THERE is no need to re-edit the Celtic Christmas highlights DVD.

The win in Perth yesterday could never be described as spectacular, but it will be deeply satisfying for Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, with only the injury to Daniel Majstorovic spoiling what was an otherwise promising afternoon.

Second-half goals from Gary Hooper and Ki Sung-Yueng accrued another three points as Celtic achieved their seventh consecutive league win in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The highlight of what was an occasionally frustrating afternoon for Lennon will be the increasing evidence that his Celtic team have gained consistency. There are signs, too, of a building momentum. Lennon talked long and hard after the match about the excellence of his side, but this was a day when the result was more important than any performance. It usually is.

The chasm of Rangers' 12-point advantage has been narrowed to four points with Celtic facing Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Saturday before facing Rangers at home. The opportunity for Celtic to close the gap further is obvious though the Celtic manager was rightly focusing on the match against the Ayrshire side and also insisting his side still had to prove itself.

There were reasons for him to be cheerful, though, as his side eventually moved with comfort towards victory.

A first half of general tedium and occasional misfiring was marked only by Majstorovic sustaining a fractured cheekbone in a collision with St Johnstone's David Robertson, with both players ultimately having to be substituted, and Hooper missing from six yards, being denied by the outstretched hand of Peter Enckelman. The second half was easier both on the eye and on the nerves of the Celtic manager.

Celtic, playing a fluid 4-3-3, consistently stretched the home side but had to wait until an hour had passed before breaking down their opponents. The crucial first goal came when Charlie Mulgrew's corner was headed goalwards by the impressive Victor Wanyama and Hooper squeezed the ball in.

St Johnstone, whose attacking potential can be charitably described as limited because of absent players, lost the second goal four minutes later after they squandered a free-kick on the edge of the area and Celtic broke with a menace that was franked by Ki blasting in from six yards after Cha Du Ri, James Forrest and Georgios Samaras exploited the space offered by Steve Lomas' men.

The match was thus over as a contest and Celtic were left to coast to a victory that could have been more comfortable had Samaras and Hooper been sharper in meeting fine crosses by the increasingly impressive Forrest.

Lennon, though, will not grumble, particularly as his side had a difficult game in Italy on Thursday and faced a St Johnstone side who were determined if hardly likely to pose problems beyond a defiant defence. Indeed, Fraser Forster had to make only two saves – from Dave Mackay and Marcus Haber – in a comfortable afternoon.

The latter came after Wanyama slipped allowing the striker a run on goal. It was his only blemish on an otherwise excellent match for the Kenyan international. Brought in as an energetic midfielder, Wanyama may be asked to reprise his role in the centre of defence over the festive period, given the injuries to Glenn Loovens and Majstorovic. The fit- again Kelvin Wilson and Thomas Rogne, who came on for the Swede last night, may have other ideas.

Whatever the permutation Lennon chooses in central defence, it will undoubtedly face stiffer tests than that posed by a St Johnstone side shorn of Francisco Sandaza and Cillian Sheridan.

The rest of Lennon's side were not quite on top form, but the home team were ultimately overcome with some ease. Cha and Mulgrew both gave attacking support from full-back, although the South Korean must start to wonder why so many of his crosses could not find a taker in a Celtic shirt.

The midfield three of Ki, Biram Kayal and Scott Brown were too powerful for the Perth side who only had the intermittent glimmer from Murray Davidson and Liam Craig to leaven what was becoming a gloomy afternoon for them.

The telling interventions, as always, were made up front. Forrest showed his versatility by playing on either flank and on occasion just behind Hooper. Samaras was again used as a point man with diagonal balls being hit high to his head. The Greek striker may be forgiven for doubting whether this is playing to his strengths but he did cause St Johnstone problems in the air as well as down the channels.

Hooper could and perhaps should have had a hat trick. Enckelman denied the English striker on two occasions from excellent opportunities before the 23-year-old forward opened the scoring.

However, once the former Scunthorpe United striker had found the net, the result was never in doubt. The second goal by Ki allowed Lennon to take off Kayal and Hooper in recognition of the challenges ahead.

McDiarmid Park on a chilly Sunday had the potential to be a spot where Celtic could slip but Lennon's side are looking increasingly sure-footed in their pursuit of Rangers. Their next test is against Kilmarnock at home but the Old Firm match next Wednesday night is already adopting its customary, crucial mantle.

Scorers. Celtic – Hooper (60), Ki (64)