Celtic maintained their strong start to the Scottish Premiership season on Saturday with a comfortable 3-1 win over Dundee United despite resting a host of first team stars.

Only Emilio Izaguirre and Leigh Griffiths survived from Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Malmo FF as manager Ronny Deila freshened up his side with one eye on Tuesday's return in Sweden.

The pair combined to hand Celtic a 17th minute lead as Griffiths scored for the fourth consecutive match.

Mark Durnan's own goal doubled the Hoops' advantage in the 44th minute but United immediately responded through Chris Erskine's first half stoppage time penalty.

Substitute Callum McGregor restored Celtic's two-goal advantage in the 74th minute as the Glasgow giants unbeaten start to the season continued to move them top of the Scottish Premiership ahead of Hearts' match against Partick Thistle.

After Duran cleared an early Kris Commons effort off the line, Izaguirre and Griffiths combined to give Celtic the lead.

Izaguirre's through ball was missed by Durnan allowing Griffiths to latch on to it and round goalkeeper Luis Zwick before rolling it in from a tight angle.

Celtic stopper Logan Bailly was making his debut for the Hoops but he almost gave away a 22nd minute penalty when he tussled with Robbie Muirhead following a botched clearance but referee Willie Collum waved play on.

Zwick then made a superb save to deny Commons with a rasping drive before blocking a Griffiths strike with his feet.

United hadn't really been a threat until Ryan McGowan spurned a chance to equalise in the 42nd minute when he screwed a shot wide with the goal gaping.

United defender Durnan's day went from bad to worse as he scored a 44th minute own goal. The visitors launched a quick counter attack from a United corner and Commons' attempt to pick out Griffiths in the box was prodded past his own keeper by Durnan.

However, United immediately reduced the deficit as they were awarded a stoppage time penalty. Ambrose brought down Scott Fraser as he raced into the box and Erskine expertly slotted home the resultant spot-kick.

The home side came agonisingly close to an equaliser minutes after the break when Erskine teed up Paul Dixon for a shot but his effort whistled narrowly wide of the post.

Celtic fans got their first sight of new signing Scott Allan when the midfielder replaced Leigh Griffiths in the 70th minute.

The former Hibernian playmaker was immediately involved in the action when he pounced on a poor clearance from Zwick but his lobbed effort failed to catch the keeper out.

The Hoops restored their two-goal advantage in the 74th minute through McGregor. Some impressive build-up play saw Gary Mackay-Steven tee up the midfielder who took a couple of touches before firing in a shot that took a slight deflection off Coll Donaldson on its way past Zwick.