Hoops ease to victory

It was a comfortable win in the end for Gordon Strachan's side but the game arguably turned on the first-half incident in which Hoops keeper Artur Boruc was only yellow carded by referee Willie Collum for a 'last man' foul on Craig Dargo.

The home side scored a late consolation through substitute Jim Hamilton, who had replaced Dennis Wyness in the closing stages.

In the 15th minute Dargo raced clear of the Celtic defence in pursuit of Garry Brady's searching pass only to be sent crashing to the ground by Boruc 10 yards outside the penalty area.

The tackle itself - far less where it occurred - appeared to be reckless enough to ensure a red card.

However, to the anger of the home support, Collum issued only a yellow card to the Poland international and the visitors survived the free-kick which only added to the Buddies' ire.

The Hoops took the lead in the 64th minute as Andreas Hinkel took a Shaun Maloney pass and raced unattended down the right-hand side to send a cross into the middle which Samaras calmly flicked past Mark Howard at the near post.

Two minutes later Nakamura ensured the points when he took a Samaras pass, cut inside Franco Miranda and guided the ball into the far corner from 12 yards out.

Sheridan came on for Samaras in the 76th minute and three minutes later the gangly Irishman tapped into an empty net after being set up by McDonald.

Two minute from the end Hamilton headed past Boruc from Miranda's cross for a Saints consolation which, to the seething Buddies, was no consolation at all.