Sinclair scores again as Celtic edge St Johnstone

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers named a strong side which contained just two changes from the midweek Champions League win over Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel and they dominated the first half at McDiarmid Park.

Leigh Griffiths marked his 26th birthday with a fine finish in the 28th minute to open the scoring before Sinclair made it three goals in three domestic games since joining from Aston Villa earlier this month when he fired home in the 40th minute.

James Forrest then added a third following a rampaging run in the 44th minute as Celtic appeared to be cruising to victory.

Danny Swanson reduced the arrears from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute and Steven MacLean made it 3-2 in the 89th minute when Celtic were temporarily down to 10 men as Liam Henderson received treatment.

However, substitute Ryan Christie made it more comfortable for the Hoops with a stoppage-time strike.

The victory sets Celtic up nicely for their trip to Israel for the second leg of their crucial Champions League play-off match on Tuesday, into which they take a 5-2 lead from the first leg.

"Right through to the last 10 minutes of that game we were fine and had a brilliant team performance," Celtic manager Rodgers said.

"We should see the game out but we gave away a soft penalty and then conceded a goal when we were down to 10 men but the reaction of the players was very good to get a fourth goal".

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright, like Rodgers a Northern Irishman, was disappointed in conceding sloppy goals.

"Celtic were much better than us but from our point of view the three first-half goals were disappointing," Wright said.

"I thought we were much better in the second half and that showed the character of the team".

Celtic got the goal their play and pressure deserved through Griffiths in the 28th minute. 

Kieran Tierney worked his way into the box and his cut-back from the by-line was headed out to Griffiths, who took a touch before smashing a shot in off the underside of the bar via a slight deflection.

The St Johnstone defence were posted missing as Sinclair increased Celtic's advantage. 

Tom Rogic played a wonderful through ball to Forrest whose strike was parried by Alan Mannus. The 'keeper got quickly to his feet to make another block from Griffiths but he couldn't prevent Sinclair firing the ball into the empty net at the third attempt.

Celtic added a third before the break as Forrest scored a superb solo goal, picking up the ball on the half-way line and running at the retreating St Johnstone defence before sending a wonderful strike past Mannus with the outside of his right foot.

The game appeared to be petering out before St Johnstone were awarded a penalty when Swanson was fouled in the box by Henderson. 

Swanson took the resultant spot-kick himself and dispatched it past Craig Gordon for his seventh goal of the season.

MacLean diverted Swanson's cross past Gordon to set up a nervous finish but Christie did well to drill a low shot into the St Johnstone net two minutes into stoppage time to seal the win.

Rangers top the table by a point, albeit having played a game more than their Old Firm rivals, as they came from behind to defeat Motherwell 2-1 at Ibrox. 

Scott McDonald had Motherwell in front in the first half but Harry Forrester's strike levelled matters before Kenny Miller struck the winner in stoppage time.

Ross County are level on points with Celtic after beating Kilmarnock 2-0 and Aberdeen moved up to fourth with a 2-1 win over Partick Thistle.