Keane on the spot as Celtic reduce gap

ROBBIE KEANE kept up his impressive scoring rate for Celtic as his second-half penalty helped the Parkhead men to a 3-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory over St Johnstone.

Teenage stopper Josh Thompson's first goal for the Hoops gave Tony Mowbray's side a half-time advantage before Saints keeper Graeme Smith conceded a penalty in the 67th minute for fouling Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Ireland captain Keane, who was always a threat, slammed in the spot-kick to take his tally to nine in nine games since arriving on loan from Tottenham in February.

Substitute Georgios Samaras, on for Fortune, completed the scoring with three minutes remaining as Celtic moved 10 points behind SPL leaders Rangers, although they have played a game more.

Aberdeen equalled the worst run of results in the club's history with a spirited 2-2 home draw against Dundee United.

The Dons have now gone 11 games without a win, having only twice previously gone on such a dire run back in 1917 and 1927, but they can take some solace from this performance as they came from two goals down to earn a point.

A Jon Daly double had given Dundee United an early lead but the Dons fought back with a Zander Diamond header and a Michael Paton penalty in first-half stoppage time.

Winger Ryan Flynn earned Falkirk a crucial point in their battle to avoid relegation as the Bairns came from behind to draw a see-saw encounter 2-2 with Hamilton. The visitors earned themselves the advantage at half-time thanks to Scott Arfield's 26th-minute strike.

But Accies came roaring back after the break with two goals in eight minutes that looked set to send them nine points clear of their opponents at the foot of the SPL.

Top scorer Mickael Antoine-Curier headed in his seventh of the season for the Lanarkshire men in the 50th minute.

And, when referee Dougie McDonald adjudged the Frenchman to have been brought down by Brian McLean, Simon Mensing put Billy Reid's outfit ahead for the first time in the match.

Their lead lasted only three minutes, however, as former Liverpool youngster Flynn volleyed in what could prove to be a vital equaliser on the hour mark to take Steven Pressley's side to within three points of second-bottom St Mirren.