Celtic restore lead at the top

Daniel Majstorovic's diving header ensured Celtic enjoyed a more routine trip to Tannadice as they restored their five-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Dundee United.

The Swede finished off Dundee United's second-half fightback when he threw himself at Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick with 12 minutes left.

David Goodwillie had given the hosts hope after deflected goals from Anthony Stokes and Mark Wilson put Celtic in command before the break.

Celtic's previous trip to Tannadice had resulted in long-lasting controversy with Dougie McDonald eventually quitting amid the fallout over his false explanation of why he had rescinded a penalty award to the visitors, a furore that played a significant part in the referees' strike.

United had an ambitious penalty claim rejected by Mike Tumilty when Majstorovic challenged Craig Conway in the air and Celtic soon took a 16th-minute lead.

Beram Kayal dispossessed Scott Robertson and fed Stokes, who ran into the box before firing a left-footed shot which bounced up off the backtracking Garry Kenneth and inside Dusan Pernis' near post.

Prince Buaben soon burst through at the other end but Fraser Forster came off his line to block the midfielder's effort with his feet.

United continued to press with Conway on the left flank their main attacking outlet, but the Celtic defence coped comfortably and the visitors extended their lead in the 35th minute. Wilson fed Gary Hooper and continued his run before striking Scott Brown's cutback from 14 yards and seeing it go in off Sean Dillon.

Dundee United got back in the game in the 64th minute. The visiting defence failed to clear Conway's free-kick and Forster parried the ball out as far as Goodwillie, who stabbed the ball into the corner from eight yards.

Hooper hit the post for Celtic, but Majstorovic did restore the two-goal cushion when he dived on the edge of the six-yard box to head home fellow centre-back Mulgrew's inswinging free-kick.