Neil Lennon praised his much-changed Celtic side after their 3-1 victory over Inverness at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium took them 18 points clear of the Highlanders at the top of Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
The Hoops boss, as promised, made nine changes with this week’s first leg of their Champion League last-16 tie against Juventus in mind and was rewarded with a convincing display.
Debutants Tom Rogic and Rami Gershon especially caught the eye, with the 20-year-old Australia international, signed from Central Coast Mariners in January, claiming the man of the match award.
Israel defender Gershon also grabbed his first Celtic goal to send the visitors ahead, after they fell behind to Nick Ross’ early opener which had been cancelled out by Kris Commons.
Defender Marcus Fraser started in the SPL for the first time while there were rare starts for Paddy McCourt, Dylan McGeouch and Venezuelan striker Miku, who grabbed the third with eight minutes remaining.
Despite watching his 10-man Aberdeen side struggle to even threaten St Mirren at Pittodrie on Saturday, Dons boss Craig Brown remains optimistic his side can end the season on a high.
Brown said: “Everyone in the dressing room is enthusiastic and I’m still optimistic about a good finish to the season.
“We’ve got a dozen games left and, after we lost the first game of the season, harshly, to Celtic, we went on an unbeaten run of 11 games. I think we can do the same again.”
Kilmarnock secured a 2-0 win over Motherwell at Rugby Park.
An early own goal from Stevie Hammell and a late headed second from William Gros gave Kilmarnock a win and three points that they scarcely deserved.
Any worries of a late fightback from the visitors disappeared when red cards for Fraser Kerr and then captain Keith Lasley in the final six minutes reduced Well to nine men.
Manager Stuart McCall said: “I am not happy as we lost our discipline.”