Celtic turned on the style in the second half to beat Dundee United 3-1 in this afternoon's Scottish Premiership clash.

Paul Paton had the first effort on goal after 10 minutes, but his 30-yard strike dragged wide of the post.

The home side began to push forward and came close with a ball over the top that almost led to Leigh Griffiths connecting with a first-time volley.

Celtic cut through the visitors with some quick, incisive passing on 16 minutes, but Anthony Stokes couldn't finish the move with a final ball.

Griffiths beat the away side's defence to a long ball just after the 20-minute mark and forced the goalkeeper into a fine save from an acute angle.

Griffiths then beat United's offside trap on 32 minutes, but saw his shot turned wide at the near post by the goalkeeper.

Stokes gave Celtic the lead on 64 minutes, nodding home a cross from Kris Commons to make it 1-0 to the champions.

The home side then had a chance to double their lead on 75 minutes when Georgios Samaras was brought down by the goakeeper to earn a penalty. The Greek striker stepped up and scored from the spot to make it 2-0.

Minutes later, the visitors pulled a goal back when Filip Twardzik inadvertently put the ball into his own net trying to cut out a Gary Mackay-Steven cross.

Celtic soon restored their two-goal cushion on 82 minutes when Commons deftly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper for his 32nd goal of the season.