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| Celtic’s Ki Sung Yueng (L) controls the ball during their Scottish Premier League soccer match against Dunfermline at East End Park stadium in Dunfermline, Scotland yesterday. (Reuters |
Charlie Mulgrew scored one and helped set up the other two goals as Celtic began life at the top of the Scottish Premier League in commanding fashion with a 3-0 win at Dunfermline yesterday.
Mulgrew’s cross led to a glorious curling opener from Anthony Stokes and Victor Wanyama volleyed home his delivery before half-time to make it 2-0.
Mulgrew completed Celtic’s 10th successive league win when he curled home a 30-yard free-kick midway through the second half.
Rangers bounced back from their Old Firm derby defeat with a convincing 3-0 win over Motherwell - without the help of top goalscorer Nikica Jelavic.
Jelavic missed the clash at Ibrox amid suggestions of a knee injury, paving the way for David Healy to grab his first goal of the season on what was his first SPL start of the campaign.
Sone Aluko then opened his goalscoring account for Rangers, before an own goal from Stephen Craigan sealed the victory for the Scottish champions.
Hearts claimed the Edinburgh derby honours as two goals in the final seven minutes secured a 3-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.
Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack saved Hearts midfielder Ian Black’s penalty after 43 minutes but the visitors did take the lead after 58 minutes through Ryan McGowan.
Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas turned the ball into his own net from Danny Galbraith’s cross as Hibs equalised rapidly but Andy Webster restored the visitors’ lead after 83 minutes and substitute Rudi Skacel netted a third to seal the victory.
Hearts now have four wins from 11 matches since their first-team squad first suffered delayed payment of wages, but Hibs have now failed to taste victory in nine matches and have not won the capital clash in nine attempts.
Elsewhere, Kari Arnason scored a spectacular late winner as Aberdeen came from behind to beat Dundee United 2-1 at Tannadice.
United skipper Jon Daly had given his side an early lead when he slotted home after just six minutes.
But Mohamed Chalali equalised within his first touch after 67 minutes only seconds after replacing Rory Fallon.
And Iceland international Arnason gave the Dons their second away win of the season with a long-range strike which crashed off the crossbar and into the net.
Danny Racchi’s sublime last-minute winner earned Kilmarnock a 2-1 victory over St Mirren at Rugby Park.
The game looked set to end in a hard-fought stalemate until Racchi superbly chipped home to earn the hosts all three points.
Earlier, Lee Mair gave the visitors a 10th-minute lead, before Paul Heffernan levelled 24 minutes later.
The match between Inverness and St Johnstone was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
The surface at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium failed an 11.30am inspection.