Champions Celtic strolled to a 3-0 win over Gretna in their Scottish Premier League clash to reduce Rangers' lead at the top of the table to just three points.

Australian striker Scott McDonald side-footed a neat volley from six metres across keeper Greg Fleming into the left side of the net for the 42nd minute opener after a diagonal header from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink at the edge of the box.

Dutch striker Vennegoor of Hesselink headed the second in 70 minutes from a cross by Aiden McGeady and Greek substitute Georgios Samaras steered a close range shot into the roof of the net for the third in the 88th minute.

The match was played at First Division Livingston's ground due to the poor condition of Gretna's ground-share pitch at Motherwell and attracted just 3,572 fans.

Althoughn Gretna have been placed in administration, they put up a brave fight.

They almost levelled on the hour when Brendan McGill picked out Nicky Deverdics in the box. However, he miscued his low shot and German defender Andreas Hinkel cleared off the line at the back post.

Celtic took advantage of that miss to add two more from Vennegoor of Hesselink and Samaras and now have 68 points from 29 matches while leaders Rangers, who beat Hibernian 2-1 on Saturday, have 71 from 28.

Bottom club Gretna have just six points from 30 matches after being deducted 10 points for entering administration.

Reuters