Scottish Premier League round-up: Well pay penalty at Celtic as Gary Hooper seals victory

Hooper’s 79th-minute strike was teed up by Georgios Samaras but things might have been different if Tom Hateley had converted a penalty just moments before the decider.

The spotkick came after Kelvin Wilson tripped Sheffield United-bound Jamie Murphy, only for Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster to deny Hateley.

Hooper’s winner arrived three minutes later to confirm the Hoops’ eighth straight win.

At Pittodrie Aberdeen and visitors Dundee United shared the spoils at the end of a 2-2 draw.

Scott Vernon put the Dons ahead before Gavin Cunning and Jamie Lanfield’s own goal gave United the lead.

But a superb curling free-kick from Niall McGinn eight minutes after the break earned Aberdeen a point.

St Mirren drew with Kilmarnock in a match that featured a penalty for each side, with Liam Kelly converting for Killie after just five minutes following Jim Goodwin’s challenge on Paul Heffernan.

The equaliser came after the hour from Paul McGowan, after Dougie Imrie had been felled by Mark O’Hara.

Bottom club Dundee were left nine points adrift after Liam Craig secured St Johnstone’s first league win since November and consolidated their place in mid-table with a solitary goal.

And in Division Three, Rangers continued their seemingly inexorable march to the title and promotion with an impressive win at Annan Athletic.

David Templeton netted a brace that, in tandem with a Robbie Crawford striker, secured the points for Gers.

A first-half drive from Ally Love gave the managerless hosts some hope following Templeton’s opener but the Ibrox outfit pressed ahead to claim their 11th win in a row.