Celtic go three points clear of Rangers but injury woes deepen for Strachan ahead of Champions' League date with United

Second-half goals from Scott Brown and Glen Loovens helped Celtic to victory in the Highlands yesterday as they beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1 to move three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League. But Celtic's manager, Gordon Strachan, arguably has more reasons than his counterpart, Craig Brewster, to wake feeling rueful this morning. Strachan's side were unconvincing winners and Celtic's pre-match injury woes have deepened into something approaching a crisis ahead of Tuesday's crucial Champions' League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It was already known that Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will be sidelined for several weeks through injury but the Dutchman's fellow lofty front-man, Georgios Samaras, was a surprise absentee yesterday, even from the bench. Strachan confirmed after the game that the Greek forward will undergo surgery today in Dublin to repair a tear in his cartilage.

Celtic's centre-half Gary Caldwell had to be substituted yesterday after a foot injury that required stitches and makes him a doubt for Tuesday, and midfielder Marc Crosas had to be helped off the pitch after pulling a hamstring stretching for the ball.

Celtic's victory means there is now clear water at the top of the table between them and Rangers, whose scheduled game against Dundee United yesterday at Ibrox was postponed as a mark of respect to United'sowner-chairman, Eddie Thompson, who died on Wednesday after a long fight against cancer.

Elsewhere in the SPL, Aberdeen won 1-0 at Falkirk to drag themselves off the bottom of the table and dump their hosts into that position instead. Kilmarnock beat Motherwell 1-0 and St Mirren won 2-1 at Hamilton to jump above their hosts.

South of the border, Chelsea romped to a 5-0 victory at Middlesbrough, Salomon Kalou scoring twice to keep the Blues top of the table on goal difference. There was a come-from-behind victory for Liverpool, who beat Wigan thanks to a Dirk Kuyt brace, while Arsenal also came from a goal down to beat Everton 3-1.