Celtic’s Scott Brown lifts the Scottish Premier League trophy yesterday. (Reuters)
AFP/Glasgow
Celtic celebrated lifting the Scottish Premier League trophy in style as they eased to a 4-0 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead yesterday.
Joe Ledley had the Hoops in front with barely a minute on the clock and Charlie Mulgrew added a second direct from a free-kick in the 36th minute.
St Johnstone hadn’t previously tasted defeat against Celtic in the league this season, having come from behind in their three previous meetings to win one and draw two.
However, they never looked like maintaining their unbeaten record against the Hoops and James Forrest made it 3-0 with a fine strike in the 52nd minute before Frazer Wright scored an own-goal in stoppage time.
It sealed Celtic’s 12th win in a row at home in the league, a run of form that helped propel Neil Lennon’s side to their second successive league title.
There was further good news for the Hoops as captain Scott Brown returned from a three-month injury absence to collect the SPL championship trophy following what is their final home game of the season before next weekend’s finale away to Dundee United.
After affording many of his first-team stars a rest in recent weeks, manager Lennon had a full squad to pick from for the visit of the Perth side.
The Hoops made six changes including Brown, and the returning captain played a part as Celtic took an early lead.