Soccer:Celtic closed the gap behind Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points thanks to second-half goals from Gary Hooper and Ki Sung-yueng in a 2-0 victory against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Saints keeper Peter Enckelman had made two great saves from Hooper before the former Scunthorpe striker broke the deadlock on the hour from a yard out following a corner, three minutes before Ki scored on the break to seal the win.

The only downside for Hoops manager Neil Lennon was the loss of stopper Daniel Majstorovic who had to go off in the first half with a suspected fractured cheekbone after a clash of heads with Saints midfielder David Robertson, who was also replaced soon afterwards.

If the Sweden international’s injury is as serious as first thought, it will rule him out of the visit of Kilmarnock next Saturday before what is shaping up to be a crucial Old Firm derby against Rangers at Parkhead on December 28th.

However, Lennon will be happy with his side’ seventh straight win in the SPL. Unusually for the Northern Irishman, he named an unchanged team with Hooper and Georgios Samaras leading the line, however, before the game many eyes were on the Hoops support.

The Parkhead club should find out tomorrow if they are to face any action from UEFA after a flare was thrown from the section holding Hoops fans before Thursday night’s Europa League game against Udinese at the Stadio Friuli.

A banner which was insulting towards European football’s governing body was also unfurled which led to condemnation from manager Neil Lennon, chief executive Peter Lawwell and chairman Ian Bankier.