Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to five points after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Parkhead.

In the final of their four consecutive clashes in 14 days, Gary Mackay-Steven came back to haunt his former club as his strike gave Celtic a 16th minute lead.

Swedish striker John Guidetti lashed home a second in the 33rd minute before Jason Denayer made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time with a back-heeled effort from close range.

Aberdeen’s 1-1 draw with Dundee means the Hoops, who also have a game in hand over their rivals, are now firm favourites to collect their fourth title in a row.

“It was one of those games where you feel you have total control from the start to the end,” Celtic manager Ronny Deila said.

“The first half performance was good and then the second half we didn’t push it, but it’s been a terrific week.”

Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara said his players were tired after four clashes in 14 days.

“It was more of a mental tiredness,” McNamara said. “I think you could see a few of the players feeling sorry for themselves in the first half.

“I was more pleased with the second half performance in terms of their passing.”

With the sides sick of the sight of each other the Celtic manager replaced his front four from their midweek clash as Stuart Armstrong and Mackay-Steven returned to face their former club for the first time while United attempted to stop their run of defeats by making three changes.

After the previous incident-packed encounters between the sides, which had seen six sending offs, the match at Celtic Park got off to a low-key start.

Armstrong was the first to come close as he flicked up a pass before firing a 20-yard shot just over the bar.

However, the game came to life in the 16th minute when Mackay-Steven returned to haunt his former club. The winger collected pass from Efe Ambrose on the right wing and he took a touch before unleashing a fierce angled strike from 25-yards that snuck through a ruck of players and crashed into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Mackay-Steven then turned provider as he teed up Guidetti to make it 2-0 in the 33rd minute. The Swedish striker played a one-two with his team-mate before rifling a sizzling strike past Radoslaw Cierzniak and into the top left-hand corner of the net from just outside the box.

Stefan Johansen came close to adding another minutes later when he burst into the box only to see Cierzniak block his effort with his legs before Mackay-Steven turned the rebound on to the post.

Celtic added a third in stoppage time through Denayer after Paul Paton picked up a booking for a crude challenge on Mackay-Steven. Johansen’s free-kick was fired towards goal by Virgil van Dijk but stopped by Denayer, who then back-heeled the ball into the net from a couple of yards out.

A momentary lapse of concentration in the Celtic defence on the hour mark allowed Nadir Ciftci through on goal but a last-ditch tackle from van Dijk snuffed out the danger just as the Turkish striker was going to pull the trigger.

Craig Gordon was finally called into action a few moments later when substitute Ryan Dow tested him with a dipping shot that the Hoops keeper was forced to tip over the bar.

Elsewhere, Ross County moved seven clear of St Mirren at the bottom with a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock. St Mirren lost 2-0 away to St Johnstone.