Krong Angkor

Celtic back on top as Rangers slip up

GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic got back to winning ways with a 3-1 defeat of St Mirren to return to the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

The Hoops took full advantage of rivals Rangers' 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen in the early kick-off match to move two points clear at the top.

An uninspiring first-half was lit up with three goals in the final nine minutes. St Mirren defender Chris Innes turned Socceroos striker Scott McDonald's shot past his own keeper in the 38th minute before Georgios Samaras made it two just three minutes later.

Michael Higdon had replaced the injured Andy Dorman and he capitalised on a Marc Crosas mistake to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.

McDonald got on the score-sheet with a superb volley and missed an injury-time penalty as Celtic dominated the second-period.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray said it had been a good weekend for his team.

"If we get goals it will only build confidence. What we try to do as a football club is to play with a bit of style," the Hoops coach said.

"But, ultimately, today was about taking all three points."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson said his side should have done better.

"The goals we lost were preventable and we could have defended better in those situations," the Buddies boss said.

Earlier in the day Rangers' unbeaten start to the league campaign came to an end when Lee Miller's first-half strike was enough to claim a 1-0 for Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The Dons were reduced to ten men on the hour mark when captain Mark Kerr received a second yellow card but Mark McGhee's men held on for the win.

At Parkhead, China captain Zheng Zhi had the first chance of the game when Aiden McGeady picked him out at the far post with a cut-back but Paul Gallacher smothered his tame effort.

Samaras could not take advantage when referee Steve Conroy allowed play to continue despite a foul on the Greek striker, with his shot from just outside the box trundling harmlessly wide.

His strike partner McDonald didn't do any better in the 16th minute when he sent his flicked effort over the bar as the Australian met Andreas Hinkel's cross at the near post.

Just as it looked like the half would end goalless there were three goals in quick succession. Celtic broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when McDonald beat the offside trap from Samaras' perfectly weighted pass to send a low angled shot across Gallacher which hit Innes on the way in.

The Greek got on the score-sheet three minutes later. The St Mirren defence backed off McGeady allowing him to pick out Samaras inside the box and he sent his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The Buddies pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. Marc Crosas' failure to deal with a Billy Mehmet cross allowed sub Michael Higdon to smash an angled shot past Lukasz Zaluska. McDonald made it 3-1 after an hour played.

A long ball out of defence from Hinkel found McGeady who whipped in a fierce cross that McDonald volleyed past Gallacher from close range.

Zheng thought he scored in the 76th minute when he nipped in amongst a host of bodies to lash past Gallacher but the China captain was flagged offside.

St Mirren struggled to create chances and Mehmet should have done better when Garry Brady's cross fell to him in a promising position but he volleyed high over the bar.

The Buddies conceded a penalty in injury time when Innes handled in the box. There was confusion as the defender walked up the tunnel despite only receiving a yellow card but he soon returned to see Gallacher pull off a superb double save from McDonald's spot-kick.

Elsewhere Hearts won 2-1 away to Kilmarnock, Hibernian defeated Falkirk 2-0, Motherwell drew 2-2 with Dundee United and St Johnstone versus Hamilton ended 1-1.