Celtic come alive as Matt O'Riley brings out sledgehammer to smash St Johnstone for vital win – 3 talking points

Celtic ended a challenging week with a rousing comeback win to sink St Johnstone 3-1 and move 11 points clear of rivals Rangers.

Brendan Rodgers' side looked ill-prepared for a High Noon showdown in Perth as Diallang Jaiyesimi turned home in the first half after putrid defending. Celtic were down but not out as Callum McGregor and Matt O'Riley produced a pair of second half scorchers to heap the pressure on Philippe Clement's men before they take on St Mirren. James Forrest got in on the act in the dying seconds after St Johnstone passed up a big chance through Jay Turner-Cooke. It wasn't pretty for long spells but the champions' knack for wearing down the opposition was there for all to see.

Celtic have been specialists in recent times of mitigating the after effects of a European hangover and their trusty methods appeared to be working early on. Palma and Kyogo combined early on with the Japan striker cursing himself for leaning back as he swivelled a shot into the south stand rather than the net.

O'Riley was next to rue a big chance gone begging as the Denmark international scuffed Yang's inch-perfect cross into the grateful hands of Dimitar Mitov – the same man who enjoyed a career day in the reverse fixture back in August. St Johnstone weathered the pressure and Jaiyesimi looked sprightly as he teased Liam Scales in tight and turned to strike as Joe Hart was relieved as the deflection aided him and he gratefully gathered.

The growing confidence of those in blue was palpable and it came to a crescendo as Celtic folded to another slapstick set-piece goal. Hart was frozen in his concrete boots and those around him flapped before the ball bundled into the net. And if the St Johnstone goal was a worry then the tepid