park by two clear goals.