Celtic 2 St Johnstone 0: Celtic are within one point of clinching the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title after finally breaking down St Johnsone's stubborn resistance with a 2-0 win at Parkhead on Sunday.
A Georgios Samaras header and Chris Millar's own goal sealed the points as Neil Lennon's men got back on the winning trail after two consecutive defeats.
Kris Commons drilled across the face of goal with the clearest chance of the opening half as the Hoops strove for momentum, while at the other end Fraser Forster was forced into a decent save from Liam Craig's free-kick.
Charlie Mulgrew also had a goalbound shot blocked by Jody Morris but the biggest cheer had come in the 19th minute as the fans stood, applauded and chanted in support of Hoops hero Stiliyan Petrov, who is battling leukaemia.
Another ex-Celt went desperately close to the opener when David MacKay's flighted cross was headed wide from six yards by Cillian Sheridan.
Then Fran Sandaza was not too far away with another header as Saints threw off the shackles but visiting goalkeeper Alan Mannus was at full stretch to claw away Commons' cross-shot.
Samaras (66) then rose to meet a Commons free-kick to lift the mood and the issue was put to bed by Millar's (70) unfortunate own goal.
