CELTIC restored their six point advantage over Aberdeen at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table with a comfortable 3-1 victory over St. Johnstone at Celtic Park this afternoon.
The Dons had reduced the reigning champions’ lead to just three with their narrow 1-0 win over Dundee at Pittodrie last night.
Given that their next league game is against the second-placed side in the division on Wednesday week away from home, this was an outing RonnyDeila’s side were desperate to win.
But they did so with the minimum of fuss thanks to a Stuart Armstrong strike and a double from his former Dundee United team mate Gary Mackay-Steven.
The victory was the perfect preparation for Celtic’s meeting with Ross County in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden a week tomorrow.
Mackay-Steven opened the scoring in the ninth minute after St. Johnstone keeper Alan Mannus had saved a shot from Leigh Griffiths.
The winger, starting his second game in five days, controlled the ball well before turning sharply and drilling a shot low into the net.
However, Celtic’s lead was short-lived. Their rivals drew level just two minutes later with a fine move involving Rangers signing target Michael O’Halloran.
O’Halloran skipped past Kieran Tierney on the right flank before squaring to his team mate Steven MacLean who prodded past Craig Gordon from close range.
It was St. Johnstone’s first goal in six games – they had last hit the target in their 3-2 win over Ross County in Dingwall way back on December 5.
The Perth club competed well in the opening 45 minutes, but it was their Glasgow rivals who looked more likely to score.
Callum McGregor curled a left-foot shot at the St. Johnstone goal just a minute before half time after receiving the ball from Lustig wide out on the right.
Mannus did superbly to palm McGregor’s attempt wide, but it was an indication that Deila’s side were gaining an edge in proceedings.
They netted their second just moments later in a well-worked move involving Mackay-Steven and Lustig on the right wing.
The latter whipped a perfectly-weighted cross into the St. Johnstone penalty box and Stuart Armstrong met it at pace and volleyed into the net.
David Wotherspoon tried his luck from long range shortly after his side fell behind, but Gordon had little difficulty gathering it.
Mackay-Steven, bright throughout the 90 minutes and a deserved recipient of the Man of the Match award, underlined that he has recovered from his dip in form by putting Celtic 3-1 ahead in 54 minutes.
Stefan Johansen attempted to supply Griffiths, who had an unusually quiet afternoon, only to see his pass intercepted.
Mackay-Steven, though, justified his decision to deprive his side’s top scorer of the ball by slotting confidently into the bottom left corner.
Tommy Wright put on Liam Craig for Graham Cummins and Liam Caddis for Murray Davidson in the second half, but his side failed to threaten and could have no complaints about the final result.
James Forrest came on for Mackay-Steven late on and Ryan Christie received a huge ovation from the Celtic support as he replaced Armstrong to make his debut in the final moments of the game.
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