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Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong of Celtic.

Ciftci double extends Celtic's lead at top of the table

Celtic are four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership again after Nadir Ciftci scored twice in a 3-0 win over St Johnstone.

A GOAL IN each half from Nadir Ciftci helped Celtic to a comfortable 3-0 win away to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

The striker gave the champions reward for their first-half pressure with an emphatic finish just before the break, and Dedryck Boyata rose highest to head home a corner three minutes into the second half.

Ciftci nodded in Mikael Lustig’s cross on 66 minutes to complete the scoring and allow Celtic to ease to a victory which restores their four-point lead over Aberdeen at the top of the table.

Michael O’Halloran missed a good early chance for St Johnstone and they were made to pay for their profligacy as Ciftci blasted home following Callum McGregor’s cross 10 minutes before half-time.

McGregor was the provider once again for the second, with Boyata meeting his corner with a powerful header from close range which gave Alan Mannus no chance.

St Johnstone’s Brian Easton rattled the post with a great effort from distance just a minute later, but Ciftci killed off any lingering hopes of a comeback with a precise header from Lustig’s delivery.

Carlton Cole came close to a fourth in injury time as Celtic restored their advantage over Aberdeen, having played a game less than the second-placed side.

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