THE start of Dundee’s game against Celtic at Dens Park yesterday was delayed after away supporters threw dozens of tennis balls on the pitch in a protest over claims that Celtic is considering appointing Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins in a senior security role.

A banner directed at acting chief executive Michael Nicholson read: “Fans or Higgins? Ball’s in your court, Nicholson.”

And nationalist supporters made their views known when a remembrance silence commemorating the contribution of British and Commonwealth servicepeople in the two world wars and later conflicts was not observed.

Referee Alan Muir then appeared to call an early halt after some away fans started singing an Irish patriotic song about Aidan McAnespie, who was shot dead at a British army checkpoint in Co Tyrone in 1988.

As for the game itself, Jota and Kyogio Furuhashi both scored twice as Celtic continued their impressive away run with a 4-2 win.

The pair both scored early in each half as Celtic made it five wins in a row on the road.

Danny Mullen and Lee Ashcroft headed home replies for the hosts in each half but Celtic were largely in control of the Premiership contest.

Jota also set up a goal, while Anthony Ralston supplied the other three assists and Nir Bitton also shone in the middle of Celtic’s midfield.

The Celtic players wasted no time once the action got under way. Jota drilled home the opener in the eighth minute after Ralston’s deflected shot had bounced off the post.

Furuhashi and Stephen Welsh were off-target before the Japan forward got away from Lee Ashcroft to head home Ralston’s cross in the 19th minute.

Dundee pulled one back when Mullen marked his first start since suffering an ankle injury in July with his first goal of the season, glancing home from six yards after good wing play from Paul McMullan.

Mullen tried his luck from the centre circle after a loose pass from the visitors, but the pressure was coming from the visitors and they twice came close following corners by David Turnbull. Adam Legzdins made a good stop from Cameron Carter-Vickers before Welsh sent a free header wide from five yards.

Celtic finished the game off inside the first five minutes of the second half. Jota volleyed home his sixth goal of the season from close range after getting across his marker to meet Ralston’s cross before the Portuguese winger set up Furuhashi.

The on-loan Benfica player beat a man, played a one-two with Josip Juranovic and cut the ball back for Furuhashi to fire in off the near post.

Celtic conceded after a throw-in on the left wing in the 67th minute. Ashcroft beat Joe Hart to McMullan’s cross to head home.

There was little threat of a sustained comeback though. Jota curled wide after some good skill before being substituted to chants of “Celtic, sign him up.”

Manager Ange Postecoglou had already taken off Furuhashi and Liel Abada and his replacement front three could not add another goal.

The closest they came was when James Forrest rounded Legzdins and cut back for Giorgos Giakoumakis, but the Greek striker was leaning back and shot over.