Half-Time Report: Early Leigh Griffiths strike puts Celtic ahead

An early goal from Leigh Griffiths has given Celtic a 1-0 lead over St Johnstone in their Scottish Premiership match at McDiarmid Park this afternoon.

It took the visitors just 35 seconds to open the scoring as Griffiths was played in by Nir Bitton, leaving the striker to coolly slot the ball under Alan Mannus.

Scott Brown could have made it two inside the opening five minutes, but the Celtic captain blasted it wide after Adam Matthews pulled it back.

Michael O'Halloran tried to get the hosts back on level terms, but his attempted tap-in from close range was stopped by Craig Gordon.

Mannus continued to come under pressure down the other end though as Griffiths pushed for a second, while Virgil van Dijk had a header cleared off the line.

O'Halloran continued to find space up front for the Saints, but Gordon remained alert to the danger to keep the Scottish champions in front.

Jason Denayer attempted to head the ball in from a corner on the cusp of half time, but his finish was just high of the crossbar.