Celtic aiming to stretch lead

Celtic headed into their Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Dundee United hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points – for 24 hours at least.

They came into the weekend just a point ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers in the title race, but the Ibrox side’s midweek commitments in the UEFA Cup mean they do not play Kilmarnock until tomorrow.

That presented Celtic with the chance to pile on the pressure today, if they could take all three points from Dundee United.

Manager Martin O’Neill opted to name the same 11 players who defeated Dunfermline 2-0 at East End Park last week.

The United players came into the match fully aware that manager Ian McCall’s job might be on the line should results continue to disappoint.

They sit fourth bottom of the table but just two points above bottom side Dundee.

Celtic: Hedman, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Valgaeren, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady, Hartson, Sutton. Subs: Marshall, Juninho Paulista, Lambert, Laursen, Maloney, Wallace.

Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, Innes, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Brebner, Robson, Samuel, McIntyre. Subs: Hirschfeld, Dodds, Scotland, Grady, McCracken, Cameron, Kenneth.

Referee: C Richmond (Scotland)