Scottish League Round-up: Celtic remain the league's early-season pace-setters in the Scottish Premier league after a late Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink goal secured victory at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Hibernian recorded their first away league victory since last November at Tannadice against Dundee United thanks to a ruthless second-half performance, which puts the Edinburgh club in fine fettle ahead of Rangers' visit to Easter Road next weekend.

Vennegoor of Hesselink's second goal in as many games since arriving from PSV Eindhoven was enough to give Celtic victory at Pittodrie.

The Parkhead side now travel to Old Trafford for an eagerly anticipated clash with Manchester United on Wednesday but their manager, Gordon Strachan, has urged caution given that Vennegoor of Hesselink and Saturday's debutant Thomas Gravesen have had little time to adjust to their new surroundings.

"I would like more time to work with some people, even if just to let them get used to my terminology," said Strachan. "I haven't had time to coach them yet."

Second-half goals from Chris Killen and the substitutes Dean Shiels and Ivan Sproule were enough for Tony Mowbray's Hibs team, who appeared to have more guile and attacking options than their insipid hosts; factors which will trouble the United manager, Craig Brewster.

Hibs are now sixth in the SPL table but, if they continue to display such an edge to their play, they will surely challenge for a European place.

"I wasn't concerned by our away form," insisted Mowbray. "You must remember that we went to Ibrox (in the Scottish Cup) and won during that period and we haven't played that badly away from home. Four of our last six games have been away, so it's nice to now have two home games."

Mowbray often bemoans the fact that Hibs' youth and inexperience cost them points despite dominating many matches.

The visitors appeared to be more hungry for victory after the break, however, and Killen latched on to a 51st-minute long ball from Shelton Martis to half-volley the opening goal past Derek Stillie from 18 yards.

Abdessalam Benjelloun, one of two Moroccans in the Hibs line-up, forced Stillie into a fine low save moments later as they sought to seal three points against a home team whose confidence appeared to be draining away.

Shiels sparked celebrations for the travelling support by supplying a cute lob over Stillie after the goalkeeper had failed to hold Benjelloun's long-range drive. Shiels played a part in Sproule's goal in the dying seconds by laying on a pass for the young Ulsterman.

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