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Leigh Griffiths scores second-half hat-trick

Kris Commons cancels out Darryl Westlake opener

Celtic move eight points clear at top of table

Leigh Griffiths came off the bench to score a hat-trick as Celtic saw off Kilmarnock to move eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Darryl Westlake had shocked Celtic Park with his first goal for Kilmarnock, a thumping shot from outside the box that deflected past Craig Gordon.

Kris Commons soon restored parity before Griffiths headed Celtic in front.

As Kilmarnock's defence opened up, Griffiths added two more late on.

The three points provide another big step towards the league title for Ronny Deila's men, with three more wins guaranteeing the title.

It also boosts hopes of a domestic treble and, with Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in mind, Deila made four changes.

They did not affect Celtic's fluency in the early stages with relentless pressure, but Kilmarnock goalkeeper Craig Samson was largely untroubled, a wasted John Guidetti free-kick the best the hosts could muster.

Virgil van Dijk rose unchallenged to meet a driven Commons corner in a move straight off the training ground, but Celtic's Dutch defender could not direct his header on target.

Guidetti was guilty of passing up a chance when he tried to be too fancy instead of shooting first time and James Forrest eventually curled the lay-off wide.

Celtic needed to up the pace in the second half, but it was Kilmarnock who hit them with a sucker punch.

Westlake hit a shot from outside the area that took a large deflection off a Celtic defender and looped over Gordon to give the Ayrshire men the lead.

Kilmarnock players celebrate after Darryl Westlake gave them the lead

However, Celtic were soon level. Sammy Clingan could not get the ball cleared and Adam Matthews fed Commons, who fired a left-foot shot into the top corner.

Falling behind at home had woken the hosts up and it was not long until it was 2-1.

Griffiths arrived on the scene at the half-hour mark and he made a stunning impact.

First, Commons got to the bye-line and chipped into the box for Griffiths, who had a simple header past Samson.

Then Griffiths fired a low shot that spun off the post and over the line.

Scotland goalkeeper Gordon still had work to do at then other end, pulling off a great save to deny Nathan Eccleston.

It was at the back where the visitors needed to be strong, however, as their early defensive prowess was being undone.

Griffiths completed his hat-trick after he burst in behind the defence and added a cool finish.