Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to 13 points over Rangers with a commanding 3-0 victory over St Mirren this afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers made four changes to the lineup following their New Year Glasgow Derby loss, and the adjustments paid off in spectacular fashion.
The Bhoys delivered a dominant performance, with Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn leading the charge.
St Mirren struggled to contain Celtic’s attacking prowess, and the result served as the perfect response to their recent defeat against Rangers. Kuhn, in particular, looked back to his best, helping to erase any lingering doubts after the Derby loss.
Reacting to the win, Rodgers expressed his satisfaction with the performance and the growing gap between his side and Rangers, who had earlier stumbled to a 3-3 draw against Hibernian at Easter Road.
Brendan Rodgers Praises Luke McCowan’s Contribution
One of the standout decisions from Rodgers was starting Luke McCowan in midfield. The former Dundee captain impressed in his role, and the Celtic boss was quick to praise his commitment and patience.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Rodgers said: “He gives everything every single day and then he deserves the opportunities that come to him. So I know he’ll be a wee bit frustrated in some of the areas he got into that he maybe didn’t get a chance to score, but he makes a vital contribution for us every time he plays. So delighted for him.”
Rodgers Reflects on Celtic’s 13-Point Lead Over Rangers
When asked about the 13-point gap at the top of the table, Rodgers acknowledged the significance of the lead while emphasizing the team’s progress throughout the season.
“I think that’s what it is,” said Rodgers.
“It’s just stage posts along the way and being at the halfway point from a pre-season, which has been great. From the European campaign which has been fantastic to winning the first cup of the season to then arrive at the halfway point in a really good place and then to add that lead. Of course that makes us very happy.”
With momentum firmly on their side, Celtic now prepare to host Dundee United at Parkhead on Wednesday night. Rodgers will aim to build on today’s performance with another three points in their pursuit of the title.
Meanwhile, Rangers face a challenging away fixture against Dundee. Should the Ibrox club drop points again, Celtic could extend their lead even further, putting them in an even stronger position as the title race progresses.
