McGinn double seals three-goal win for Celtic

FT: St Johnstone 0 Celtic 3

A Niall McGinn double helped take Celtic level on points with Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers in a comfortable lunchtime win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Hoops’ wide man Niall McGinn had the visitors ahead with just over a minute gone and four minutes from the end of a one-side half Emilio Izaguirre grabbed the second.

Saints defender Danny Grainger, booked for dissent following the opening goal, was given a second yellow by referee Murray for a foul on Anthony Stokes before McGinn scored his second from a Cha Du-Ri pass.

The game was petering out although in a rare Saints’ attack Forster had to move smartly from his goal to take the ball away from the toes of Parkin.

In the 82nd minute McGinn raced on to an Izaguirre pass down the left and cut the ball back for Samaras but the Greece international missed the target from 12 yards.

Four minutes from time, Saints left back Danny Grainger, booked for dissent at Celtic’s first goal, picked up a second yellow and walked for a foul on Stokes, moments before McGinn grabbed his second with a mis-kicked shot from Cha’s cut-back.