Celtic go five ahead again.

Celtic’s 1-0 win in Perth in this evening’s 6pm kick off puts them back five points clear of Rangers – until tomorrow anyway.

There was much talk of the team selections before the game with only ten of the 22 that started their last two games starting for this one.

Saints made seven changes with an eye on their Cup semi with Motherwell on Saturday and Celtic making changes to deal with the McDiarmid Park pitch.

The game got underway in strange circumstances with balls being thrown on to the pitch by fans upset at the early kick off to ensure the game could be shown on TV and not clash with the Champions League.

When the action got underway Saints keeper Graeme Smith did well to deny Samaras and Commons before he was beaten just before the break. Kayal scoring his first goal with a delicate flick past Smith.

Saints got forward more in the second period and only a great save from Forster to deny Liam Craig prevented them from equalising. Celtic could have been given the opportunity to seal the in if the ref had spotted a handball by Michael Duberry in the box.

Saints have now gone 10 League game without a win, and the last of them without scoring a goal, not a good omen ahead of a Cup Semi Final.