Celtic instant analysis as Yang heads the champions 16 clear

In a frenetic and fantastic seven-goal thriller at the SMiSA Stadium, it was Celtic's second-half substitute Korean winger Yang Hyun-Jun who made all the difference.

Yang bagged a brace of headers and he also set up Daizen Maeda for goal No.26 of the season to finally put the game beyond Saints reach at 4-2.

Jeffrey Schlupp and Arne Engels had twice given the champions the lead only to be pegged back by strikes from Saints duo Declan John and Killian Phillips.

Brendan Rodgers made one change from Celtic's midweek exertions with Adam Idah replacing Jota after the champions' 5-1 win over Aberdeen.

The Irishman led the line for Celtic as Daizen Maeda was shunted to the left wing. Greg Taylor also returned to the first-team squad after missing the Aberdeen win due to his wife being in labour.

Rodgers' men knew they had the chance to extend their lead at the top before kick-off in Paisley after Rangers slumped to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox.

There was a minute's applause held for former Saint Cammy Murray who sadly passed away. The Buddies were looking to claim the scalps of Rangers and Celtic within the space of seven days after last weekend's 2-0 win in Govan.

The hosts started brightly and Olusanya was making his presence felt in the early exchanges.

After 11 minutes Idah latched onto Nicolas Kuhn's pass and his smart cutback was blazed wildly over the top by Reo Hatate.

St Mirren ought to have taken the lead in 18 minutes when Olusanya sprinted clear of Celtic defender Auston Trusty but goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel spreadeagled himself and made a superb diving stop to thwart the striker who was looking very lively.

It was all St Mirren and Marcus Fraser sent Ryan Alebiosu scampering down the left and his cross found its way to Mark O'Hara who blasted an effort straight at Schmeichel and another big chance had gone by the wayside.

Celtic suffered a real blow in 24 minutes when Trusty was replaced by Liam Scales after sustaining a nasty head knock in an accidental collision with Mikael Mandron.

Just when St Mirren were gaining momentum and a foothold in the game Celtic clinically pounced on the 27 minutes.

The ball was worked out to the left and Schlupp lets fly with a lovely left-footed finish which went in off the post and signalled his first goal for the club since signing a loan deal from Crystal Palace on deadline day.

It didn't take long for Saints to level matters though when Liam Scales clattered into Killian Phillips on the edge of the box.

Up stepped Declan John and he produced a stunning free-kick finish that David Beckham would have been proud of he smashed it in off the underside of the crossbar with Schmeichel all ends up.

It was St Mirren's first goal against Celtic at home since March 2023.

Celtic were all at sea at the back and Olusanya burst clean through again but his attempted over the onrushing Schmeichel lacked purchase and dropped short of the goal.

Saints defender Alebiosu then gifted Celtic a golden opportunity to restore their lead when he clumsily dived in on Maeda and referee Matthew MacDermid had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Arne Engels rolled it straight down the middle for his 10th goal of the season in all competition - eight of which have come from 12 yards.

Within two minutes of the restart St Mirren drew level at 2-2

Celtic failed to clear their lines and Killian Phillips smashed a mishit volley into the deck which somehow bounced up and beat Schmeichel who may feel he could have done better.

It was Celtic who hit the front again on 67 minutes when super sub Yang produced a textbook header from Reo Hatate's cross from the left to bury with aplomb.

Luke McCowan then rattled the post as Celtic came within inches of making it 4-2.

It was Maeda who made sure of all three points when Yang played him in and he turned his marker and the Japanese striker coolly stroked home No. 26 of the campaign to settle the issue.

Yang then capped off a magnificent cameo when he buried a close-range header to make it 5-2.

The victory leaves Celtic needing just three more league wins to claim their 55th Scottish Premiership crown. 

Jeffrey Schlupp is a person of interest for Celtic

The on-loan Crystal Palace left-back opened his Celtic account with a neatly drilled strike for the opening goal.

The champions may well be signing Kieran Tierney but they have to be seriously thinking of offering Schlupp a longer-term deal.

In the lead-up to this match, Rodgers said: I'll have a chat with Jeffrey towards the latter part of the season. I think we can all see he has that Premier League physicality and quality. He's a guy that's a top professional. That's why he's been in over a decade in the Premier League." 

Top professionals with his physicality and quality don't come along that often.

Schlupp has all of a sudden become a person of interest for Celtic and has to be asked the question come the summer.

Arne Engels should change his second name by deed poll to (P)Engels

Make that ten goals for the season in all competitions for the Belgian international. He also has 12 assists into the bargain.

The midfielder is as cool a customer as you will see from 12 yards and he has dispatched eight of them already and counting this season.

It wasn't his greatest game in a Celtic jersey granted but he stepped up to the plate just before the break when his team needed him and he is so reliable from the spot.

Engels will be a generational talent from next season onwards. You can bookmark this if you wish.

Has Nicolas Kuhn gone off the boil?

The German winger's form seems to have gone off a cliff at a critical juncture of the season.

The wide man has gone from being a shoo-in for the Scottish Player of the Year awards earlier in the season to struggling to get any rhythm of late.

There seems to have been a levelling off concerning Kuhn's recent contributions

There is allegedly reputed interest from English Premier League sides Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Everton.

Despite notching 18 goals and 12 assists in 39 appearances this season he has found the going tough of late and the dream German national call-up to Julien Nagelsmann's squad will remain on hold for the time being.

He now faces a fight with teammate Maeda to see who waltzes off with the major individual prizes.

The Yang Gang is growing in numbers every game

The Korean came on and lit up Paisley with a stunning header to put Celtic 3-2 ahead in a quite sensational game of football.

The substitute planted a textbook header past Zachary Hemming on 68 minutes and looked hungry and determined to make an impact when he came on.

He certainly did that and how he was entitled to celebrate when he buried Reo Hatate's cross from the left.

The winger was denied a second goal when he swept high into the net but the assistant's flag was raised. It was Yang's pass that released Maeda to claim his 26th of the season and three points were heading for Glasgow.

Yang has been a slow burner in terms of his Celtic career but he is starting to fulfil the potential that his manager Brendan Rodgers has seen in him.

The Yang Gang is now officially a thing.