Rampant Celtic crush Saints

Buddies defender Jack Ross was sent off in the first half at 1-0 for a penalty-box foul on Scott McDonald with St Mirren goalkeeper Chris Smith saving Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's spot-kick.

The champions ran riot after the break though, scoring five, with Spanish midfielder Marc Crosas grabbing his first goal and Saints defender John Potter scoring an own goal to complete a nightmare afternoon for the visitors.

Buddies goalkeeper Smith handed Celtic a goal after only 16 minutes. Nakamura took a pass from Hoops skipper Stephen McManus but his shot from 20 yards looked to be easily saveable but Smith somehow let the ball slip through his gloves and bounce over the line.

There was more misery for Saints in the 28th minute when Ross was sent off by referee Crawford Allan for bringing down Scott McDonald but Smith denied Vennegoor of Hesselink from the spot.

But Celtic were not to be denied and 10 minutes from the interval Nakamura made it 2-0 when he accepted a Andreas Hinkel pass at the edge of the box before slotting past Smith.

Six minutes into the second half, Spanish midfielder Crosas picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and there looked little danger but he sent in a tremendous half-volley which sped past the helpless Smith.

But Brown made it 4-0 in the 55th minute when he played a one-two with Gary Caldwell before swiftly despatching a drive under the body of Smith.

Two minutes later, as the visitors threatened to combust totally, Nakamura completed his hat-trick when he slammed in a trademark free-kick from 30 yards, the ball evading the wall and the scrambling Smith.

In the 68th minute Brown made it 6-0 when he latched on to a Crosas pass and slammed the ball past Smith. St Mirren defender Potter completed the scoring in the 75th minute when he farcically headed Hinkel's searching cross past his own goalkeeper.