Celtic moved four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable 3-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead.

Second-half goals by Japanese duo Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi gave Brendan Rodgers's side a vital three points in the race for the league flag.

Hatate scored a screamer on 51 minutes as he lashed the ball into the top corner before Kyogo bulleted a header into the net from eight yards following Alistair Johnston's pinpoint cross from the right.

Substitute Adam Idah headed home with four minutes left on the clock to make it three as the Republic of Ireland international bagged his seventh goal of his Celtic career since his on-loan switch from Norwich City in January.

Rodgers's men now have the luxury of having the points on the board as Phillipe Clement's men head to Dingwall to face Ross County tomorrow with no margin for error.

Reo Hatate is officially back...what a strike for the opening goal

What a glorious hit from Hatate. He not only took a fantastic touch to control the ball he then unleashed a beauty into the top corner with his second as it rasped into the rigging after 52 minutes.  Hatate buried it like a seasoned striker. It was a sensational finish. The Japanese midfielder is high quality and is a class act. Ironically he is still not 100 per cent fit. Wait until he is fully operational and functional. How Rodgers and his Celtic teammates have missed him for large chunks of the season. The 26-year-old playmaker let everybody inside the stadium breathe more easily with a stunning moment of brilliance. Reo, Reo Hatate the Celtic get excited when they see you play. Hatate is the best midfielder in the country bar none. Celtic is transformed whenever he does play for the team. He is a wonderful footballer to watch. Such players are the difference makers. Such players also win you games...and titles and cups.

Sweet 16 for Kyogo Furuhashi

Feed Kyogo and he will score. It's the law. The Japanese talisman made it a sweet 16 goals for the campaign in all competitions (11 in the league). Johnston's cross was bang on the money as the attacker ghosted into space to bullet a superb header home to make it 2-0 to Celtic on the hour mark. It was great striker play from Kyogo and he was in the right place at the right time to profit from Johnston's sumptuous delivery. The striker was still making his trademark runs all game and he got his reward for his persistence as he finally broke down the stubborn St Mirren's resistance with the goal that made the points safe. He was replaced by Adam Idah for the last 20 minutes or so but the forward had made another vital and valid contribution to the cause. The Celtic supporters still yearn to see Kyogo and Idah paired up front together. Hope springs eternal. Five to go and Kyogo is in the mood. His goals are going to be crucial come the final reckoning.

Alistair Johnston stepped up to the plate and then some

The Canadian international defender was quality after the break. He provided the assist for Hatate before throwing over a wonderful delivery for Kyogo to score the points clinching goal. Johnston took his tally of assists to five for the campaign. He is learning to throw in early balls that the likes of Kyogo and Idah can feed off. Not only that he has also rediscovered the kind of form that saw him win the treble within months of joining the club under former boss Ange Postecoglou. The player has never lost a Glasgow derby fixture either. It was another quality display from the right back and his contribution to a massive second half from Rodgers's side cannot be underestimated. He is certainly not an unsung hero but Rodgers is getting a wonderful tune out of the defender at this moment in time.

Magic Maik Nawrocki? Not quite but steady enough display from the Pole.

The Polish defender replaced Liam Scales at the heart of the Celtic defence and did well enough. The year-old does like to try and get the ball forward very quickly and wasn't one to dwell in possession although his distribution at times was awry. There is a player inside Nawrocki, and maybe he needs a consistent run of games to build up his confidence. It is all about opportunity and Rodgers has handed him a rare platform to shine and to make a difference at the business end of the season. He got involved in several foot races with St Mirren striker Toyosi Olusany but won both contests. He showed he was no slouch and when in doubt he found row Z. He was also alert to snuff out the danger as he put in a vital block to steer Greg Kilties's cross away from the penalty area seven minutes before the interval. He endured a couple of sticky moments due to his decision making but that could just be down to ring-rustiness. It was the back four that most Celtic supporters have been crying out for all season and Nawrocki did his best to stake his claim for a regular gig in Rodgers's first team before being substituted after 65 minutes for Stephen Welsh.