INT SPL - Scottish Premier League

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cun..thanx bro

 

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Dundee go into administration

Updated : 14thn October 2010

Scottish First Division side Dundee have gone into administration, with a number of players and staff at the club expected to lose their jobs.

Dundee announced last week that they had no other option after being unable to negotiate the payment of a £365,000 tax bill.
A statement on the club's official website on Thursday read: "Dundee FC are now officially in administration. Papers were lodged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh today. Bryan Jackson of PKF will now assume control of the club."

Dundee are believed to have total debts of around £2 million and it has been suggested the club could go into liquidation within four weeks. Dundee chief executive Harry MacLean insisted the club would fulfil their fixture against Stirling on Saturday but he could not guarantee they would be able to avoid liquidation.

"Any business that goes into administration, that can happen,'' he told BBC Scotland. "My personal opinion is that won't be allowed to happen. But the simple fact is unless we raise money and unless we raise it reasonably quickly, then any business could face that prospect. "The business community have reacted quite well as have the ordinary fans in the street. What's going to make sure we survive is whether the pledges come good. A pledge is nothing until it's here as money in the bank.''

Dundee, who are sixth in the table, also face the prospect of sanctions from the Scottish Football League. The SFL's rules state that any club in an insolvency procedure is in breach of its rules. Both Gretna and Livingston have been relegated from the First to the Third Division in the previous two years for undertaking a similar procedure, with the former unable to survive.

Dundee have gone into administration.

 

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Lennon confident Celtic can cope

Updated : 15th October 2010

Neil Lennon is confident Celtic have enough cover in central midfield to cope with the loss of Scott Brown and Beram Kayal.
Captain Brown has been ruled out for eight to 10 weeks with a broken metatarsal while summer signing Kayal is out for a similar period after being told he needed groin surgery.
Lennon has consistently hailed Brown's influence in his team's 15-match winning run in the league and he admits his absence will be a huge blow.

"He has been very influential for us and very consistent since I took over," Lennon told the Huddle Online. "He sees the danger better than most of the other players. He gallops up the ground and eats people up. He gets a grip of games for us and doesn`t let go. "People say we have the majority of possession in a lot of games but a lot of that is down to Scott. It's a big blow for him and for us but we do have cover."

Israel international Kayal has made just five appearances since his summer arrival. "He had this problem in the groin area for a little while and the scans have shown that he needs surgery," Lennon said. "It's frustrating for him because he was desperate to come here and do well, but we have seen enough of him to know that he will.
"Hopefully come the new year he'll be back fully fit and ready to go."

Lennon, whose team face Dundee United in the SPL on Sunday, added: "While that's a blow we should be able to cope. Marc Crosas has started to play very well, Ki Sung-yueng as well.
"Joe Ledley has played consistently well in that position and Richie Towell is emerging as a first-team player. "We can put Mark Wilson in there in an emergency, he is comfortable in many positions and Efrain (Juarez) can play in that central position as well."

Neil Lennon is having to cope with injury problems at Celtic.

 

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SPL: Rangers spree downs Motherwell

Updated : 16th October 2010

Rangers staged an impressive comeback to claim a 4-1 win over Motherwell and move clear at the summit of the Scottish Premier League.

Nick Blackman gave the visitors the lead just before half-time but the champions hit back through Steven Naismith, Steven Davis, Kenny Miller and Vladimir Weiss in a blistering second-half spell.

The victory allowed Rangers to maintain their 100% record ahead of next week's Old Firm derby and also pile the pressure on Celtic ahead of their clash with Dundee United on Sunday.

Kevin Kyle's goal 40 seconds into the second half proved enough to separate the sides in a 1-0 win for Hearts over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Seven yellow cards were shown by referee Mike Tumilty in a bruising encounter, with Dons assistant manager Scott Leitch sent to the stand late on for venting his frustrations.

Captain Chris Hogg scored twice in a match for the first time in his career as Hibernian claimed a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock - their first win at Easter Road since March.

The restored skipper helped lift the gloom following the exit of former manager John Hughes, to ensure stand-in managerial duo Alistair Stevenson and Gareth Evans savoured a much-needed SPL victory.

Defender Hogg, playing his first game since August 29 after being dropped by Hughes, proved the hero thanks to a headed double in a seven-minute burst just before half-time.

St Mirren staged a spirited second-half fightback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hamilton at New St Mirren Park - but are still bottom of the table.

