Celtic tonight unfurled the championship flag and then signalled their intentions to keep it flying proudly over Parkhead for some time yet with this convincing defeat of St Johnstone.
Johan Mjallby headed a first-half opener and a stunning double from Paul Lambert after the break gave Martin O'Neill's Bhoys a winning start to the defence of their Premier League title.
Golden Boot winner Henrik Larsson was also presented with a commemorative trophy before kick-off for his 35 SPL goals last season and although he failed to open his account he produced the kind of display to suggest he was hungry for more glory.
After chairman Brian Quinn and manager O'Neill struggled to make themselves heard over the deafening noise of the crowd in giving their pre-season pitch address, the players set about proving last season was no fluke.
In fact they should have taken the lead in the first minute after a good flowing move which involved four Celtic players.
Neil Lennon found Larsson down the right and he laid the ball off to Alan Thompson, who swung in a dangerous cross into the far post, but Johan Mjallby blazed his header just wide of the post.
Larsson looked to start where he left off last season and he should have opened his account just four minutes into the new season.
Robert Douglas' punt downfield was headed on by Chris Sutton and the Swede squeezed between the static Darren Dods and Ross Forsyth, but blasted his right-foot effort straight at the legs of the advancing Alan Main.
But St Johnstone, who gave debuts to Grant Murray and Benito Kemble, did give the millionaires of Parkhead a couple of frightening moments.
Three minutes later Sylla found space down the left flank and hit a swerving left-foot strike which Douglas had to turn around the post.
But Main was again called upon to save his side in the 21st minute after the clumsy Dods had blatantly floored Bobby Petta, and was fortunate to escape without a booking.
Lennon could still put the visitors under pressure with his free-kick and Larsson outjumped the Saints defence, but Main got down well to his left to deny him.
Larsson then turned provider for his international team-mate Mjallby eight minutes later, but after a neat exchange of passes he fired his right-foot shot into the side-netting.
But moments later the home crowd breathed a huge sigh of relief as first Joos Valgaeren cleared Sylla's shot off the line and then Douglas had to clean up after a near fatal mix-up in the Celtic box.
The first-half was proving to be a good advertisement for the rest of the SPL campaign and Sutton almost produced a glorious 33rd-minute opener with a long-range effort which Main could only parry.
But just four minutes later the Celtic supporters had something to celebrate when Mjallby became the unlikely goalscorer.
Thompson's crossfield ball found Petta and the Dutchman's centre was headed emphatically into the net by the Swede.
Thompson almost sent the Hoops fans into a frenzy with two minute remaining in the half when he let fly with a left-foot screamer from nearly 25 yards which flew just past the top right corner of the net.
Celtic continued to heap pressure on the visitors after the restart and Larsson again spurned a great chance to kick-start his season in the 56th minute.
The Swede did the hard part in outstripping Kemble and Forsyth for pace, but with Main advancing he poked the flicked past the keeper and agonisingly wide of the upright.
Mjallby again found himself in an unusual forward position in the 63rd minute after a one-two with Larsson, but the Swede's chip was comfortably saved by Main.
But a minute later, Celtic did double their advantage and it was Larsson again, who turned provider.
The Swede exchanged passes with Lambert to send the midfielder clean through on goal and he made no mistake to slide the ball home under the advancing Main.
St Johnstone were desperately trying to cling on at this point, but they found themselves dead and buried in the 72nd minute after a glorious strike from Lambert.
The midfielder chested down Didier Agathe's throw-in and let fly with a swerving left-foot shot which flew into the top corner for his second of the new season.
Moravcik dragged a late left-foot effort wide of the post and Larsson fired wide after one-two with Sutton.
However, the Swede's team-mates had already sent out a clear message across the city that they were not going to relinquish the title without a fight - and when Larsson finds the net it will take something special to prove otherwise.
PA