Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic recorded their fifth consecutive shutout in all competitions as they came away with win over Ian Harkes and Dundee United.
Dundee United 0-2 Celtic
Dundee United proved to be stubborn, but Celtic was able to grab two second-half goals to secure the win at Tannadice Park to maintain their nine-point lead in the standings.
Cameron Carter-Vickers played the full 90 for the Hoops, completing 90 percent of his passes and winning three duels, while Ian Harkes saw 60 minutes of action for the Tangerines, completing 80 percent of his passes, winning two duels, and making one tackle.
Celtic was on the attack from the start and had several chances to open the scoring. However, Dundee United did well to protect their goal as they kept scoreless in the first half.
The visitors kept the attack going in the second half and finally made a breakthrough in the 51st minute. Aaron Mooy’s cross from the right side found Jota in the box and the Portuguese international headed the ball into the goal from close range.
The referee then gave Celtic a chance to double their lead when he pointed to the spot for a penalty a couple of minutes later. Dundee’s Kieran Freeman was the guilty party as he handled the ball in the area. Mooy then stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
The win keeps Celtic at the top of the Premiership standings with 64 points, while Dundee United remains in tenth place with 20 points.
Rangers 2-0 St. Johnstone
Rangers scored goals in both halves to ease their way past St. Johnstone for the win on what some have called a controversial game.
Malik Tillman played 72 minutes for the Light Blues, completing 68 percent of his passes, winning eight duels, and making five tackles along with one shot. James Sands saw no action as he remained on the bench for the entire game.
The hosts scored their first goal on the day in the 17th minute when the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty. St. Johnstone’s James Brown handled the ball in the area. James Tavernier then stepped up and converted his spot-kick.
The visitors would then find themselves going down a man in the 37th minute when the referee showed a red card to Nicky Clark for his late tackle on Ryan Jack. Then the controversy would come a minute later when the Rangers midfielder took out his frustration on Adam Montgomery tackle that had every St. Johnstone player demanding a reciprocal red card. However, the referee only showed Jack a yellow card in the end.
Rangers put the game to bed in the 57th minute when Alfredo Morelos flicked the ball from a Todd Cantwell pass into the path of the Finnish international who calmly put his shot past St. Johnstone goalkeeper Remi Matthews.
The win leaves Rangers in second place in the standings with 55 points.
Note
In the Championship, Brian Schwake was between the posts for Greenock Morton as they surrendered two goals in the second half to fall to Arbroath in a 2-1 defeat.