Goals from Jon Routledge and Dougie Imrie gave the visitors a deserved two-goal cushion and the points looked destined for Lanarkshire.

But Michael Higdon, who had missed a great chance in the first half, reduced the deficit on the hour mark before slamming in an equaliser to give the Paisley side a point.

A second-half goal from Jonny Hayes rescued a point for Inverness from a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone after Collin Samuel's early effort had deservedly given the visitors the lead.

Saints were left to rue Sam Parkin's miss when through on goal following Samuel's seventh minute opener as Inverness put on a better showing after half-time.

 

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Rangers 4 - 1 Motherwell

Updated : 16th October 2010

Gers rally to sink Well

Rangers staged an impressive comeback to claim a 4-1 win over Motherwell and move clear at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Nick Blackman gave the visitors the lead just before half-time, but the champions hit back through Steven Naismith, Steven Davis, Kenny Miller and Vladimir Weiss in a blistering second-half spell. The victory allowed Rangers to maintain their 100% record ahead of next week's Old Firm derby and also pile the pressure on Celtic ahead of their clash with Dundee United on Sunday. Neil Alexander made his first SPL start of the season for Rangers, in place of the suspended Allan McGregor, who was controversially handed a retrospective ban following an incident against Aberdeen. Walter Smith's men were also without the injured Lee McCulloch for the visit of high-flying Motherwell.

Rangers started well and could have taken an early lead when Naismith tried his luck from the edge of the area and his shot took a massive deflection that saw the effort fall just wide of the post. Steven Whittaker was then not too far away with an angled drive that dipped just over the crossbar, as the Scottish champions continued to pile on the pressure. Weiss also had a decent chance when he did well to hold off three Motherwell players before unleashing a shot from 20 yards that had just too much height on it. At the other end, Blackman tried to give Motherwell the lead with a shot from distance that failed to trouble Alexander in the Rangers goal. Darren Randolph was called into action for the visitors when he blocked from Whittaker at the near post before the Rangers full-back nodded over from the rebound.

Motherwell were looking dangerous in flashes and Alexander had to be alert to intercept a Chris Humphrey cross before John Sutton could connect in front of goal. It was the visitors who took the lead a minute before the break when Steven Jennings delivered a cross from the left and Blackman nodded home in off the underside of the bar. Rangers were back on level terms just two minutes after the restart. Kyle Lafferty slipped a pass through to Naismith, who managed to bundle over the line despite the best efforts of Randolph trying to smother at his feet.
Naismith could have claimed a second just moments later, when Weiss attempted to pick him out with a long ball but the goalkeeper raced off his line to block before he could shoot.

The home side took the lead with 63 minutes gone. Davis collected from Naismith before surging into the box and lashing high into the net, leaving Randolph with no chance.
The champions then claimed their third of the day a minute later, Naismith providing the delivery from the left and Miller directing a low header into the back of the net. Motherwell were left reeling as the goals continued to come, this time Weiss raced on to a Lafferty pass and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home after 66 minutes.

With little hope of a comeback from Motherwell, Rangers were able to withdraw goalscorers Miller and Weiss and throw youngsters Rory Loy and Gregg Wylde into the action late on.
Wylde delivered a great ball into the box but there were no takers in the goalmouth to claim Rangers' fifth of the day and Mark Reynolds was able to clear the danger. Another young player, Kyle Hutton, came off the bench as Rangers cruised to victory in the end, providing a boost ahead of the visit of Valencia in the Champions League.

Kenny Miller celebrates his goal for Rangers.

 

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Aberdeen 0 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

Updated : 16th October 2010

Kevin Kyle's goal 40 seconds into the second half proved enough to separate the sides as Hearts overcame Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Seven yellow cards were shown by referee Mike Tumilty in a bruising Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter, with Dons assistant manager Scott Leitch sent to the stand late on for venting his frustrations. The Dons lined up against a Hearts side immediately above them in the league table with four changes after their 2-0 defeat to Inverness before the International break.

Chris Maguire, boosted by his stunning goal for Scotland Under-21s against Iceland, returned from suspension to replace Darren Mackie in the starting XI. The break from action allowed injured trio Paul Hartley, Sone Aluko and Andrius Velicka to return to action, the latter making his Dons bow after his loan move from Rangers.

