Great Scott leads Aussie SPL charge

Scott McDonald and Danny Invincibile made Australian strikers headline news on Saturday in the Scottish Premier League.

McDonald, with his eighth goal of the season, was on target as Celtic defeated city rivals Rangers 1-0 in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox as the champions opened up a seven-point lead.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan described McDonald as “phenomenal” after seeing the Australian score in the 58th minute after linking with Georgios Samaras before turning Kirk Broadfoot and volleying past Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

“I thought McDonald was phenomenal”, Strachan said whose team are comfortably on course for a fourth successive league title.

“I think both sides would agree it's best to lose a game to a brilliant goal than a horrible mistake. Scott has always been a good team player, he just hasn't had a settled partner this season, that has been the problem.

“We have been chopping and changing all season and that has been a problem not only for him, but for us.

“It would be nice if he could get a settled run with somebody in attack. Scott is picking himself at the moment, we need somebody else to do the same.”

McDonald said he couldn't describe his memorable strike as the best goal of his career.

“It was very special, especially scoring it against your rivals at their home ground,” he said.

“I don't know if it beats the one I scored against Manchester United in the Champions League, but I couldn't have hit it any better.

“Georgios got a great flick-on and I managed to roll the defender. I had to wait for the ball to come down but I couldn't have hit it any better and it was great when it went in.”

Meanwhile, Invincibile marked his return from injury with two goals for 10-man Kilmarnock in a 4-2 victory at Hibernian.

The Australian opened the scoring in the fifth minute and added his second two minutes after the break as Kilmarnock cemented their place in mid-table.