Keane strikes ninth goal as Celtic cruise

Robbie Keane scored his ninth goal in nine matches as Celtic closed the gap on Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League to ten points with a 3-0 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead.

Josh Thompson headed his first goal for the Hoops to give them a first-half lead before the rich goal-scoring vein of on-loan Keane, who had been denied by the post twice, continued when he slotted home a second-half penalty.

Substitute Georgios Samaras made sure of the points three minutes from time with a superb solo goal in a match which featured an impressive Celtic league debut for Paul McGowan.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray was pleased with the result if not the whole performance.

“I think there were spells of it that were entertaining and some decent football and yet at times it was a little bit pedantic and slow,” he said.

“But we got the job done and scored three and kept a clean sheet.”

His St Johnstone counterpart Derek McInnes said it had been tough for his injury hit side.

“I thought we defended pretty well but the second goal effectively killed it for us and on reflection the scoreline was a fair result.”

Artur Boruc returned from compassionate leave in Poland but only made the bench as Lukasz Zaluska kept his place in the Celtic goal while Andreas Hinkel and Morten Rasmussen were replaced in the starting line-up by Mark Wilson and Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Keane was involved in their first chance when he picked out Wilson in the box but the full-back’s shot on the turn was blocked.

Irish star Keane then cracked a shot off the base of the post after McGowan sent him clear but he was flagged for offside.

St Johnstone were dealt a blow when Kenny Deuchar hobbled off to be replaced by Steven Reynolds in the 15th minute and before they could reorganise Thompson headed Celtic into the lead.

The 18-year-old defender got the deftest of touches to Edson Braafheid’s floated free-kick and goalkeeper Graeme Smith couldn’t prevent his shot sneaking in.

After great build-up play McGowan hit a superb shot with the inside of his foot which clipped the bar.

In a rare chance for Saints Gavin Swankie’s low shot took a deflection and was well saved by Zaluska.

McGowan then headed Keane’s cross just wide before the on-loan Spurs man fired over from close range as the game headed to the break.

In a brighter start to the second-half Swankie came close to equalising for Saints when his low curling free-kick went inches wide.

At the other end McGeady sent a chip shot crashing off the bar before the unmarked Fortune somehow headed Keane’s cross wide.

Smith then denied Keane from point-blank range before Dave Mackay cleared McGowan’s shot off the line.

Keane hit the woodwork for the second time when he turned McGeady’s cross on to the post but the Irish international didn’t have long to wait to get on the scoresheet.

Fortune went down under the outstretched arm of Smith in the 68th minute and Keane sent the keeper the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

Samaras made it 3-0 with three minutes remaining when he skinned Gary Irvine on the left and cut in to slide the ball past the helpless Smith.

Elsewhere Jim Jefferies made a winning return to the Edinburgh derby as his injury-hit Hearts team ground out a narrow 2-1 win over Hibernian at Tynecastle.

Two goals in five first-half minutes from Andrew Driver and Gary Glen put Hearts firmly in control of the match.

Derek Riordan bundled the ball home ten minutes before time to set up a nervy finish but Hearts held on.

Aberdeen came from two behind to draw 2-2 with Dundee United and Falkirk and Hamilton ended 2-2.