Celtic 2-1 Dundee

• Celtic claim fifth straight league win

• Stokes and Guidetti keep Ronny Deila's side top

• Clarkson replied for Dundee

• Celtic lead Premiership on goal difference

Celtic recorded a fifth successive Scottish Premiership win but were made to work hard for the points by Dundee.

Anthony Stokes headed the hosts in front before the break and John Guidetti continued his fine scoring form in the second half.

But Dundee pulled a goal back through David Clarkson, who scored for a seventh consecutive game.

It gave the visitors hope but leaders Celtic saw the game out.

The result keeps them ahead of nearest challengers Inverness Caledonian Thistle on goal difference.

It was far from convincing from Ronny Deila's men, though much of that was due to Dundee's desire to take the game to the home side.

Nonetheless, Celtic ground out the win and go into Thursday's match against Salzburg knowing another victory will guarantee them Europa League football beyond Christmas.

Stokes nodded Celtic into the lead

James Forrest had looked Celtic's liveliest player and when his strength and persistence coaxed Kevin Thomson into a foul by the corner flag, the opening goal followed.

Kris Commons drove in the free-kick and Stokes powered in at the near post to nod past Scott Bain from close range.

That was harsh on the excellent Bain and his Dundee team-mates, who had been the more enterprising side until that point.

With Gary Harkins pulling the strings, the visitors created numerous opportunities, with Virgil van Dijk heading a Clarkson chip off the line in the opening minutes and both Greg Stewart and Thomas Konrad missing the target when they should have scored.

Celtic had threatened on occasion, with Bain blocking bravely from Guidetti and Forrest just failing to end a jinking run with a finish to match.

But it was the winger who again played a pivotal role in Celtic extending their lead. He released Adam Matthews down the right and, after the full-back lifted his head to pick out Guidetti, the rest was a formality.

Dundee thought they had found an immediate response when James McPake glanced a header past Craig Gordon, only to be flagged offside, but moments later they did reduce the deficit.

The impressive Stewart tried to carve out an opening and when the ball eventually fell to Clarkson, the striker buried the ball past Gordon with the aid of a deflection.

But though that set up the prospect of a nervy finish for the home side, Dundee could not muster any more chances, meaning Celtic's winning run continues.

Clarkson scored for the seventh consecutive game but it proved only to be consolation