Perfect seven for Celtic, Rangers

Celtic top the Scottish Premier League on goal difference after they came from behind to defeat Hamilton 3-1 on Saturday.

Hamilton had taken a shock third minute lead through Mark McLaughlin and only a man-of-the-match performance from Fraser Forster in goal stopped Billy Reid’s side increasing their lead as they produced a showing that belied their bottom of the table status.

However Shaun Maloney celebrated his recall to the Scotland squad with goals either side of half-time before Gary Hooper’s strike sealed a magnificent seven out of seven wins to break Hamilton’s heart.

It leaves Celtic level on points with rivals Rangers who needed a Steven Naismith goal three minutes into injury time to maintain their own perfect start to the league campaign with a 2-1 win away to Hearts.

Rangers’ late winner at Tynecastle meant the Hoops took to the pitch knowing only a victory would keep them in touch with their rivals at the top of the SPL and Maloney came close with a long distance effort start from the kick-off which went just wide.

However it was Hamilton who took the lead in just the third minute. Martin Canning headed Dougie Imrie’s corner back across goal and Mark McLaughlin headed it past Forster from close range.

Minutes later the keeper had to be alert to stop Hamilton doubling their lead when he rushed out his goal to block Nigel Hasselbaink’s shot. Imrie was next to test the on-loan Newcastle United stopper when he forced him into a finger-tip save to stop his looping shot sneaking in.

Forster produced a fine point-blank save as James Goodwin bulleted a header towards goal from the resultant corner as the keeper kept his side in the game, and he came to Celtic’s rescue again when he blocked Grant Gillespie’s shot on the line with his feet.

It took until the 20th minute for the home side to have a shot on target when Georgios Samaras rifled in a fierce drive from 20 yards but Tomas Cerny proved equal to it.

Celtic began to apply some pressure on the Accies goal which paid off in the 25th minute when Maloney hauled the Hoops level. Ki’s corner was headed towards goal by Daniel Majstorovic and the diminutive Scotland star sent a diving header past Cerny from a couple of yards out.

Celtic reappeared after the break fired up and took the lead in the 64th minute. Maloney grabbed his second of the game when the midfielder curled a cracking free-kick past Cerny into the top corner of the net from 22 yards out.

Hooper took advantage of some slack defending to make it 3-1 in the 71st minute. The English striker found himself with enough time and space to smash a low angled shot in the bottom corner of Cerny’s net.

In the early kick-off Rangers left it late as they came from behind to defeat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle. Rudi Skacel gave the home side a first-half lead which they held on to until substitute Kyle Lafferty scored from a free-kick with ten minutes to go.

Naismith then pounced in the third minute of injury time to seal a remarkable comeback.

Elsewhere, Motherwell stayed in third place with a 3-1 win over St Mirren, Inverness defeated Aberdeen 2-0, Hibernian lost 2-0 away to St Johnstone and Dundee United won 2-1 at Kilmarnock.