Scottish Premier League wrap: Celtic hammer Dundee

24 February 2013 19:59

Celtic continue to cruise towards the Scottish Premier League title, moving 21 points clear with a 5-0 thrashing of Dundee on Sunday.

A double from Joe Ledley along with goals from James Forrest, Dylan McGeouch and Gary Hooper saw Neil Lennon's side to the big win at Celtic Park.

It marked the worst possible start for Dundee interim manager John Brown, an unpopular appointment.

A Gary Harkins free-kick which beat Fraser Forster at his near post appeared to give Dundee a surprise fifth-minute lead, but it was strangely ruled out for offside.

It was the league leaders who took control of the game as former Celtic keeper Rab Douglas spilled a cross from the left by Emilio Izaguirre directly into the path of Ledley, allowing the Wales international to stroke the ball into an empty net.

The second half started miserably for the visitors.

Within three minutes of the restart, Matthew Lockwood, who came on as a substitute for Brian Easton at the break, was sent off for hauling down Hooper inside the box and Forrest stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Victory was secured for the Glasgow giants just before the hour-mark, as Anthony Stokes played in a superb cross from the left directly onto the head of McGeouch.

Ledley claimed his second goal of the game on 73 minutes, as he got on the end of a cutback from Stokes and slammed the ball past the helpless Douglas to make it 4-0.

Lennon's side celebrated going 21 points clear at the top late on as Hooper came in at the back post after a ball from Ledley to smash home a fifth.

In the day's other game, a late Johnny Russell penalty helped Dundee United secure a 2-2 draw at home to Hibernian.