A super strike from Stuart Armstrong, who gathers himself 25 yards out as St Johnstone hesitated expecting the game to be stopped for a foul, is met by an equally good flying save from Alan Mannus, the goalkeeper turning the ball wide for a corner.

David Wotherspoon fires in a shot, but the St Johnstone midfielder's effort is straight at goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Moments earlier, Celtic defender Jason Denayer did well to clear as striker Steven MacLean lurked menacingly at the back post.

St Johnstone have weathered that traditional early Celtic storm and, with half an hour gone, are looking more and more comfortable.

"Celtic are too deliberate in the last third. St Johnstone have everybody behind the ball and Celtic have to be quicker and deliver the ball before they are set."

"Saints are comfortable. They have kept the ball and put a couple of dangerous balls into the box."

A moment of hesitation by Craig Gordon almost hands a chance to St Johnstone, but the Celtic goalkeeper's blushes are saved by the boot of defender Jason Denayer, who clears after that bit of untypical mishandling.

Gary Mackay-Steven is the next Celtic man to try his luck from range and this time St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus flops down to save.

Leigh Griffiths pulls the trigger from 30 yards, but the Celtic striker's shot flies just wide.

St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay strides forward and sends a long-range effort but straight at goalkeeper Craig Gordon. At least that is a shot on target for the visitors, who are growing in confidence.

Gary Mackay-Steven tries to curl a shot into the top corner, goalkeeper Alan Mannus palms the ball away and Anthony Stokes is unable to do anything with the rebound.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila explained ahead of kick-off that the missing Kris Commons had still not recovered from a knock picked up on Sunday. However, he expects the midfielder to be available for this coming Sunday's trip to face Dundee United.

Stuart Armstrong has a shot blocked from 15 yards out and Anthony Stokes bends a drive just wide as St Johnstone are put under pressure.

We are off at Celtic Park and the home side are immediately on the attack.

Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen has scored in the last five league games. However, he needs to score in another two games to match Dundee striker David Clarkson, who managed seven league games in a row earlier in the season and eight overall in all competitions.

Although Celtic have only conceded one goal in their last 11 games, that was scored by St Johnstone in a 2-1 defeat by Celtic at McDiarmid Park last month, when only a fine double save by goalkeeper Craig Gordon prevented the Perth side coming from two goals behind to secure an unlikely point. Although Saints have suffered three straight defeats at Celtic Park, they did draw there in November 2012 and last left the Glasgow ground with a win in August the previous year.

St Johnstone have made two changes after the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock at the weekend. Tam Scobbie comes into defence and Danny Swanson is in midfield, Frazer Wright missing out after suffering concussion and young striker Chris Kane dropping on to the bench.

News just in about Rangers and the suspension of shares on the AIM stock market. Shareholder Dave King, who hopes to oust the present board at Friday's extraordinary meeting, has accused the club's nominated advisor, WH Ireland, of reneging on an agreement to remain in place until there was a proper handover to a new nomad.

Celtic: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer, van Dijk, Ambrose, Armstrong, Brown, Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Stokes, Griffiths. Subs: Biton, Scepovic, Zaluska, Wakaso, Fisher, Forrest, Henderson.

St Johnstone: Mannus, Mackay, Easton, Anderson, Scobbie, Millar, Wotherspoon, Davidson, O'Halloran, Swanson, MacLean. Subs: Graham, Banks, McFadden, Miller, Brown, Croft, Kane.

Referee: Calum Murray