Celtic continue excellent start with win over St Mirren

Celtic's impressive start to the season continued apace with a comprehensive 3-0 William Hill Premiership win over St Mirren in Paisley.

Skipper Callum McGregor fired the visitors ahead inside three minutes and fellow midfielder Reo Hatate added a second in the 33rd minute as Celtic ignored the inclement weather to take control.

Hoops defender Alistair Johnston swept in a third in the 71st minute to complete a convincing victory for the champions who have indicated their intentions early.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have won all four games this season – scoring 12 and conceding just one – and should go into next Sunday’s Old Firm game against Rangers at Parkhead with supreme confidence.

There was no doubting the effort put in by Stephen Robinson’s men but they were well short and have now lost four games in a row.

Saints were knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup last week by Dundee United so Robinson took action, with Killian Phillips making his debut after joining on loan from Crystal Palace.

Jonah Ayunga, Jaden Brown, captain Mark O’Hara and Richard Taylor also started with Roland Idowu, Mikael Mandron, Oisin Smyth, Scott Tanser and Fraser Taylor dropping to the bench.

On a wet and windy day in Paisley, striker Adam Idah and midfielder Paulo Bernardo came in to the Celtic side with Rodgers confirming missing Matt O’Riley is on his way to Brighton, while Nicolas Kuhn had to settle for a place among the substitutes.

There were less than three minutes played when McGregor picked up a pass from James Forrest outside the box and lasered a shot low past Buddies keeper Ellery Balcombe for his second goal of the season, equalling last season’s tally.

In the 14th minute Balcombe made saves from Hatate and then Idah following a fine move from