Scottish round-up: Bobo Balde made his first appearance of the season as Celtic scored twice in six second-half minutes to maintain their two-point advantage over Rangers with a 2-0 win over Dundee United.
Paul Hartley created both goals, the first of which came in the 69th minute when Jan Venegoor of Hesselink headed in from a corner. Shortly afterwards Stephen McManus connected with Hartley's free-kick to bundle the ball in.
Celtic's defence — featuring Balde for the first time in a year — remained unbreached on the road for the first time since the shutout at Falkirk in October 2006.
Earlier, Rangers have briefly moved top with a 3-1 win over Motherwell. Daniel Cousin put Rangers in front four minutes from the interval with a 15-metre shot following a cut-back by defender Steven Whittaker.
Motherwell levelled with a Paul Quinn header from six metres on 64 minutes after a corner by Ross McCormack to the back post.
However, six minutes later Rangers went 2-1 ahead when a Charlie Adam cross was deflected into his own net by Motherwell defender Jim Paterson.
Substitute striker Kris Boyd rammed home the third in stoppage time to secure the win.
Elsewhere, St Mirren won 1-0 at Hearts with a first half goal from Stephen McGinn. Kilmarnock beat Hibernian 2-1 and bottom club Gretna rescued a point in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen courtesy of a stoppage time equaliser from sub Allan Jenkins while Falkirk won 1-0 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
