St Mirren were handed just a third league defeat in 2020 as the Buddies were beaten 5-0 by league leaders Celtic.
Leigh Griffiths scored twice in the first-half to have the Hoops in control at the break. Odsonne Edouard added a third for Celtic nine minutes into the second-half before Griffiths nabbed his hat-trick with 16 minutes remaining. Callum McGregor rounded off a poor afternoon for Saints when he netted from the penalty spot in the final minute.
Jim Goodwin made three changes to the side the drew 0-0 with St Johnstone on Wednesday night. Cammy MacPherson, Tony Andreu and Junior Morias were brought in in place of Ross Wallace, Ilkay Durmus and Alex Jakubiak.
Celtic enjoyed the lions share of possession as was probably to be expected but Saints looked to make any opportunities count in the early goings. With eight minutes played Calum Waters did brilliantly down the left-side before sliding the ball across the box. It had looked primed to fall to the feet of Morias, but somehow missed the forward who would have had a brilliant chance to put the Buddies 1-0 in front had it fallen to him.
MacPherson forced Fraser Forster into a save on 14 minutes with a free-kick from 25 yards. The midfielder got the ball over the wall and creeping in towards the goalkeeper's left-hand post but the Englishman was down quickly to gather.
Four minutes later Celtic would open the scoring through Griffiths. From just inside the box on the left-hand side, Edouard clipped the ball over the Saints defence to meet Leigh Griffiths who swept home from close range. It was a cheap goal to give away with the Celtic forward completely unmarked at the back post as he put the home side ahead.
The Hoops could have doubled their lead just two minutes later with Vaclav Hladky making a tremendous double save to keep Edouard and James Forrest at bay. Hladky was being made to work by Celtic and the Czech goalkeeper again denied Forrest on 27 minutes, holding the winger's curling shot from the edge of the area.
Saints were still very much in the match at this point, thanks to Hladky, and more good work from Waters saw the left-back knock the ball beyond Forrest allowing him to charge into the penalty area only for his ball across to be cleared by the Celtic defence. A few minutes later, Tony Andreu had a dig from 20 yards but his effort was easy enough for Forster to hold.
Hladky again kept Celtic out when he got two hands to a Tom Rogic strike from 18 yards.
With the game ebbing towards half-time Griffiths added his and Celtic's second on 44 minutes. The forward dribbled his way through the Saints defence, exchanging a one-two with Rogic before sliding the ball beyond Hladky to double his and Celtic's tally.
Celtic stretched their lead further just nine minutes into the second-half when Edouard added his name to the score-sheet.
St Mirren looked to pull a goal back with Andreu curling into the arms of Forster on 56 minutes, while Obika sent an effort just wide seven minutes later.
But with 16 minutes remaining it was Celtic who would stretch their lead further. Griffiths grabbed his hat-trick as he slammed home from the edge of the box.
Celtic put the icing on the cake in the final minute when Callum McGregor netted from the penalty spot after Sam Foley had brought down Hatem Elhamed.
Up next for Saints is a vital home match as the Buddies face bottom side Hearts at the Simple Digital Arena on Wednesday night.
Full-Time: Celtic 5-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Hladky, Hodson, McCarthy, Foley, Famewo, Waters, MacPherson, McGrath (McAllister 74), Andreu, Morias (Jakubiak 63), Obika (Chabbi 69)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Wallace, Durmus, Mullen
Celtic: Forster, Jullien, Bitton, Ajer (Elhamed 81), Forrest, Brown (c), Rogic (Christie 73), McGregor, Taylor, Edouard (Elyounoussi 76), Griffiths
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Frimpong, Hayes, Bayo
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson
Attendance: 58,998
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