The visitors made three changes, with Marius Zaliukas returning as a contractual dispute showed signs of easing. Spanish duo Ruben Palazuelos and Suso Santana also returned to action for the Jambos. Jim Jefferies' men were first to threaten after four minutes, Kyle getting on the end of a Santana cross, but Dons keeper Mark Howard was happy to watch as the ball sailed into the stand. Aluko showed the first flash of his creative abilities after eight minutes as he strode forward from his own half, and picked out Maguire on the right. His cross narrowly evaded both Velicka and Scott Vernon.

At the other end, Jambos striker Calum Elliot saw his shot from the edge of the area crash off Howard's right post just a minute later. Just after the quarter-hour mark, Kevin Kyle and Zander Diamond clashed in an aerial challenge, earning the Hearts striker a talking-to from referee Mike Tumilty. Kyle continued to remonstrate with Diamond, incensing the home support, but no further action was taken. Hearts had a chance when Santana took advantage of an Andrew Considine error to force a save from Howard. The game was starting to warm up nicely, and Hearts Darren Barr became the first name to enter the book for a cynical foul on Aluko, and Rudi Skacel quickly followed for scything down Maguire.

Maguire also earned a booking himself shortly afterwards. A nice link-up on the right between Vernon and full-back Ross Jack then saw the former put in a low cross to the near post, which Marian Kello claimed under pressure from Velicka. In injury time, Maguire shot narrowly wide from 18 yards after being played in by Hartley, and the half ended with Dons keeper Mark Howard receiving treatment after he was challenged strongly.

Hearts took the lead within moments of the restart. Kyle had become a target for the home support following his clash with Diamond, but silenced the crowd as he threw himself full-length to head Elliott's cross beyond Howard.

The goalkeeper had clearly not recovered from the knock he suffered on the stroke of half-time, though, as he was replaced by Jamie Langfield after 54 minutes. Three minutes later, Dons boss Mark McGhee used the second of his substitutes, throwing on Mackie in place of Velicka, who had been making his first appearance since suffering a cruciate ligament injury with Bristol City over a year ago.

The physical element of the match continued, with Kyle picking up a yellow card for persistent fouling, and Zaliukas joining him for a crunching challenge on Maguire. With 20 minutes remaining, sub keeper Langfield also required treatment as he stretched to push Darren Barr's cross away from the sliding Skacel.

The Dons began to push forward in search of a leveller, but that left them exposed at the back and they had Considine to thank for keeping them in the game when he blocked Kyle's close-range effort after a Santana cutback. Their frustration was clear to see as Diamond became the latest to be cautioned after a crunching late tackle on Elliott. Still it was Hearts who looked the more likely to score, and Jack had to be alert to head a Kyle header from a Skacel corner off the line.

Dons substitute Ryan Fraser became the final player to pick up a card, and protests from the home dugout saw assistant boss Leitch sent to the stand.

 

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St Mirren 2 - 2 Hamilton Academical

Updated : 16th October 2010

St Mirren comeback stuns Hamilton

St Mirren staged a spirited second-half fightback from two goals down to draw with Hamilton in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at New St Mirren Park - but are still bottom of the table.

Goals from Jon Routledge and Dougie Imrie gave the visitors a deserved two-goal cushion and the points looked destined for Lanarkshire. But Michael Higdon, who had missed a great chance in the first half, reduced the deficit on the hour mark before slamming in an equaliser to give the Paisley side a point.
However, with no wins in five the Buddies continue their struggles under boss Danny Lennon while the visitors will be mourning the loss of another two points.

Accies started the game positively and in the third minute left-back David Buchanan's cross from the left found Flavio Paixao in the box, but the Hamilton midfielder hesitated before his shot was deflected for a corner which the home side survived.
Moments later Paixao had an effort from 30 yards which Paisley keeper Craig Samson pushed round the post for a corner but after the home side had defended the first one from the left, New Douglas Park defender Mark McLaughlin headed Imrie's flag-kick from the right just over the bar. At the other end in the 10th minute, Accies stopper Martin Canning did well to cut out a Paul McGowan cross at the near post at the expense of a corner which, in keeping with the start to the match, came to nothing. Visiting keeper Tomas Cerny then made a decent save at his near post from McGowan's powerful angled drive. Accies reasserted themselves and St Mirren were forced to defend again, but Samson was well protected.

