Samaras double not enough to see off United

A Georgios Samaras double was not enough for Celtic to get 2009 off to a winning start as they shared the points with Dundee United in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Parkhead.

With Rangers not playing until Sunday Gordon Strachan's men knew they had they had a chance to pile the pressure on their rivals and Greek international Samaras put them two ahead with goals either side of half-time.

But an excellent Paul Dixon free-kick followed by substitute Warren Feeney's equaliser gave United a deserved share of the points for their superb second-half showing much to the frustration of the Celtic support.

The draw sees Celtic go eight points clear at the top of the table with Rangers taking on Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday.

Celtic carved out the best opportunities in the opening exchanges. Scott Brown and Scott McDonald played a nice one-two which saw the midfielder race clear into the box but his shot went well wide.

A minute later Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura slid a delightful pass into the path of Samaras and his angled lob from the right of the box wasn't far away from opening the scoring.

Samaras opened the scoring in the 13th minute after a mistake from defender Lee Wilkie. The United captain was bundled off the ball in the box by Brown who cut the ball back for Greek striker Samaras to sidefoot home past the helpless Lukasz Zaluska.

Wilkie nearly made amends for his error minutes later when his pass played in Scott Robertson but his low angled drive went inches wide of the post.

The energetic Brown was putting on an impressive display and after robbing a United player on the half-way line the midfield dynamo created a chance for Barry Robson but the former United player's effort was just turned round the post by Zaluska.

United came out transformed after the break and were soon piling the pressure on the Celtic defence but they failed to create any chances on target.

Celtic increased their lead in the 58th minute when Samaras got his second of the game.

The giant Greek striker jumped highest to connect with an inswinging Nakamura free-kick from the right and head it into the net.

United struck back two minutes later with a stunning free-kick from Dixon. The full-back curled a superb effort past the flapping Boruc from 25 yards into the top corner of the net.

Celtic came close to increasing their lead in the 63rd minute but Dixon and Sean Dillon combined to block Brown's powerful drive on the line.

United should have equalised two minutes later when Willo Flood intercepted a poor Mark Wilson pass back and rounded Boruc but his soft shot was cleared off the line by Celtic captain Stephen McManus.

The Arabs piled forward and Jon Daly was unlucky to see his header from a Flood cross trundle past Boruc's post in the 68th minute.

United got back on level terms in the 77th minute through substitute Feeney. A long ball up the park was headed on by Daly into the path of Feeney who stretched to toe poke it past Boruc under pressure from Caldwell.

n Saturday's early kick-off match an exciting Edinburgh derby ended in a goalless draw. Hearts hit the woodwork three times as they dominated although keeper Janos Balogh had to be at his best to deny Hibernian striker Stephen Fletcher a late winner.

A Simon Mensing penalty and a Richard Offiong strike sealed a 2-0 win for Hamilton over Aberdeen to send Inverness bottom of the SPL.

Stevie Lovell put Falkirk in front before David Fernandez equalised for Kilmarnock in their 1-1 draw. St Mirren's final game at Love Street ended with a goalless draw against Motherwell.