St Mirren 0-3 Celtic: Maeda, O’Riley & Taylor score in comfortable win

Celtic scored twice in the opening six minutes on the best way to beating St Mirren and sustaining their eight-point lead on the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

After neatly establishing the primary, Matt O’Riley well tucked away the second. His great first contact created the angle for Hemming to be nutmegged to spherical off an impressive transfer.

The half couldn’t have began any worse for Stephen Robinson’s aspect and it ended in comparable disappointment as Toyosi Olusanya was proven a purple card after a VAR evaluate after his boot caught Joe Hart’s face.

That resolution made a troublesome take a look at even more durable for the Paisley aspect and Greg Taylor’s second-half thunderous volley inflicted additional distress.

Following Rangers’ early win in opposition to Kilmarnock, Celtic reclaimed their benefit, albeit having performed two video games extra, whereas St Mirren stay in fifth, two factors behind Derek McInnes’ aspect.

Backing up Saturday’s derby day victory was crucial for the league leaders, however in opposition to a St Mirren aspect who took an early lead the final time the perimeters met at Celtic Park, there have been no ensures the three factors would come simple.

However, a speedy begin settled any nerves among the many away help. The quickest objective of the season for the champions was scored by Maeda, but it surely was all in regards to the perfectly-weighted go from O’Riley, making his 100th Celtic look.

The Denmark worldwide had Paulo Bernardo to thank for the milestone being marked by a objective. The artful Portuguese midfielder turned tremendously and teed up his team-mate in a cultured transfer.

St Mirren did not threaten, however pre-match Robinson had highlighted Olusanya’s tempo as an asset in a recreation the place alternatives can be few and much between.

On the uncommon event the ball made its option to Celtic goalmouth, the striker mistimed his try and as a substitute caught Hart in the face. His preliminary yellow card was upgraded after David Munro was requested to take one other have a look at the incident.

With a participant benefit, Celtic’s pace and tempo was much more pronounced. Bernardo once more offered a sensational help, this time a dinked effort into the trail for the left-back to slam dwelling.

This got here simply minutes after the Portuguese had his personal top-corner sure effort nicely saved by Hemming.

If it wasn’t for the St Mirren goalkeeper, the scoreline might have been a lot heavier. Substitutes Oh Hyeon-gyu, Yang Hyun-jun and Liel Abada had been all denied, whereas Kyogo additionally headed huge when a objective appeared seemingly.

Player of the match – Paulo Bernardo (Celtic)

Celtic ruthlessly reply in comfortable and commanding win – evaluation

What a distinction per week could make.

Last Tuesday, Celtic swept apart Dundee in a “much more like it” exhibiting after a profligate efficiency in opposition to Livingston and the back-to-back defeats by Kilmarnock and Hearts.

That was adopted up by an announcement win in opposition to their fiercest rivals on the weekend and rounded off by this comfortable victory.

With 24 pictures – 11 of which had been heading in the right direction – Celtic had been again to their free-flowing greatest. The shackles had been off.

With 103 remaining third entries and 53 touches in the opposition field, the boldness that had maybe appeared dented of late was again. It might have been a lot extra if it weren’t for Hemming.

O’Riley and Callum McGregor have been shining lights all through however the emergence of Bernardo as a formidable cog in midfield will deliver satisfaction to Rodgers.

For St Mirren, it is one to shove to the again of the thoughts as shortly as Maeda opened the scoring in Paisley.

There had been mismatches everywhere in the park lengthy earlier than it was a 10-man process. Overrun in midfield, bamboozled out huge and entrance males starved of service. A tricky capsule to swallow after an uplifting win at Pittodrie.

What they stated

St Mirren supervisor Stephen Robinson: “I have not seen [the red card] again, however that wasn’t the rationale why we misplaced the sport so it is irrelevant.

“We began the sport actually poorly in opposition to an excellent Celtic aspect, which you’ll’t do. The purple card compounds the ache we’re struggling. It was a protracted afternoon.

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers: “We made a very good begin, this is usually a actually difficult place to return and play, however we began on the entrance foot, taking part in ahead and scored two targets in the opening 10 minutes.

“I’m actually happy, the sending off meant it was tougher for them however we managed that aspect of it in the second half significantly better than we did on the weekend.”

What’s subsequent?

Both sides are in Scottish Cup motion after the winter break. St Mirren host Queen of the South on 20 January (15:00 GMT) whereas Celtic welcome Buckie Thistle the following day (16:00)