In the 26th minute Samson spilled a long-distance drive from Paixao and Saints defender Lee Mair completed the clearance for yet another corner but again Accies failed to capitalise. On the half-hour mark Saints should have taken the lead. Wardlaw curled a shot from the edge of the box against the bar, David van Zanten then had a shot blocked before the ball came across the six-yard box to Higdon who looked certain to score. But the former Falkirk striker failed to make good contact and McLaughlin cleared.

The home support could barely believe they had failed to get their noses in front and in the 39th minute the Paisley side suffered another blow when Accies took the lead. Imrie's pass from the right-hand side of the box eventually landed at the feet of Routledge, who steered a shot through a packed penalty area and into the corner of the net for his first Accies goal since signing on loan from Wigan in the summer. The Paisley side were booed off at the break and the home fans almost had more to complain about after a minute of the second half when Imrie's free-kick from the right found the unmarked McLaughlin at the back post but his header was well saved by Samson.

However, the second goal was only moments away. Accies' busy striker Nigel Hasselbaink skipped past Mair on the right-hand side of the box and when he cut the ball back it appeared to come off the back of Imrie, who had tumbled to the ground as he burst into the penalty area. It was perhaps an unfortunate goal to lose but it heaped pressure on the home side who passed up on another good chance in the 51st minute when Wardlaw missed the target from six yards out after Cerny had been beaten by Jure Travner's cut-back from the left. But on the hour mark Saints pulled a goal back when McGowan's corner from the right landed at the feet of Higdon in the packed box and he turned and squeezed the ball in from 10 yards out.

Inspired by young substitute Kenny McLean, who had replaced Patrick Cregg to make his Buddies debut just before the goal, Saints pressed forward for the equaliser. And in the 73rd minute they drew level when Travner made his way into the box and pulled the ball back for Higdon to confidently sidefoot the ball past Cerny from around 12 yards. Accies steadied themselves and set about restoring the lead and in the 84th minute, after more good work from Hasselbaink, midfielder Simon Mensing came close with a curling shot from the edge of the box, the ball just speeding past the far post.

 

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Updated : 16th October 2010

Gers rally to sink Well

Rangers staged an impressive comeback to claim a 4-1 win over Motherwell and move clear at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Nick Blackman gave the visitors the lead just before half-time, but the champions hit back through Steven Naismith, Steven Davis, Kenny Miller and Vladimir Weiss in a blistering second-half spell. The victory allowed Rangers to maintain their 100% record ahead of next week's Old Firm derby and also pile the pressure on Celtic ahead of their clash with Dundee United on Sunday. Neil Alexander made his first SPL start of the season for Rangers, in place of the suspended Allan McGregor, who was controversially handed a retrospective ban following an incident against Aberdeen. Walter Smith's men were also without the injured Lee McCulloch for the visit of high-flying Motherwell.

Rangers started well and could have taken an early lead when Naismith tried his luck from the edge of the area and his shot took a massive deflection that saw the effort fall just wide of the post. Steven Whittaker was then not too far away with an angled drive that dipped just over the crossbar, as the Scottish champions continued to pile on the pressure. Weiss also had a decent chance when he did well to hold off three Motherwell players before unleashing a shot from 20 yards that had just too much height on it. At the other end, Blackman tried to give Motherwell the lead with a shot from distance that failed to trouble Alexander in the Rangers goal. Darren Randolph was called into action for the visitors when he blocked from Whittaker at the near post before the Rangers full-back nodded over from the rebound.

Motherwell were looking dangerous in flashes and Alexander had to be alert to intercept a Chris Humphrey cross before John Sutton could connect in front of goal. It was the visitors who took the lead a minute before the break when Steven Jennings delivered a cross from the left and Blackman nodded home in off the underside of the bar. Rangers were back on level terms just two minutes after the restart. Kyle Lafferty slipped a pass through to Naismith, who managed to bundle over the line despite the best efforts of Randolph trying to smother at his feet.
Naismith could have claimed a second just moments later, when Weiss attempted to pick him out with a long ball but the goalkeeper raced off his line to block before he could shoot.

The home side took the lead with 63 minutes gone. Davis collected from Naismith before surging into the box and lashing high into the net, leaving Randolph with no chance.
The champions then claimed their third of the day a minute later, Naismith providing the delivery from the left and Miller directing a low header into the back of the net. Motherwell were left reeling as the goals continued to come, this time Weiss raced on to a Lafferty pass and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home after 66 minutes.

