A Scott McDonald double in a 3-1 win over Hibernian at Parkhead helped Celtic stretch their lead over Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League to four points.

The Australia international slammed the home side ahead in the third minute as Gordon Strachan's men started in whirlwind fashion.

When skipper Stephen McManus grabbed a second from close range six minutes later, it looked all over for the visitors.

However, Hibs skipper Rob Jones pulled a goal back with a header in the 17th minute to give the Easter Road men a glimmer of hope.

But Celtic regained control and McDonald grabbed his second 15 minutes from time late to seal a deserved victory.

The home side looked in the mood to take advantage of second-placed Rangers' draw at Aberdeen earlier in the day as they stormed in to an early two-goal lead, both coming from Shunsuke Nakamura corners.

In the third minute the Japan international floated a corner in from the left and after Hibs keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski had impressively parried Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's powerful header, McDonald was perfectly placed to bundle the rebound in from six yards.

Celtic doubled their lead in the ninth minute when Vennegoor of Hesseslink again rose to reach a Nakamura corner, the ball this time ricocheting around the six-yard box before McManus slammed the ball in from close range.

The contest seemed over but in the 17th minute, out of the blue, Hibs pulled a goal back.

Following Celtic defender Gary Caldwell's handball on the left, Jones flicked Derek Riordan's in-swinging free-kick past Parkhead keeper Artur Boruc to stun the home fans.

The Easter Road side appeared relieved to be still in the game but slowly grew in confidence without suggesting they were close to an equaliser.

In the 37th minute Vennegoor of Hesselink had a good chance when he took Marc Crosas's deflected pass on his chest but his volley from the edge of the box flew wide.

Two minutes later, after Hibs midfielder Sol Bamba had fouled the Dutchman 25 yards from goal, Szamotulski pulled off a great fingertip save from Nakamura's free-kick and Hibs survived the resultant corner kick.

In the final seconds of the half, after Bamba had clattered McDonald 25 yards out, Nakamura again forced a fine save from the Hibs keeper with his curled-free-kick.

Hibs ended the first 45 minutes hanging on but Celtic took their time to get back in to their stride after the break.

The champions looked in no danger of conceding another goal but the zip displayed early in the first half had gone.

The pressure on the Hibs goal began to build slowl. Andreas Hinkel had a shot from 30 yards blocked by Jones' legs but on the hour mark the visitors missed a great chance to score on the counterattack.

Derek Riordan raced down the left and his long ball across the Celtic penalty area found Colin Nish, who turned inside McManus to give himself a shooting opportunity but

hesitated and his effort was blocked by the Celtic captain as the Hoops' defence retreated.

McManus was replaced by Glenn Loovens almost immediately, the Scotland defender presumably having picked up an injury as the Leith side began to fancy their chances of grabbing an equaliser.

Celtic stepped up the pace and had a decent penalty appeal turned down by referee David Somers when Hibs defender Darren McCormack clashed with Aiden McGeady inside the box.

As the game moved into the final stages, the nervy Celtic support urged their side to find a decisive third goal.

That goal came in the 75th minute after good work by in-form midfielder Scott Brown who burrowed his way past Lewis Stevenson on the right before cutting the ball back to McDonald who hooked it high in to the net from 12 yards.

Four minutes from time, Denes Rosa, on moments earlier for Riordan to make his Hibs debut, crashed a shot from 35 yards off a post in what was the last of the action.

Teams:

Celtic Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus (Loovens 63), Naylor,Nakamura, Scott Brown, Crosas (Robson 77), McGeady, McDonald,Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 79).

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, O'Dea, McCourt, Sheridan.

Goals: McDonald 3, McManus 9, McDonald 76.

Hibernian Szamotulski, McCormack, Hogg, Jones, Stevenson,Thicot, Bamba, Rankin, Riordan (Rosa 84), Nish (Johansson 74),Fletcher (Shiels 84).

Subs Not Used: McNeil, van Zanten, Chisholm, Keenan.

Booked: Bamba, Johansson.

Goals: Jones 17.

Att: 58,930

Ref: D Somers (Scotland).