CELTIC may have enjoyed a morale-boosting friendly win in Spain yesterday but their Champions League second round qualifying opponents Stjarnan continued their stuttering start to the defence of their Pepsideild title.

The Icelandic champions, who lost 2-0 at Celtic Park last Wednesday, were held to a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Akranes despite taking the lead seven minutes before half-time through Olafur Finsen's strike. When the visitors had Albert Hafsteinsson sent off for a second bookable offence just past the hour mark it appeared Stjarnan were set fair for the three points but Arnar Gunnlaugsson notched the equaliser 14 minutes from time to leave Runar Pall Sigmundsson's side eight points adrift of leaders Hafnarfjordur in sixth place with a game more played.

Closer to home Paul Hartley, the Dundee manager, had a warning for his players to get their act together after watching them lose 1-0 to Brechin City at Glebe Park.

The Ladbrokes Premiership side fell to a second half goal from former Dundee United player Robert Thomson “It just wasn’t good enough,” said Hartley. “We need to make sure we improve because we have three tough games coming up against Rotherham, Wigan and Everton before Kilmarnock on the first day of the season.”

Hearts lost 1-0 to Preston North End at Deepdale with summer signing Blazej Augustyn back in the side and wearing the captain’s armband.

A sliced clearance from Neil Alexander in the second half was won in the air by Joe Garner and his header was adjudged to have crossed the line before the Tynecastle goalkeeper could punch it clear.

Motherwell travelled to Livingston and recorded a 2-0 victory with Lionel Ainsworth and Luke Watt getting on the scoresheet in the second half. Manager Ian Baraclough also reported that he expects to have news on the potential re-signing of Scott McDonald within the next 48 hours.

Hibernian took a two-goal lead over Dunfermline at East End Park thanks to goals from Scott Allan and Lewis Stevenson before Faisal El Bakhtaoui got one back for the home side with five minutes to play.

Hamilton recorded an impressive 5-0 win over Floriana in Malta thanks to Ali Crawford, Christian Nade, Darian Mackinnon, Lucas Tagliapietra and Dougie Imrie.

Kilmarnock, meanwhile, ran out 4-0 winners over Crusaders on their tour of Northern Ireland with the goals coming from Kris Boyd, Stuart Findlay, Josh Magennis and Rory McKenzie.

Partick Thistle drew 0-0 away to Falkirk while St Mirren went down 1-0 at home to Bradford City with new manager Ian Murray starting with his three summer signings of Paul McMullan, Scott Agnew and Stuart Carswell.

*JOHN DELANEY, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, is unrepentant over banking a 5m euro pay-off from FIFA and insists his only regret is failing to secure more money from them.

Delaney spoke at the association’s AGM in Sligo and received a standing ovation from members.

The Republic of Ireland, group rivals of Scotland in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2016, were beaten by France in a play-off for a place in the 2010 World Cup as a result of a handball from Thierry Henry late in the game. Delaney stated earlier this year that he agreed a deal with FIFA president Sepp Blatter and dropped threats of legal action.

“We’ve said it before and I will say it again: it was a good business deal for the association and was used entirely to help us to develop Irish football,” said Delaney. “I wish we had got more.”