With little hope of a comeback from Motherwell, Rangers were able to withdraw goalscorers Miller and Weiss and throw youngsters Rory Loy and Gregg Wylde into the action late on.
Wylde delivered a great ball into the box but there were no takers in the goalmouth to claim Rangers' fifth of the day and Mark Reynolds was able to clear the danger. Another young player, Kyle Hutton, came off the bench as Rangers cruised to victory in the end, providing a boost ahead of the visit of Valencia in the Champions League.

Kenny Miller celebrates his goal for Rangers.

Tahniah Rangers sbb mng besar

 

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Dundee United 1 - 2 Celtic

Hooper snatches late winner for Hoops

Gary Hooper's dramatic late strike against Dundee United extended Celtic's winning run in the Scottish Premier League to eight games ahead of next week's crunch Old Firm clash with leaders Rangers. The former Scunthorpe striker converted a Mark Wilson cross from close range in the 13th minute to put the visitors ahead before David Goodwillie levelled with a deflected shot just before the break. Celtic pushed for the majority of the second half and there was some controversy when referee Dougie McDonald awarded them a penalty after United keeper Dusan Pernis had clashed with Hooper - then changed his mind to give a drop ball after consulting with assistant Steven Craven.

It looked like the match was heading for a draw but Neil Lennon's men were rewarded for their pressure with two minutes remaining when Hooper stabbed the ball in from close range, following a goalmouth scramble. It was typically enthralling fixture between these two teams at Tannadice. Celtic, skippered by Shaun Maloney in the absence of injured Scott Brown, carved open the first chance in the fifth minute when Hooper split the Tannadice defence to send Georgios Samaras clear. However, the Greece striker declined to drive on at goal, instead sending an all-too casual volley from distance wide of the target. Moments later, with the match still settling down, Anthony Stokes sent a right-footed past the post from the edge of the box.

The Hoops clearly had the edge and got themselves in front in rather easy fashion in the 13th minute when right-back Wilson's cross from the right was scooped in to the roof of the net by Hooper from a couple of yards out. Stokes sent Samaras racing down the right and the former Manchester City striker confidently rounded Pernis but his angled-shot was cleared by United stopper Garry Kenneth before it sneaked in at the near post. The home side hit back, forcing several corners and twice Samaras blocked attempts by Scott Severin getting through to Fraser Forster. At the other end Pernis spilled a Stokes drive after good work by Wilson again, and was happy to see the ball cleared to safety.

In the 28th minute Craig Conway got down the left and delivered a terrific cross to the back post but David Robertson just cleared the bar with his header. The Celtic defence looking vulnerable at times and United midfielder Prince Buaben missed the target from 16 yards with a poor attempt at a volley.
In the 38th minute United were level. Joe Ledley was robbed in midfield by Buaben, allowing Goodwillie to drive from the edge of the box with the ball taking a marked deflection off Loovens to beat the helpless Forster, who had committed himself.

The game turned in United's favour but just before the break Pernis tipped a long-distance effort from Ledley over the bar and it was a frustrated travelling support which jeered the half time whistle. United started the second half on the ascendancy, pushing the visitors back towards their own box and forcing a series of corners. The Hoops emerged unscathed but only after Forster had produced a fine save in the 52nd minute from Buaben's 30-yard drive. That let-off sparked life in the Parkhead side and in the 55th minute, after Conway had been penalised for a foul on Ledley 30 yards from goal, Maloney curled the free-kick just wide of the post.

The new Celtic skipper then had a decent shot saved by Pernis, after he had created a yard of space for himself inside the United box by skipping past Sean Dillon. The visiting fans were about to acclaim another Hooper goal when his shot from 14 yards beat Pernis but the ball skimmed the bar. In the 69th minute Celtic appeared to have been awarded a penalty when referee McDonald pointed to the spot after Pernis dived at Hooper's feet to rob him of the ball. However, after consulting his assistant Craven, McDonald gave a bounce ball in the box. McDonald then had words with angry Celtic boss Lennon before his stand-side assistant Charlie Smith alerted the referee to missiles that had been thrown on the pitch.

