Celtic Come From Behind To Beat The Terrors

Hearts' Draw and Rangers' Loss Leaves The Bhoys Five Points Clear

Celtic beat Dundee United last weekend but had to come from a goal down before running out 4 - 1 winners with Shunsuke Nakamura grabbing a hat-trick. Utd controlled the first-half after Noel Hunt gave them a fifth-minute lead. Celtic struggled to get into the game until Nakamura restored parity a minute before the interval. After the break it was all about the Bhoys in green and white hoops.

Nakamura gave the champions the lead in the 48th minute when he scored with a left-foot finish. Four minutes later, Vennegoor of Hesselink killed the contest with an angled shot past Stillie and Nakamura sealed the rout in the 58th minute. After the game manager Gordon Strachan said. "We were brave at 1-0 down in our passing and got the reward once the goals flew in. In the second half, we were untouchable. Nakamura is a top player and he showed that with great goals, yet the first half-hour was his least productive spell since coming here."

Gordon Strachan has been named Bank of Scotland Premier League Manager of the Month for September and Aiden McGeady picked up his second successive Young Player of the Month award. The Republic of Ireland international helped the champions pick up maximum points last month.

Lee Naylor insists he will get even better, despite helping the Hoops to five consecutive clean sheets in recent weeks and Naylor believes he has adapted to life in the SPL. "The clean sheets mean that it's 'job done', doesn't it?" he said. "Keeping clean sheets is your bread and butter as a defender, we've done that and I feel that we've contributed at the other end also." Naylor is also happy with how he has settled in at Celtic following his move from Wolves. "I feel that I've come here as quite an easy-going person and that I've fitted in quite well," Naylor said. "There are class players all around you at this club and to see them and work with them every day builds your own confidence. So coming into this side wasn't a problem, because I knew that I had players around me who could back me up when I was in trouble and who I could help if they were in trouble... I am happy, very happy with how it's gone, but at the same time I know that I can do a lot better. There is a lot more to come from me and as my confidence keeps growing and growing, you will see a better player."

Shaun Maloney has stated that he is keen on signing a contract extension at the Glasgow club, but only if the deal is right. The Scotland international is currently in the midst of negotiations at Parkhead but looks no closer to reaching a satisfactory conclusion despite the fact that talks between the 23-year-old and the SPL leaders have been going on for months. Maloney's current deal expires at the end of the season which makes him free to speak to other clubs in January but the player insists he is focused only on playing for Celtic and hopes matters will be resolved soon.

Martin O'Neill has dismissed suggestions that he was wrongly passed over for the England job. The former Celtic boss was one of a number of candidates considered to replace Sven Goran Eriksson at the helm after the World Cup. "I think that's all in the past. I could do nothing about what happened. I have to, as everybody is saying these days, move on," O'Neill said. "Everybody has to move on and I'm enjoying myself here at this football club at the moment. Ask me again when we get hammered a couple of times. But I'm fine and really enjoying it, I'm enjoying working with this set of players. It's been really good and it's keeping me alive. I'm too selfish to concern myself with the rest of the world."