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23 Jan 2016
Celtic move six points clear in Scotland

Celtic moved six points clear at the top of the Premiership with an assured victory over St Johnstone.

The defending champions were efficient as they took control with first-half goals from Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong.

St Johnstone briefly rallied, and tied the game at 1-1 when Steven MacLean equalised.

But they had no answer to Celtic's growing authority and Mackay-Steven netted again after the break.

Leaders too strong for Saints

Stuart Armstrong celebrates after scoring for Celtic against St Johnstone

Armstrong scored his first goal since August

St Johnstone's resistance lasted only nine minutes, though they may consider that a feat given how ruthlessly Celtic dispatched Hamilton 8-1 in midweek with three early goals.

Few defences have found the means to curtail Leigh Griffiths this season and, after his effort was blocked, Mackay-Steven darted through to drive past Alan Mannus.

The visitors from Perth did not allow their sprightliness to be subdued by the circumstances and Michael O'Halloran's pace could not be contained.

He may yet complete a move to Rangers but he was focused in Glasgow and skipped past Kieran Tierney to cross for MacLean to finish from close range.

Frustration might have set in for the home side but Armstrong was brilliantly accurate and composed as he swept a first-time volley into the net from Mikael Lustig's cross.

Another goal after the break finally quelled St Johnstone's spirit. Johansen's pass might have been aimed at Griffiths, but the ball fell perfectly into Mackay-Steven's stride for him to finish with cool aplomb.

Youngsters on form

Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie

Ryan Christie made his Celtic debut in the second half

The display was sound from Celtic, and scattered with the promise of their youthful attacking players.

Though over elaborate, Celtic dominated possession and Mackay-Steven, Griffiths and Callum McGregor all impressed in the final third, while debutant Ryan Christie replaced Armstrong late on.

The standout Celtic player was Tierney, though, who played with a depth of composure and awareness that sets him apart in defence and attack.

There were other half-chances, so that the scoreline might better have reflected Celtic's hold in the game, but also a clearance off his own goal-line from Johansen.

St Johnstone never lost heart, but the gap in quality could not be breached.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Celtic

  • 01 Gordon
  • 23 Lustig
  • 04 Ambrose
  • 05 Simunovic
  • 63 Tierney
  • 06 Bitton
  • 42 McGregor (Allan - 79' )
  • 16 Mackay-Steven (Forrest - 86' )
  • 25 Johansen
  • 14 Armstrong (Christie - 88' )
  • 09 Griffiths

Substitutes

  • 03 Izaguirre
  • 07 Ciftci
  • 17 Christie
  • 19 Allan
  • 20 Boyata
  • 38 Fasan
  • 49 Forrest

St Johnstone

  • 01 Mannus
  • 14 Shaughnessy Booked
  • 06 Anderson
  • 03 Scobbie
  • 24 B Easton
  • 08 Davidson Booked (Caddis - 69' )
  • 04 Lappin
  • 29 O'Halloran
  • 18 Cummins (Craig - 45' )
  • 10 Wotherspoon
  • 09 MacLean (Sutton - 65' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Mackay
  • 11 Sutton
  • 12 Clark
  • 16 Caddis
  • 25 Kane
  • 26 Craig
  • 27 Thomson
Ref: Kevin Clancy

Match Stats

Shots

20 7

On target

14 5

Corners

3 2

Fouls

18 11

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 1.

90:00 +2:11 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 1.

90:00 +0:36

Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).

90:00 +0:36

Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

87:28 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Ryan Christie replaces Stuart Armstrong.

87:10

Attempt missed. Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.

85:38 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Gary Mackay-Steven.

85:24

Foul by Scott Allan (Celtic).

85:24

Joe Shaughnessy (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81:50

Attempt saved. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

80:20

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner.

78:35 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Callum McGregor.

75:55

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.

74:54

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

74:10

Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).

74:10

Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

72:28

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).

72:28

Tam Scobbie (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

71:59

Attempt missed. Brian Easton (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

69:15

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).

69:15

Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

68:28 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St. Johnstone. Liam Caddis replaces Murray Davidson.

67:35

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).

67:35

Brian Easton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.

66:35

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.

65:14

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

65:14

Foul by John Sutton (St. Johnstone).

64:54 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St. Johnstone. John Sutton replaces Steven MacLean.

64:28

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.

63:36

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

62:22

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).

62:22

Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

61:49

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Steven Anderson.

61:10

Attempt saved. Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

60:21

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Leigh Griffiths.

59:54

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Jozo Simunovic.

59:23

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

59:09

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner.

57:31

Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).

57:31

Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

56:31

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

56:05

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

56:05

Foul by Liam Craig (St. Johnstone).

54:19 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 1. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.

52:35

Hand ball by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).

49:49

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

49:35

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

48:38

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

48:38

Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

47:48

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

47:48

Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).

46:12

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).

46:12

Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 2, St. Johnstone 1.

45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St. Johnstone. Liam Craig replaces Graham Cummins.

45:00 +2:26 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 2, St. Johnstone 1.

45:00 +1:46 Booking

Booking Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.

45:00 +1:16 Booking

Booking Joe Shaughnessy (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

45:00 +1:07

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

45:00 +1:07

Foul by Joe Shaughnessy (St. Johnstone).

45:00 +0:13

Attempt saved. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

42:59 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, St. Johnstone 1. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mikael Lustig.

42:32

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.

38:40

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.

36:16

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36:16

Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).

35:10

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

35:10

Foul by Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone).

34:40

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).

34:40

Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

34:00

(St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

33:46

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).

33:27

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

32:45

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

32:45

Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

29:13

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

29:13

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).

26:45

Attempt missed. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.

26:02

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

26:02

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).

21:34

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).

21:34

Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

17:17

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brian Easton.

16:04

Attempt saved. Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

14:27

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

14:27

Foul by Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone).

13:37

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).

13:37

Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

12:33

Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

11:06 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 1. Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Michael O'Halloran.

10:33

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.

9:20

Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9:20

Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).

8:12 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 0. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

8:07

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

4:15

Foul by Simon Lappin (St. Johnstone).

4:15

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

2:42

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).

2:42

Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

1:26

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).

1:26

Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

0:00

First Half begins.

0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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