Celtic roared to the top of the table with a convincing 3-0 win over St Mirren today leaving Stevie Frail’s side needing six points from their last three matches to retain the title.
The result was never in any doubt after Greig Spence headed home a first minute cross from Stephen O’Donnell.
Further goals from Jackson Irvine and O’Donnell sealed the points to give Frail’s side their fourth away win in a fortnight after taking full points from Kilmarnock, Hamilton Accies and Rangers.
“There’s a bit of momentum now,” the Celtic coach admitted. “We started the season really well then it was stop start, other teams seemed to be getting games and winning them.
“We never got any momentum going, it was a bit of a concern but we’re getting there now. It’s a tough schedule we’ve had playing Saturday Tuesday and it’ll be the same over the next fortnight.
“It’s all about winning every game we play, we tell them that each match is the biggest game of the season and that’s now Inverness.
“We want them to enjoy their football, they are still developing and winning games is a big part of their development, especially at this club.
“Our approach won’t change, we have the momentum now and have to go there full of confidence to get three points.”
Celtic looked purposeful from the first whistle and showed that they meant business in the opening minute.
Callum Bagshaw’s pass teed the ball up for the overlapping O’Donnell whose cross was met by Spence who headed home from his favourite distance.
“I’d love to look at all of Greig’s goals,” Frail admitted. “I’m not sure if he’s scored any from outwith the six yard box which is fantastic, that’s what a striker thrives on.
“It was a good move down the right and a great delivery from Stephen O’Donnell then Greig’s header.”
Celtic swarmed forward chasing a second goal with Kieran Brennan and Filip Twardzik both coming close.
Callum Bagshaw ignores his camera shy team-mates Greig Spence and Lewis Toshney
Spence and Tony Watt were linking up well with good support from midfield where Jackson Irvine was a forceful presence.
In the 28th minute the Australian brushed off a couple of challenges, ignored the please of his team mates then delivered an unstoppable shot high into the net from 25 yards out.
There were no more goals in the first half but the one way traffic continued after the break with O’Donnell getting his second goal of the season ten minutes into the second half.
Breaking forward at pace into the St Mirren half Spence held the ball up perfectly before slotting his shot beyond the Saints keeper.
Substitute Bahrudin Atajic did find the net in the closing stakes with a sweetly struck shot from 20 yards out but his celebrations were cut short by the flag of the linesman.
CELTIC: Feely, O’Donnell, Hughes, Toshney, Brennan; Bagshaw (P Twardzik), McGregor, Irvine, F Twardzik; Watt (Atajic), Spence (Gormley)
SUBS Thomson, Lowdon, Jones, Fraser
Biram Kayal: I didn’t come to Glasgow I came to Celtic!
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
[bet_365 type=’generic’ size=’468′ af_code=’365_050711′]
