Leaders Celtic hit quickfire double to maintain two-point advantage over Rangers

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.

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Defender Bobo Balde was handed his first start in a year as Celtic looked to get back to winning ways against Dundee United in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Celtic had only taken six points from their last five games in the top flight, keeping just one clean sheet in the process, and that prompted manager Gordon Strachan to prefer Balde to Steven Pressley in a bid to shore up his defence.

In the one other alteration to the team who were held to a draw by Hibs on Saturday, Jiri Jarosik started ahead of Massimo Donati.

Dundee United made three changes following the disappointing 2-1 defeat to Gretna, including a switch in goal where Grzegorz Szamotulski replaced Euan McLean.

Lee Wilkie returned after a two-game suspension at the expense of Garry Kenneth, while Jordan Robertson came in for Stuart Duff.

Following the rousing reception for Balde from the Celtic supporters, the game started promisingly and at a fast pace.

The early efforts on goal were slightly disappointing, with Jordan Robertson and Paul Hartley both shooting over, while in the 10th minute Celtic showed a glimpse of their attacking potential.

A flowing move saw Gary Caldwell, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Aiden McGeady link up.

But from Irishman McGeady's cross, Scott McDonald was in an offside position and even if he had done better than bundle the ball wide, it would not have counted.

Celtic goalkeeper Mark Brown then had the simple task of gathering a header from Noel Hunt as clear-cut opportunities remained scarce.

Jarosik should have done far better in the 22nd minute though, when after latching on to a knock-down from Vennegoor of Hesselink he drove the ball wide of Szamotulski's goal from a good position in the United penalty area.

The next three opportunities all came from set-pieces and Barry Robson showed just how dangerous his deliveries can be when he whipped a corner straight on to the head of Wilkie.

Brown was rooted to his line as Robson swung the ball in towards his goal, but while stretching to make contact, Wilkie only succeeded in turning the ball wide.

Lee Naylor then bent a free-kick over from 25-yards, before Stephen McManus rattled the United crossbar with a shot, but the referee Eddie Smith had already blown his whistle for offside as Szamotulski punched clear a Hartley cross.

In the 38th minute of an entertaining contest the frame of the goal at the other end of the park then had the ball cannon off it.

Robson took aim from 35 yards out and his powerful drive left Brown helpless as it rebounded off the bar.

The opportunities continued to be traded between the teams in quick fashion and from Hartley's corner, a towering header from Vennegoor of Hesselink saw Szamotulski produce an outstanding save.

The Polish goalkeeper tipped the ball up into the air and amazingly once again off the woodwork as the game remained goalless at the interval.

McGeady was the architect of the first opportunity of the second period and McDonald should have done far better than sidefoot the ball harmlessly wide from 10 yards out.

Balde had enjoyed a relatively quiet game up until this point, but he soon demonstrated what a commanding presence he can be with a superb sliding challenge to halt a surge forward from David Robertson.

The defending from the hosts looked slightly ragged at times and they were badly stretched by a strong run from Scott Brown straight through the middle of the park.

Brown fed McDonald but, from the former Motherwell player's low cross, Sean Dillon was well placed to make a crucial interception.

In the 58th minute, United brought on Craig Conway for David Robertson and the substitution brought a brief lull in proceedings.

It was McGeady who brought the game to life again with a burst forward that saw him cut inside and charge past two defenders before shooting marginally wide.

Then, shortly afterwards, Celtic took the lead thanks to a routine set-piece, as Hartley's corner was met by a downward header from Vennegoor of Hesselink and the ball bounced into the net at Szamotulski's far post.

The visitors came agonisingly close to scoring a third goal with 10 minutes remaining, but from McGeady's pass Brown hammered a shot off the right post.

Celtic looked confident and assured - a world away from the team who capitulated away to Inverness earlier this month where they uncharacteristically threw away a two-goal lead to sensationally lose 3-2.

For their part, United kept trying valiantly to find a way back into the game, but there proved to be no way through Celtic's composed rearguard.

A cross from Conway did give Wilkie a sight of goal in the closing stages, but Brown made an assured save which helped ensure Celtic re-established their two-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, following the Ibrox club's earlier victory over Motherwell.