A Kris Commons double against Hamilton at Parkhead put Celtic eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL, as Kilmarnock beat Hearts.
Commons capitalised on a shocking mistake by Accies defender David Elebert early in the second half to double his tally and secure the 2-0 win which puts the pressure on to Rangers, who have three games in hand ahead of their trip to St Mirren.
Elsewhere, David Silva and Alexei Eremenko netted within seven second-half minutes as Kilmarnock beat Hearts 2-0 to cut the gap in the race for third place.
Silva struck after 50 minutes and Eremenko, who was sent off after 71 minutes, netted a quickfire second after 56 minutes to leave Hearts stunned after a dominant first-half display at Tynecastle.
Killie were the most recent team to visit Hearts and claim an SPL win and again returned to Ayrshire with victory despite Eremenko's dismissal for a high tackle on David Templeton.
Inverness moved back into the top half with a 3-0 victory over Motherwell.
Shane Sutherland, a product of the youth system at Inverness, and Alex MacDonald, on loan from Burnley, both scored their first goals for the club while captain Richie Foran was also on the scoresheet in this comprehensive victory.
The win moved Caley Thistle to within a point of Motherwell as the battle for a top-six place in the league intensifies, with the split fast approaching.
St Johnstone extended their unbeaten home record to eight games in all competitions with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a revitalised Hibernian.
Derek McInnes' men went into the game unbeaten in six league games at McDiarmid Park but faced a new-look Hibernian side who had five wins in a row.
An own goal by Richie Towell gave the home side the lead early in the second half but David Wotherspoon levelled with 11 minutes to go.