As Celtic piled forward for the winner, Pernis brilliantly parried Stokes' shot from 12 yards before Ledley crashed the rebound off the post. But with two minutes remaining, after the United defence had failed to clear properly a cross from substitute Paddy McCourt, on for Maloney seconds earlier, Hooper stabbed the ball in from close range for the dramatic winner and set up a mouthwatering clash between the Glasgow giants, both of whom have won their first eight SPL games.

Gary Hooper celebrates giving Celtic a dramatic victory.

 

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Hooper snatches late winner for Hoops

Gary Hooper's dramatic late strike against Dundee United extended Celtic's winning run in the Scottish Premier League to eight games ahead of next week's crunch Old Firm clash with leaders Rangers. The former Scunthorpe striker converted a Mark Wilson cross from close range in the 13th minute to put the visitors ahead before David Goodwillie levelled with a deflected shot just before the break. Celtic pushed for the majority of the second half and there was some controversy when referee Dougie McDonald awarded them a penalty after United keeper Dusan Pernis had clashed with Hooper - then changed his mind to give a drop ball after consulting with assistant Steven Craven.

It looked like the match was heading for a draw but Neil Lennon's men were rewarded for their pressure with two minutes remaining when Hooper stabbed the ball in from close range, following a goalmouth scramble. It was typically enthralling fixture between these two teams at Tannadice. Celtic, skippered by Shaun Maloney in the absence of injured Scott Brown, carved open the first chance in the fifth minute when Hooper split the Tannadice defence to send Georgios Samaras clear. However, the Greece striker declined to drive on at goal, instead sending an all-too casual volley from distance wide of the target. Moments later, with the match still settling down, Anthony Stokes sent a right-footed past the post from the edge of the box.

The Hoops clearly had the edge and got themselves in front in rather easy fashion in the 13th minute when right-back Wilson's cross from the right was scooped in to the roof of the net by Hooper from a couple of yards out. Stokes sent Samaras racing down the right and the former Manchester City striker confidently rounded Pernis but his angled-shot was cleared by United stopper Garry Kenneth before it sneaked in at the near post. The home side hit back, forcing several corners and twice Samaras blocked attempts by Scott Severin getting through to Fraser Forster. At the other end Pernis spilled a Stokes drive after good work by Wilson again, and was happy to see the ball cleared to safety.

In the 28th minute Craig Conway got down the left and delivered a terrific cross to the back post but David Robertson just cleared the bar with his header. The Celtic defence looking vulnerable at times and United midfielder Prince Buaben missed the target from 16 yards with a poor attempt at a volley.
In the 38th minute United were level. Joe Ledley was robbed in midfield by Buaben, allowing Goodwillie to drive from the edge of the box with the ball taking a marked deflection off Loovens to beat the helpless Forster, who had committed himself.

The game turned in United's favour but just before the break Pernis tipped a long-distance effort from Ledley over the bar and it was a frustrated travelling support which jeered the half time whistle. United started the second half on the ascendancy, pushing the visitors back towards their own box and forcing a series of corners. The Hoops emerged unscathed but only after Forster had produced a fine save in the 52nd minute from Buaben's 30-yard drive. That let-off sparked life in the Parkhead side and in the 55th minute, after Conway had been penalised for a foul on Ledley 30 yards from goal, Maloney curled the free-kick just wide of the post.

The new Celtic skipper then had a decent shot saved by Pernis, after he had created a yard of space for himself inside the United box by skipping past Sean Dillon. The visiting fans were about to acclaim another Hooper goal when his shot from 14 yards beat Pernis but the ball skimmed the bar. In the 69th minute Celtic appeared to have been awarded a penalty when referee McDonald pointed to the spot after Pernis dived at Hooper's feet to rob him of the ball. However, after consulting his assistant Craven, McDonald gave a bounce ball in the box. McDonald then had words with angry Celtic boss Lennon before his stand-side assistant Charlie Smith alerted the referee to missiles that had been thrown on the pitch.

As Celtic piled forward for the winner, Pernis brilliantly parried Stokes' shot from 12 yards before Ledley crashed the rebound off the post. But with two minutes remaining, after the United defence had failed to clear properly a cross from substitute Paddy McCourt, on for Maloney seconds earlier, Hooper stabbed the ball in from close range for the dramatic winner and set up a mouthwatering clash between the Glasgow giants, both of whom have won their first eight SPL games.

Gary Hooper celebrates giving Celtic a dramatic victory.

terbaek la celtic sbb mng
ley sama mata blk ngan rangers
go go celtic paid