IN PICTURES: CELTIC 5 ST MIRREN 0
CELTIC played the numbers game in their five-star performance against St Mirren at Parkhead yesterday.
The champions rattled in five without reply against the Paisley outfit with Leigh Griffiths claiming three, his first hat-trick in just over a year.
The win also moved the Hoops sixteen points clear at the top of the Premiership as they chase a record-equalling nine successive title triumphs first achieved by the legendary Jock Stein and his great Celtic team of 1966/74.
It also kept Neil Lennon’s men on course for a phenomenal quadruple treble, an amazing TWELVE successive domestic honours. It would be an unprcedented feat and unlikely to be repeated.
The Celtic fans are enjoying it while they can as their side roll on relentlessly in the pursuit of glory.
As soon as Griffiths tucked away the opener in the 18th minute against the Jim Goodwin’s visitors there was no chance of a banana skin emerging with only eight league games to play.
The title kings were ruthless in their destruction of the Saints and CQN‘s ace lensmen were there to capture the action. Here is the pick of the pics.
ON THE ATTACK…defender Nir Bitton adds his weight to attack.
NOW YOU SEE IT…Odsonne Edouard takes on Conor McCarthy.
BY THE RIGHT…James Forrst swerves past Jamie McGrath.
BY THE LEFT…James Forrest fires in a shot with Calum Waters trying to intercept.
WRAP UP…substitute Jeremie Frimpong braves the elements.
OOPS…Leigh Griffiths just misses a right-wing cross.
STRETCH IN TIME…Christopher Jullien clears a rare Saints attack.
DENIED…keeper Vaclav Hladky saves from James Forrest.
ON THE RUN…Callum McGregor races at the Paisley rearguard.
NUMBER ONE…Leigh Griffiths fires in the first to kick off the rout.
UP IN THE AIR…Christopher Jullien piles on the aerial pressure.
WIZARD OF OZ…Tom Rogic waltzes through the defence.
NUMBER TWO…the Celtic Park sign says it all as Griffiths strikes before the interval.
CLASH…Greg Taylor battles with Lee Hodson for possession.
NUMBER THREE…Odsonne Edouard bamboozles Sam Foley as he strokes in the third goal.
NUMBER FOUR…hat-trick hero Leigh Griffiths takes the acclaim in Paradise.
NUMBER FIVE…Callum McGregor slots in the late penalty-kick.