Hatate and Furuhashi at the double as Celtic sweep past St Johnstone

Japan's Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi both scored twice as champions Celtic strengthened their grip on top spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone on Saturday.

The success in front of their own fans at Parkhead saw Celtic restore their nine-point lead over arch Glasgow rivals Rangers.

Drey Wright pulled a goal back for the visitors but it was too late to change the course of a match where Celtic substitute David Turnbull was sent off in stoppage time following a VAR check for his foul on Saints goalkeeper Remi Matthews.

Celtic went ahead in the 14th minute when Furuhashi sent compatriot Daizen Maeda sprinting down the left.

Maeda's low cross eventually came to Hatate, with the makeshift full-back's 20-yard strike completing a made in Japan goal.

Furuhashi doubled Celtic's lead four minutes later, flicking in a cross from Matt O'Riley, before his close-range finish five minutes before half-time left the Hoops in complete command at 3-0.

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Football

Hatate's second goal in the 52nd minute was initially disallowed for offside before being reinstated following a VAR check.

In Saturday's other early kick-off match, St Mirren defeated 10-man Aberdeen 3-1 despite missing two of their three penalties.

Aberdeen, who had already lost to Celtic and Rangers this week, went ahead through Matty Kennedy before captain Anthony Stewart was sent off in the 35th minute.

His exit saw Saints awarded their first penalty, with Mark O'Hara hitting the post before the ball went in off the back of goalkeeper Kelle Roos for a particularly unlucky own-goal.

O'Hara made it 2-1 from the spot in the 53rd minute to give the home team the lead before Jonah Ayunga missed the chance to extend the Buddies' lead from a third penalty.

Aberdeen sent Roos up for a corner in a desperate search for an equaliser deep into stoppage time, but Saints counter-attacked and Greg Kiltie rolled the ball into an empty net from 30 yards.