CELTIC MOVED TWO points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership as Ryan Christie’s early strike, a Scott Martin own goal and Leigh Griffiths’s free-kick earned a 3-0 win at Hamilton on Saturday.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers moved into second with an equally convincing 3-0 win over Livingston, but Hearts’ slump continued in a shock 2-0 defeat at St Mirren.
Christie continued his fine form of late after playing a big role in Scotland’s victories over Albania and Israel in the past week by firing Callum McGregor’s cross from a well-worked corner into the roof of the net on 13 minutes.
Hamilton goalkeeper Gary Woods kept his side in the game with a fine save from Scott Sinclair, while Edouard and Olivier Ntcham both fired into the side-netting from the edge of the area as Celtic looked for a second.
It duly arrived with a big slice of fortune 22 minutes from time when Sinclair’s header across goal was flicked into his own net by Martin.
Griffiths missed Scotland’s success due to a knee injury that had kept him sidelined for six weeks, but marked his return with a goal by drilling home a free-kick low into the far corner.
“It was a good win, and off the back of the international break you want to come back and get the points on the board as quickly as you can,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
“We had to generate the rhythm and intensity in our own game today. I thought we did that really well, the passing was really crisp, and we could have been up by about three at half-time.”
Rangers had to be more patient at Ibrox than a 7-1 demolition of Motherwell before the international window, but rarely looked troubled after Daniel Candeias opened the scoring after 20 minutes.
Gerrard left top scorer Alfredo Morelos on the bench ahead of Thursday’s crucial Europa League clash with Villarreal, but the Colombian soon made an impact as a substitute to seal the three points seven minutes from time before Scott Arfield added a late third.
After a brilliant start to the season to surge ahead of the Glasgow giants to the top of the table, Hearts have now lost four of their last five games in all competitions.
Two goals from Adam Hammill ended St Mirren’s 12-game run without a win and handed Oran Kearney his first victory since taking over the Paisley side in September.
Hibernian also surprisingly let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with bottom of the table Dundee at Easter Road.
Aberdeen’s confidence ahead of next weekend’s League Cup final against Celtic took a battering with a 3-0 defeat at Motherwell.
And Kilmarnock and St Johnstone remain fourth and fifth respectively after a 0-0 draw at McDiarmid Park.
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I don’t remember Ali ever dodging a fight for about 5 years like Mayweather!
The lead up to the fight has been a failure. People have become both bored and annoyed by how long the fight’s taking to progress to an agreement, so it’s almost like it’s too late to drum up the hype that would have come naturally to it in 2009-12.
So they’ve to come out with this these tripe statements just to fuel the media outlets who are as bored as the public with it all.
3-5 years ago I’d have bought the PPV, now I’ll just watch the highlights in bed the next morning.
pat look at his record of wins ko’s and world titles at different weights this fella dosent have to dodge anyone it’s all about the purse, are you suggesting he’s fearful of Manny?
Mayweather is a genius of a boxer but his intelligence is confined to the ring alone. Such brainless comments from a guy with zero class. He also described how he has had it as tough as Ali in his public life, laughable stuff!
Mayweather is not the greatest…but neither is Ali…
Simon that is an absolutely ridiculous comment. And to have someone back it up is even more ridiculous. I love boxing and boxers from all eras. But for you to say Ali is considered great because he talked a lot and then he got sick is one of the dumbest comments I have ever seen. He is regarded by most experts as one of the greatest as he was, end of story. Jesus lads get a grip. He doesn’t have to be your number one but don’t make stupid comments when his record speaks for itself.
he’s right John Ali’s record does not even compare to Larry Holmes who’s career was overshadowed by Ali’s persona as I said first John Ali was a great and a lot of that greatness was from his out of ring antics but a great all the same.
2 things Paul, I agree it can be argued about different records in different eras, Holmes was class but he wasn’t as good IMO as Ali, Liston, Frazier or Foreman but he came just after them. He didn’t fight anyone of the same quality so not sure how you can say his record is better, it’s different times. Simon said most people just go along with it as he shouted and and they agreed, and then though the years they called him a great because he got sick and they felt sorry for him? Brainless comment, and an insult to real boxing fans.
I never said he wasn’t in the conversation. He definitely was up there. You make it sound like I said he was completely average. What I am saying is there are ALOT of people out there who give him the edge as #1 for reasons that have very little to do with boxing. They like him because he was funny , rebellious and ultimately because he got sick and everyone felt sorry for him. People get offended when someone points it out but it’s true.
I’m not arguing with you John as your points are valid it’s hard to compare eras Tyson for example beat a lot of very average fighters mind you he battered them ( berbeck ,Michael spinks bonecrusher Smith) to name but a few .
Whisht the lot of ye……….3 words…..Big Joe Joyce………
big Joe would bate all round him.
Paul I have already said that Mayweather is a genius but even if he wins you cannot say he is without doubt the greatest of all time, it just isn’t that simple. Mayweather made some ridiculous statements like dismissing the rope a dope and claimed he has had it tougher than Ali, including racial matters in the current climate. Totally braindead stuff! For what it’s worth I have only seen videos but by all accounts from the experts Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest, and probably Ali second, I wouldn’t disagree with that.
Ali was considered the greatest because he was a showman and I loved watching him fight no doubt about that, but his record dosent stack up against mayweather who does makes some silly comments but that’s par for the course for most boxer’s.
Not only was ali the greatest boxer of all time, he was and remains to be the greatest sportsman who’s ever lived. Deal with it
that settles that so Don it must be right if you said it.
Right on paul, right on
mayweather record speaks for itself when he batters Pac man which he will he will retire as the undisputed greatest fighter of all time, his point about Leon spinks is correct a fellow of his standard would not be allowed into watch mayweather let alone fight and beat him.
I think Ali is considered the greatest by alot of people because he seemed to shout it to people the most and people just shrugged and said alright then because he could talk. They also say it because he got sick and loads of people have been patronizing him for the last 30 years. The greatest of all time is a matter for opinion and if you disagree then that’s fine. But he definitely has been patronized far too much. Mayweather said as much in an interview a few years ago too and he was right.
100% simon