Celtic seize their opportunity

By Alex O'Henley

Celtic FC took advantage of a slip by title rivals Rangers FC to open up a three-point lead at the Scottish Premier League summit.

Heavy work
Rangers had only managed a 1-1 draw away against bottom club Dundee United FC on Saturday, enabling Celtic to reclaim top spot and surge three points clear with Sunday's 2-1 win against Livingston FC at Parkhead. But the defending champions made heavy work of the victory.

Sutton decisive
The Glasgow side took the lead through John Hartson on 16 minutes only for Jim Hamilton to equalise six minutes before half-time. However, Hamilton turned from hero to villain when he handled in the Livingston area on 56 minutes, allowing Chris Sutton to convert the decisive penalty. Even then, only a great save by Celtic goalkeeper Robert Douglas prevented Gustave Bahoken equalising late on.

Namouchi heroics
A last-gasp equaliser kept Rangers' long unbeaten run intact at Tannadice. David McCracken put the home side ahead on eleven minutes but Rangers substitute Hamed Namouchi secured a share of the spoils from a corner in added time. A point was still enough to lift Dundee United up two places to tenth while city rivals Dundee FC, who lost 3-1 away against Dunfermline AFC, slipped to bottom spot.

Honours even
The weekend's other key game was the Edinburgh derby, which finished 1-1 after Heart of Midlothian FC forward Paul Hartley cancelled out Derek Riordan's first-half strike for Hibernian FC, who remain third, 16 points behind the leaders.

Missed chance
That result meant Aberdeen FC could return to third place provided they overcame Motherwell FC on Monday, but they failed to capitalise and were held to a 0-0 draw at Fir Park. In the day’s other fixture, a second-half double by Danny Invincible gave Kilmarnock FC a 2-0 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC at Pittodrie.