SPL wrap: Celtic too good for Dundee, Hearts bounce back

Celtic got their title challenge back on track as goals from Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama saw the SPL champions comfortably defeat Dundee.

After dropping points in their last two league games against Hibernian and St Johnstone, Neil Lennon’s side needed to respond and they did with a 2-0 win at Celtic Park.

The defending Scottish champions, who began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a goalless draw against Benfica midweek, took the lead just before the half-time whistle.

Hooper turned the Dundee defence after receiving the ball from Brown and diverted it beyond the outstretched arms of Robert Douglas and into the back of the net.

Celtic doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half after Wanyama unleashed an unstoppable long range strike that curled past Douglas.

The chances continued to fall to the home side, but neither Hooper nor substitute Tony Watt could find a way past Douglas and they were made to settle for the two-goal victory, which moved them into third and within a point of top spot.

Hearts bounced back from two successive defeats and recorded their first league triumph since the opening day of the season with a 3-0 win at Dundee United.

Callum Paterson was the star of the show, bagging a brace, while Arvydas Novikovas joined in on the action as the Edinburgh outfit moved off the bottom.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Goals from Cillian Sheridan, James Fowler and James Dayton inspired Kilmarnock to a 3-1 victory over St Mirren at Rugby Park.

Richie Foran netted an 81st-minute equaliser as Inverness salvaged a point in their 2-2 draw at Hibernian, while 10-man St Johnstone continued on from their success against Celtic with a 2-1 win against Ross County.