Goals by Scott McDonald, Scott Brown and Aiden McGeady helped Celtic beat Gretna and take the champions back to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Rangers' 2-1 win at Hibernian earlier in the day saw the Ibrox side leapfrog the Parkhead club at the top of the SPL by one point but that lasted only a few hours.

During a lacklustre first half, McDonald shot the home side in to the lead from the edge of the box with Brown notching just after the interval to ease the pressure on the listless home fans unimpressed by what they had been watching up until that point.

Celtic controlled the rest of the game, hitting the woodwork twice before McGeady scored a third in the final minute with the help of a deflection off Ryan McGuffie, playing only because Chris Innes had been caught in a traffic jam and was too late to make kick-off.

The first half was a celebration of mediocrity as far as Celtic were concerned, brightened by the performance of keeper Artur Boruc, back after injury, and McDonald's goal.

Celtic went in to the game knowing Rangers had leapfrogged them in to top spot in SPL with their 2-1 lunchtime victory over Hibernian at Easter Road but there was no spark to their game.

In the 13th minute Gretna's lone striker Kenny Deuchar's shot from 14 yards was blocked by Celtic skipper Stephen McManus for a corner which came to nothing but served as a warning to the lacklustre home side.

Two minutes later, as the Celtic defence hesitated, Allan Jenkins latched onto a long free-kick from McGuffie and his close-range flick at the near post was well saved by the alert Boruc.

Gretna midfielder Fabian Yantorno, who scored against Celtic in the 2-1 defeat at Fir Park earlier in the season, looked the most lively player on display.

In the 34th minute the Uruguayan broke free on the right-hand side of the box and blasted a right-footed drive which was parried into the air by Boruc, Jenkins heading the loose ball over.

But that close shave jolted Celtic in to action and they immediately ran up the park and grabbed the opener.

McGeady set up McDonald at the edge of the box and the Australian striker slammed a right-footed shot low past Tony Caig and in off the far post.

It seemed that would be the end of the Gretna challenge but as Celtic dropped back into a slumber, Boruc then had another fine save from Yantorno, pushing away a close-range drive.

Derek Riordan came close in the dying stages of the first half when he drove inches wide of the post from just inside the Gretna penalty area.

Celtic's made sure of the points in the 49th minute with a terrific strike by midfielder Brown.

As the visitors retreated into their penalty area, the former Hibernian player took a Massimo Donati pass 25 yards from goal and arrowed a left-foot strike low past the helpless Caig for his third goal of the season.

Moments later, McDonald set up Donati who crumbled inside the penalty area after a challenge by Gretna midfielder Paul Murray but referee David Somers waved play on.

At the other end, Evan Horwood's deep free-kick into the penalty area was punched against the head of Deuchar by Boruc with Celtic defender Gary Caldwell scrambling back to clear the ball off the line.

Gretna continued to push forward which allowed Celtic space behind their defence and it looked like another one goal for the home side, at least, was on the horizon.

Paul Hartley replaced Riordan in the 65th minute to the displeasure of the midfielder who walked despondently up the tunnel.

In the 70th minute Hartley crashed a header off the crossbar after meeting a McGeady cross from the left moments before McDonald sent a left-footed drive off the far post with Caig beaten.

With two minutes to go McGeady fired in a third with the help of a deflection off the hapless McGuffie to set the Hoops up for the crucial Old Firm game on Wednesday.

Teams

Celtic Boruc, Caldwell, Balde, McManus, Naylor, McGeady,Donati (Sno 73), Scott Brown, Riordan (Hartley 64), McDonald,Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Killen, Caddis, O'Brien, O'Dea.

Booked: Scott Brown.

Goals: McDonald 35, Scott Brown 49, McGeady 89.

Gretna Caig, Cowan, Horwood, Collin, McGuffie, Jenkins,Deverdics (McGill 69), Yantorno, Skelton, Murray (Makinwa 81),Deuchar.

Subs Not Used: Fleming, Paartalu, Grady, Innes, Barr.

Att: 57,171

Ref: D Somers (Scotland).