Second-half blitz sends Celtic closer to 39th title

Celtic marched another step nearer to their 39th Scottish title by overrunning Kilmarnock with a five-goal second-half blitz at Parkhead.

Second-placed Rangers must have been encouraged to hope for a slip-up from their rivals as Killie managed to keep the match goalless up until the break.

But Martin O'Neill's side let rip after the break to run out 5-1 winners and stretch their lead at the top to 14 points ahead of Rangers' trip to Partick Thistle on Sunday.

The visitors' defence was finally broken down ten minutes after the break by French winger Didier Agathe.

A neat one-two with John Hartson put him into the box and he smashed an unstoppable right-foot shot into the net.

Hartson doubled the advantage 10 minutes later before Henrik Larsson and Stephen Pearson put a 21st consecutive SPL win beyond doubt with two goals in as many minutes.

Eric Skora's consolation with six minutes remaining was cancelled out by a second for Hartson in the dying seconds.

Elsewhere, Hibernian and Dundee battled out a 1-1 draw in their mid-table clash at Easter Road.

Mark Fotheringham handed the visitors a timely lead on the stroke of half-time but Derek Riordan's penalty ensured then points were shared.

Dunfermline came away with nothing from Dundee United, Jim McIntyre's 57th minute strike enough to secure the points for the home side after a tightly fought encounter.