Match Reports

Celtic close in on title

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Celtic move ever-closer to a third successive league title following a 3-0 home victory against St Mirren.

Stefan Johansen headed his first goal for the club just prior to the break and Leigh Griffiths added another before Anthony Stokes completed the scoring late on.

Earlier Fraser Forster was called into action by John McGinn on six minutes while Charlie Mulgrew blocked from former Celt Paul McGowan.

Teenager Liam Henderson had kept his place in the Hoops’ starting eleven and his corner was almost turned in by Virgil van Dijk.

Both Stokes and Griffiths chanced their luck from distance after McGowan had already volleyed over at the other end, where Forster also had to block from Jason Naismith.

Griffiths was denied by a raised flag after putting the ball in the net on the half-hour while both Henderson and Griffiths were blocked as the champions-elect pressed for an opener.

Next came Kris Commons’ flick from a Henderson free-kick being saved by Marian Kello, until Griffiths crossed for Johansen to head his side into the lead at the break.

Henderson soon tested Kello following the restart, while Griffiths was charged down before slotting in a second from Stokes’ 61st minute assist.

Top scorer Commons soon drew another stop from Kello and then clipped the inside of a post while Stokes hoisted over after Griffiths went down under the keeper’s challenge.

Substitute Teemu Pukki also had late chances before Stokes collected from fellow replacement Georgios Samaras and crashed in number three.

Celtic: Forster, Matthews, van Dijk, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Brown, Johansen, Henderson (Ambrose 62), Commons (Pukki 78), Griffiths (Samaras 82), Stokes

subs (unused): Fridjonsson, Kayal, Twardzik, Zaluska

Goals: Johansen (44), Griffiths (61), Stokes (90)

St Mirren: Kello, Naismith, Kelly, McGowan (Wylde 74), McAusland, McGregor, Newton (Goodwin 74), McGinn, Thompson (Campbell 60), Magennis, McLean

subs (unused): Reilly, Teale, Dilo, Djemba-Djemba

Ref: S. Finnie

Att: 46,536

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