Auston Trusty heads in Celtic's secondSNS

Auston Trusty heads in Celtic's second

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says there's "more to come" from winger Nicolas Kuhn after the German added two goals to his impressive tally this season to help Celtic to victory over St Mirren.

Kuhn scored either side of the break to take his season's total to 16, with an Auston Trusty headed goal sandwiched in between, as the league leaders moved 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Kuhn, 24, joined from Rapid Vienna last January and, after a difficult start to life in Glasgow, has cemented himself as an important part of the side.

"We play with fast wingers who have the possibility to create and score goals," Rodgers said. "For him and his numbers this season it's really impressive.

"He's doing very, very well. But Nicolas still has more to go."

The champions bounced back from their first league defeat of the season against Rangers on Thursday to take advantage of their rivals latest slip up at Easter Road and increase their advantage at the top of the table.

St Mirren made life difficult for a spell, pressing Celtic and not giving up much by way of clear-cut chances.

That resistance was broken by a fabulous opening goal for the hosts.

Luke McCowan set Daizen Maeda free down the left flank with an excellent pass and the Japan international fed Kuhn to supply a typically clinical finish.

That seemed to dispirit the visitors and Celtic added a second before the break when Trusty headed home from an Arne Engels corner.

Kuhn almost scored one of the goals of the season after a scintillating counter attack launched by Kasper Schmeichel, but the German was denied by Zach Hemming in the St Mirren goal after great play from McCowan to tee him up.

Hemming, making his first start after returning on loan to the Paisley side, gifted the third goal moments later, getting in a muddle with his defenders and dropping the ball at the feet of Kuhn who made no mistake.

Adam Idah had a fourth goal ruled out for offside while Schmeichel preserved his clean sheet with a late save from Jonah Ayunga as the champions eased to victory.

Celtic bounce back from derby defeat

Rodgers asked for some perspective after the non-performance from his side at Ibrox, pointing out it was their first league defeat of the season after a 34-game unbeaten domestic run.

While it would be a stretch to say Celtic were back to their very best here, they did show enough quality to get the job done in relative comfort.

The first goal was well constructed and, once the champions made the breakthrough, they took firm control.

McCowan buzzed around the midfield, eager to get on the ball wherever possible and showed some real moments of class.

Alistair Johnston was a constant threat down the right, combining well with Kuhn and putting numerous dangerous balls into the St Mirren box.

Kuhn once again was the game-breaker and if he continues the type of form he has demonstrated in the first half of the campaign, the winger will be hard to ignore when the player of the year awards are being handed out.

St Mirren let early promise slip

For 32 minutes, Stephen Robinson would have been very pleased with how his side were implementing the tactical plan.

They were pressing Celtic and largely nullifying the hosts attacking threats, that was until Kuhn's opener.

After that the confidence seemed to drain from the visitors and Robinson will be annoyed at the fashion in which his side conceded the second and third goals.

They never gave up the fight and that will be a crumb of comfort to the manager, but what he would give for a few more clean sheets.

They have managed only two in the league all season and will need to start finding more to maintain their spot in the top six.

What they said

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It was a very good afternoon for us. We knew we were going to have to work really hard.

"The effort and the movement of the players, the quality that they showed was a really, really good level.

"The effort of the players, the movement of the players, the quality they showed was at a really good level. Overall I'm so pleased with the response."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I never felt like we were under any threat. I've been to Celtic and it's like you're defending constantly, they're creating chances, your goalkeeper has to make 10-15 saves but none of that really happened today.

"The second goal, comes from a set play, and the third goal was a bit of a mix up.

"Zach Hemming didn't have loads to do but ultimately Celtic wear you down and if you make those mistakes you don't win here."

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