Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Celtic moved six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after two goals in two second-half minutes broke St Johnstone's resistance.

Callum McGregor fired low from outside the box eight minutes after the break, then Ryan Christie curled in a second.

Scott Sinclair's header had been well saved by Zander Clark as Brendan Rodgers' side dominated.

St Johnstone offered little in attack as they suffered successive away losses for the first time since September.

Tommy Wright's team, who were beaten at Hearts on Saturday, remain sixth - five points clear of Hibernian.

And the Perth outfit host Rodgers' men on Sunday before returning to Celtic Park in the Scottish Cup on 10 February.

Visitors resistance eventually falters

Celtic took the points, but only after a stubborn and robust defensive effort in the first 50 minutes by St Johnstone.

Jason Kerr - who on Tuesday signed a contract extension until 2022 - and Joe Shaughnessy were a composed and diligent central defensive pairing and frustrated the Premiership leaders.

One particular highlight from Kerr was a clever backward header just before half-time to defuse an awkward situation caused by Mikael Lustig's cross.

Clark also deserves credit, because the visiting goalkeeper sprang into action with a wonderful diving save to claw out Sinclair's header on the half hour.

He went on to pull off another great save from McGregor, but Celtic had seized control by then.

Just after the break both McGregor and Christie were teed up by Lustig, who occupies the right-back berth that Celtic are so keen to strengthen.

Manager Rodgers said pre-match that there was nothing to report in the speculated interest in Borussia Dortmund's Jeremy Toljan.

Christie's looping curler into the top left corner was definitely the more pleasing of the two goals.

McGregor strike's was low into the same corner, with Clark perhaps unsighted by a ruck of defenders.

Celtic had the luxury of bringing Odsonne Edouard, Timothy Weah and Nir Bitton on as substitutes, with strikers Edouard and Weah going very close to making it three for the hosts.

Zander Clark made a stunning save from Scott Sinclair but could not deny Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie

Celtic send out 'ominous' warning - analysis

In this extremely competitive season, Celtic have used their game in hand to establish a more commanding advantage - something that seemed unlikely pre-Christmas when the league lead was being exchanged almost on a weekly basis.

Celtic's dominance and eventual attacking prowess is an ominous warning to others in the top-four positions, who have to muster the season-long title-challenging stamina to reel Rodgers' men back in.

If captain Scott Brown does finally commit his future to Celtic in the next few days, it might offer the club that one extra spur to complete the job in the league this season.

St Johnstone were always in for a difficult night and their initially resolute performance was worn down. Wright will look to Sunday's meeting with Celtic on their own McDiarmid Park patch as a better chance to show what they are capable of against the leaders.

Celtic were 'very calm' - reaction

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The first 20, we didn't play quick enough but then we started to get into better areas. Second half, we were very, very good and scored two wonderful goals.

"We didn't give up so much at the back, we were very calm. We scored two wonderful goals, the keeper makes another couple of saves and we should have a penalty as well."

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "I can't fault my players for their effort, their energy that they showed and they're up against a team just full of quality.

"Sometimes you've just got to take your hat off to them and say that you're beaten by the better team."