St Johnstone 1 Celtic 4 – Mooy stars as Hoops hit four in Perth to regain nine-point Premiership lead
CELTIC secured a comfortable 4-1 win over St Johnstone to regain their nine-point advantage at the top of the Premiership table.
An Andrew Considine own goal set them on their path to victory, with star man Aaron Mooy, Kyogo and David Turnbull netting for the relentless Hoops.
Drey Wright's stunner had given the Saints hope in the first-half but they were hopes that quickly evaporated.
A miserable day for Considine, on the occasion of his 600th club appearance, was compounded in added time when he was shown a red card.
Ange Postecoglou took his team to Perth having seen their lead at the top cut to six points on Saturday.
That was after Rangers beat Ross County 2-1 at Ibrox.
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But the champions moved fast in their quest to make it nine once again, and as they so often do, went ahead early doors at McDiarmid Park.
Andy Considine was marking his 600th appearance in club football, but it wasn't to be a good afternoon for the 35-year old.
Just as he did back in October in the same fixtures, the Saints man inadvertently gave the Hoops the lead via an own goal.
A sublime pass from Mooy sent Kyogo in behind the defence.
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The in-form frontman fired the ball across goal in dangerous fashion, and it was Considine who got the decisive touch.
Celtic were suddenly getting plenty of joy in behind the backline, and they were soon celebrating a second goal of the game.
A defence-splitting pass saw Jota burst through, played onside by Alex Mitchell.
He in turn provided for Kyogo, who sent a superb finish into the back of the net.
It's the talisman's 19th goal in league football this campaign, moving him two ahead of nearest challenger Lawrence Shankland in the race to be the Premiership's top scorer this season.
Just as it looked like plane sailing for Celtic, back came St Johnstone and in stunning fashion.
Out of nowhere, Drey Wright took possession on the right hand side.
The former Hibs man weaved his way through, cutting inside and tried his luck from around 20 yards.
His powerful, low effort got the better of Joe Hart and nestled in the bottom corner.
Callum Davidson's men had their tails up, but hopes of a dramatic comeback evaporated seven minutes before the break.
It was another sublime Celtic move, finished off by Mooy to make it 3-1.
It was that dangerous combination of Jota and Kyogo again that made it happen, the Portuguese winger being released to burst forward again.
A delightfully weighted pass in turn sent Mooy through on goal, and the influential Aussie showed a stunning touch to dink the ball over Remi Matthews and into the net.
Saints tried to make a game of in the second-half, but the relentless Hoops were always in control.
Jota fizzed a stunning effort towards goal that had Matthews beaten.
But the ball thumped off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Liel Abada game on and blazed over a good opening and it looked like there would be no fourth goal to seal the win.
However, just as it looked like the game was petering out in the dying moments, Considine's day got even worse.
The former Scotland man was beaten all ends up by Celtic sub Oh Hyeon-gyu.
The South Korean broke away from the veteran stopper, who hauled the new boy to the ground.
Ref David Dickinson had little option but to brandish red and off went Considine on a big day he'll definitely want to forget.
To compound his and his team's misery, Celtic DID get a fourth goal.
And it came directly from that resulting free-kick.
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David Turnbull, off the bench for the Hoops, stepped up to drill a low effort past Matthews and into the corner.
An emphatic strike to secure an emphatic result for Celtic, who once again go nine points clear.
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