Aaron Mooy leads the way as Celtic dispatch Dundee United

Aaron Mooy scored one goal and set up another as Celtic beat Dundee United 2-0 to restore their nine-point lead in the cinch Premiership.

Jota headed home in the 51st minute after Mark Birighitti misjudged Mooy's cross.

The Australian then benefited from Kieran Freeman's handball a few minutes later as Celtic were given a VAR-assisted penalty after earlier seeing an award withdrawn.

It was another dominant victory for Celtic, if not getting close to their record-breaking win in their previous visit to Tannadice. The visitors had 18 efforts at goal to the home side's four.

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Both sides had transfer-linked strikers missing from their squad - Tony Watt and Giorgos Giakoumakis missing out, while Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers returned from injury for the champions.

Celtic secured a record 9-0 victory on their previous visit to Tannadice in late August, a result which cost Jack Ross his job.

Liam Fox's side had only lost once since the mid-season break though and they proved more difficult to break down, although Kyogo Furuhashi missed a decent chance inside 60 seconds.

Steven Fletcher looped a header on to the roof of Joe Hart's net but it was otherwise one-way traffic as Celtic pressed United further back as the first half progressed.

Jota threatened three times after cutting in from the left, forcing two saves from Mark Birighitti, who pulled off a better one when Alistair Johnston played Furuhashi through.

Reo Hatate shot just wide from 18 yards and chipped the ball on to the inside of the far post in the 42nd minute before Craig Sibbald made an excellent block from Mooy in the six-yard box.

Celtic were awarded a penalty seconds later after Furuhashi went down between the close attention of Liam Smith and