9 Dec 2012

Hoops go clear in SPL

2:26 pm on 9 December 2012

Celtic have moved three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League football competition as the national champions cruised to a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The victory caps off an excellent week for Celtic, the club booking their place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Thursday, then showing no signs of a European hangover when skipper Scott Brown converted an Adam Matthews cutback in the 27th minute.

Joe Ledley added a second in the 65th minute when he tapped in a Brown cross and substitute Georgios Samaras then made it 3-0 in the 74th minute with a header before Kilmarnock's Cillian Sheridan grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time.

The win ends Celtic's poor run of form in the SPL in games immediately following European ties and gained them some revenge for Killie's win at Parkhead in October.

Inverness leapfrogged Hibernian into second after a 3-0 win over the Easter Road side, Motherwell came from behind to defeat Ross County 3-2, nine-man St Johnstone claimed a point in a 1-1 draw with St Mirren and Hearts defeated Aberdeen 2-0 at Tynecastle.