Keane and Thompson were two of Celtic's scorers against St Johnstone

By Clive Lindsay

Robbie Keane scored his ninth Celtic goal as they reduced Rangers' lead in the Scottish Premier League to 10 points by easing aside St Johnstone.

Josh Thompson headed Celtic into a 15th-minute lead.

Gavin Swankie sent a free-kick against the Celtic post before Aiden McGeady fired against the Saints woodwork.

Keane scored with a penalty after Graeme Smith upended Marc-Antoine Fortune on 67 minutes and Georgios Samaras slotted in a late third.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray appeared to have one eye on next season, despite publicly stating that he still believes his side can overhaul the reigning champions' lead.

Goalkeeper Artur Boruc was left on the bench on his return from compassionate leave, with Mowbray stating he wanted to have another look at Lukasz Zaluska, with his Polish compatriot only having another year left on his contract.

St Johnstone lost striker Kenny Deuchar early on

Mark Wilson replaced Andreas Hinkel at right-back for similar reasons and, without captain Scott Brown through suspension, Paul McGowan was drafted in for his first league start along with fellow striker Marc-Antoine Fortune as Morten Rasmussen dropped out.

In effect, it meant a 4-2-4 formation for Celtic, while St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes resisted the temptation to play defensively, like many visitors to Celtic Park, and kept two men up front despite being forced into several changes.

Paul Sheerin, Murray Davidson, Gavin Swankie and Steven Milne had come into the starting line-up, with Liam Craig dropping to the bench, but the Perth side had to be further adjusted when striker Kenny Deuchar limped off after an awkward 15th-minute fall.

Seconds after Steven Reynolds came on as a replacement, Celtic broke the deadlock.

Edson Braafheid's in-swinging free-kick from wide on the right was met by teenage defender Thompson, who headed past goalkeeper Smith from eight yards for his first goal for Celtic since arriving from Stockport in the summer.

McGowan was put through on goal by Keane but sent a shot with the outside of his foot off the top of the crossbar and the diminutive forward then headed wide when found unmarked eight yards from goal.

Keane himself sent a 14-yard effort wide as he stretched to reach a Fortune cross.

Saints substitute Gavin Swankie twice went close to equalising against the run of play either side of the break.

First, Darren O'Dea did enough to block a drive from 16 yards then the forward's low curling free-kick from 20 yards struck the outside of the far post.

Celtic responded in kind, with Aiden McGeady curling an effort from a wide position against the inside of the far post.

That signalled a period of intense Celtic pressure, with the ball pinging dangerously around the St Johnstone penalty box.

Keane was denied by a couple of point-blank saves from goalkeeper Graeme Smith on the goal-line.

It seemed like it was only a matter of time before Celtic made the breakthrough and it finally came from the penalty spot.

Smith hauled down Fortune near the touchline and Keane blasted into the top corner to effectively kill the game.

Fortune's replacement, Samaras, added the third after 87 minutes when he eased aside two defenders before slotting the ball under the advancing Smith.

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