Dundee 1-2 Celtic

• Gary Mackay-Steven gives Celtic first-half lead

• Virgil van Dijk free-kick doubles advantage

• Jim McAlister scored late on for hosts

• Celtic move eight points clear at top of Premiership

Celtic took a step closer to clinching the Scottish Premiership title with a comfortable win over Dundee.

Gary Mackay-Steven put Celtic in front when he was allowed to breeze through the defence and Virgil van Dijk doubled the lead with a powerful free-kick.

Ronny Deila's men were given a fright late on at Dens Park when they switched off and allowed Jim McAlister to finish low into the net.

But they held on to move eight points clear of Aberdeen in the title race.

The final score made the game look closer than it was, even if Celtic lacked the spark and energy that has become commonplace under Delia.

Mackay-Steven and former Dundee United team-mate Stuart Armstrong were both restored to the side after being ineligible for the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Inverness and, in the early stages, they looked the more likely to create something for the visitors.

Two Armstrong corners caused problems, goalkeeper Scott Bain punching the first into the path of Mackay-Steven, whose shot was not far away, before Van Dijk got a decent connection on the second delivery.

In a first half dominated by mistakes, Bain almost gifted Celtic the opening goal when he flapped at a cross.

Virgil van Dijk doubled Celtic's lead with a free-kick

Then, as Dundee tried to clear, James Forrest tumbled under Willie Dyer's challenge, but referee Calum Murray waved away the penalty claims.

Dundee's resistance was finally broken when Mackay-Steven took Van Dijk's knockdown on the run and coolly slotted the ball past Bain.

The game fell into a little bit of a lull after that, with Jason Denayer, Nir Bitton and Leigh Griffiths all sending long-range efforts over the bar.

Forrest should have made it 2-0 when Bitton picked him out in the box, but he turned and fired straight at the goalkeeper, then Bitton himself fizzed a shot past.

Bain denied Griffiths from close range, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Van Dijk's free-kick, the Dutchman sending an effort high into the net.

Dundee, having already achieved a top-six spot, were well below their best, but they rallied late on.

Luka Tankulic had a close-range effort deflected over before McAlister drove a low shot into the net after good work from Paul McGinn.