Tony Watt marked his competitive first start with a double as Celtic comfortably dispatched Inverness 4-2 at the Caledonian Stadium despite a late rally from the home side yesterday to move top of the SPL standings.

With a long injury list and one eye on Wednesday’s crucial Champions League qualifier, Neil Lennon fielded a makeshift Celtic side with teenagers Watt and Filip Twardzik handed their first starts as the Hoops made six changes.

However, the fringe players immediately impressed and took a third-minute lead when Victor Wanyama headed past Ryan Esson.

Watt, who scored a double on his debut as a substitute against Motherwell last season, got his first in the 25th minute when he clipped the ball over the keeper.

Charlie Mulgrew made it 3-0 in the 48th minute with a neat finish from a well-worked free-kick before Watt got his double with a rifled shot in the 64th minute.

Inverness rallied in the final ten minutes of the match with Ross Draper grabbing a double but it was little more than consolation for the hosts.

“That is as good as we have played here for a long time and I am delighted with the performance,” Celtic manager Lennon said.

“Tony Watt was sensational. We threw the gauntlet down to him before the game and he responded brilliantly.”

Terry Butcher was relieved not to have lost by more.

“We were delighted to get the two goals at the end when Celtic had taken their foot off the gas but at least we keep going,” the Inverness manager said.

“For the rest of the game we were not at the races at all and lost to a much better side.”

The result will boost the confidence of Celtic, who welcome Helsingborgs to Parkhead in midweek as they bid to make the group stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2008.

Scottish Premier League
Dundee 0 - Ross County 1
Hibernian 2 - St Johnstone 0
Inverness 2 - Celtic 4
Kilmarnock 3 - Dundee Utd 1


P W D L F A Pts
Celtic 3 2 1 0 6 3 7
Hibernian 4 4 1 1 5 5 7
Dundee United 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
Ross County 4 1 3 0 2 1 6
Hearts 3 1 2 0 5 3 5
Kilmarnock 4 1 2 1 5 4 5
Motherwell 3 1 2 0 3 2 5
St Mirren 3 1 1 1 5 4 4
Aberdeen 3 1 1 1 2 2 4
Inverness CT 4 0 3 1 7 9 3
St Johnstone 4 0 1 3 2 7 1
Dundee 4 0 1 3 0 6 1

Premier League today
Aberdeen vs Hearts - 16.00
Motherwell vs St Mirren - 16.00

Division One
Airdrie 1 - Dunfermline 2
Cowdenbeath 1 - Hamilton 0
Morton 1 - Falkirk 2
Partick 3 - Dumbarton 0
Raith 0 - Livingston 0

Division Two
Alloa 2 - Arbroath 3
Ayr 2 - Forfar 3
Brechin 2 - East Fife 1
Q’ of the South 1 - Albion 0
Stranraer 1 - Stenhousemuir 1

Division Three
East Stirling 1 - Elgin4
Montrose 0 - Annan 0
Peterhead 1 - Queen’s Park 0
Stirling Albion 0 - Clyde 1

Playing today
Berwick vs Rangers - 13.00

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