NOT exactly a simple night for Celtic at the Simple Digital Arena but things never really threatened to get too complicated either. Neil Lennon must have expected to face a St Mirren side scrapping for their lives at the bottom of the table, an outfit buoyed by their weekend win over their relegation rivals Dundee. Instead, he encountered an unfamiliar Paisley outfit under his countryman Oran Kearney who made six changes from that team.

A signal that they were intent to keep their powder dry for another gargantuan bottom-six six pointer against Hamilton Academical at the weekend, the wisdom or otherwise of that policy will only become clear at the end of the season. But at least the players who were used in this match battled away for the jersey, while defeats for Dundee and Hamilton meant at least that they surrendered none of their hard -won ground.

While Lennon too rung the changes after his side’s weekend exertions, how the Celtic manager must have been relieved to win a league match by more than a solitary goal, the first time he has done that in five attempts. The greater depth of squad he has to play with was particularly apparent during the first half. A goal to the good within 15 minutes courtesy of Timothy Weah, only the heroics of Vaclav Hladky and a series of spurned opportunities stopped this becoming a procession. Eventually beaten for a second time by a deflected drive from Ryan Christie, the Czech keeper deserved a better fate than requiring treatment after a pyrotechnic was thrown in his direction from the visiting fans behind the goal. Thankfully he recovered his senses sufficiently to play out the remaining five minutes or so.

Not least of these missed openings was a first-half penalty from Oliver Ntcham, the Frenchman for whom this ground once again proved anything but a happy hunting ground. Sent off as Brendan Rodgers side dropped a couple of points against his countryman Oran Kearney earlier in the season, his spot kick yesterday was too close to Hladky, his misery was compounded when he blasted the rebound over under the attention of Anton Ferdinand.

To illustrate the point about the unfamiliarity of the St Mirren line-up, that penalty came courtesy of Jim Kellermann, Jack Ross’s parting gift to the club. The midfielder misjudged a high bouncing ball, looking on in dismay as it dropped on his arm. But then, it was understandable if he was a little ring-rusty; this was his first-ever start for the club and his first start of any description since a run-out for Fylde against Dover Athletic in the nether regions of the English game.

As for the Celtic changes, confusion continued to reign over the status of Kieran Tierney apart from the increasing nagging sensation that this talented young left back’s body still isn’t quite right. He dropped out of the Celtic squad entirely, and while Neil Lennon rubbished claims he wouldn’t be fit for Scotland’s June double header against Cyprus and Belgium he would dearly love to give him an extended lay-off.

The good news for Tierney is that he might be able to put his feet up pretty soon, with the possibility that Celtic could have an eighth league title wrapped up as early as this weekend, with a chance to book their place in another William Hill Scottish Cup showpiece seven days later.

Perhaps it was the thought of the opportunities which lie ahead which inspired an excellent performance from Emilio Izaguirre down the left. This was the Honduran of old, running St Mirren ragged on that flank in the kind of fluid, inter-changing performance which must have generally pleased their manager.

With no sign of Johnny Hayes, his partner in crime down that side was Timothy Weah, and the American got the goal which Celtic’s first-half dominance deserved, even if he didn’t exactly hit the back of the net. Mickael Lustig, who has re-asserted himself as Celtic ‘s pre-eminent right back option, was played in on-goal by James Forrest. Hladky got down well to save, but Weah’s header from the rebound was adjuged to be over the line. This was a good thing for Oliver Burke, who blazed the second rebound over.

This was a mixed bag for Burke deputising up-top for Odsonne Edouard. While his link up play was nice and he got into good positions, twice he fluffed his lines after fine work from Callum McGregor. He slotted one a foot wide of the post from the penalty spot in the first half and his second half finish was too close to the goalkeeper.

Going in at half time perhaps relieved to still be in the match, St Mirren finally grew into matters. Cody Cooke saw a long ranger palmed away by Bain, then Duckens Nazon might well have headed in after Mihai Popsecu had flicked on a corner. Suddenly there was some panic in the Celtic defending but the home side’s last chance came and went when Nazon took an age to get his shot off when played in by Popescu

Ryan Christie climbed off the bench to play for the first time under Lennon. He was almost was back on the scoresheet within seconds, breaking onto Burke’s cutback but seeing his shot saved by the excellent Hladky.

But he didn't have to wait too much longer to register his 12th of the season in any case. Cutting on to his right, his low shot whizzed off a St Mirren defender and left Hladky helpless, the poor keeper briefly disorientated too by the firecracker that he crumpled to the turf shortly afterwards. Celtic went out with a bit of a bang but the real fireworks from both of these teams came a few days ago.