Scottish Premier League Round Up
Celtic extended their lead at the top of the SPL with a 6-0 demolition of Hibernian at Celtic Park this afternoon.
Martin O'Neill's side were knocked out of the CIS Insurance Cup at Easter Road earlier this month but exacted merciless revenge with a comprehensive defeat of their 10-man visitors.
Chris Sutton opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute and the dismissal of Derek Riordan for a reckless challenge on Jackie McNamara weighted matters further in favour of the home side.
Hartson doubled the Hoops' lead within seconds of Riordan's dismissal to effectively end the game as a contest before the half-time whistle.
Sutton's penalty within 10 minutes of the restart heralded a rout as Hartson, Henrik Larsson and Stilian Petrov added goals during the second period. The victory stretches their lead at the top of the SPL to a formidable 11 points ahead of Rangers' visit to Dundee on Sunday.
Elsewhere, joint player-managers Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte built on a draw in their first game in charge of Partick by beating Dunfermline 4-1.
A goal by Andy Thomson gave Partick a 1-0 lead at the break but the game turned on a moment of drama in the 56th minute.
Pars skipper Scott Thomson bundled Jags midfielder Jamie Mitchell to the ground as he was ready to knock the ball into an empty net, leaving referee Calum Murray no excuse but to brandish the red card and award a penalty kick.
James Grady stepped up to send Derek Stillie the wrong way and, though Dunfermline rallied with a goal from unsettled veteran Craig Brewster, Thistle sealed the points with late strikes from Andy Ross and a second from Grady.
A goal in each half without reply allowed Dundee United to leapfrog hosts Kilmarnock. Former Scotland striker Billy Dodds handed Ian McCall's side the lead after 20 minutes and Jim McIntyre put the Rugby Park clash beyond doubt with an 82nd minute penalty.
Burton O'Brien's last-minute goal meant that Livingston and Aberdeen shared the spoils at Almondvale. Scott Booth had looked to have eased the pressure on Dons boss Steve Paterson before O'Brien grabbed a point for the home side.
Neither Hearts nor Motherwell managed to break the deadlock at Tynecastle in a bitterly disappointing clash that got the day's SPL action under way. Chances were few and far between at both ends although Hearts, encouraged by their home support, finished the game the stronger.