Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to six points with a comfortable 4-1 victory over St Mirren on Sunday.

Four of the goals came in a frantic opening 20 minutes with Kenny McLean passing up a chance for St Mirren before Scott Brown got Celtic’s opener in the fourth minute.

Sean Kelly levelled matters in the 10th minute before James Forrest had Celtic in front again and Brown’s second of the match gave the hosts some breathing space.

Celtic spurned a number of chances to add to the advantage before Anthony Stokes slammed home a fourth in the 67th minute.

The win is Celtic’s eighth in a row in the league as they showed no hangover from their midweek Europa League defeat and leaves managerless St Mirren firmly rooted to the foot of the table.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila was satisfied with his side’s performance.

“We kept possession, we created chances and we scored four goals and moved the ball very quick,” Deila said.

“It was a good win, an important win, and we’re now six points ahead and I’m very satisfied with that.”

St Mirren interim manager Gary Teale took positives from defeat.

“I don’t think we have come here and created as many chances as that, certainly in my time at St Mirren,” the Buddies player-coach said.

“However, the goals that we concede are far too easy and I need to change the mentality of that as it can’t continue.”

Forrest was one of four changes for Celtic and he nearly gifted St Mirren an opener in the first minute. The winger cheaply gave away possession to John McGinn whose cross was perfect for McLean, but he completely fluffed his shot from just inside the box.

St Mirren’s positive start came unstuck a cross from Stokes was diverted into Brown’s path by a St Mirren defender and the captain rifled home a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

The Buddies responded perfectly and had the ball in the net in the eighth minute when McLean converted McGinn’s pass but the St Mirren man’s joy soon faded when he realised he had been flagged for offside.

The visitors weren’t to be denied two minutes later when Kelly grabbed an equaliser. Marc McAusland sent a header across the face of the Celtic goal and Kelly pounced to send his shot in off the post.

St Mirren weren’t level for long as Forrest restored Celtic’s advantage in the 15th minute. Guidetti showed great skill to control a cross before slipping a reverse pass into Forrest’s path for the winger to slam an angled shot beyond Marc Ridgers.

Forrest turned provider three minutes later as he cut the ball back to Brown for the midfielder to sidefoot home his second of the match.

Stokes thought he had added a fourth for Celtic in the 51st minute when he stuck out a foot to divert Johansen’s shot into the net but the striker had strayed offside.

The Irish striker was then close with a curling free-kick from 20 yards before he turned provider for Johansen only for Ridgers to get down low to block the Norwegian’s effort.

Stefan Scepovic replaced the injured John Guidetti on the hour mark and almost made an instant impact with his first touch a dipping volley from 30 yards that had Ridgers scrambling to stop on the line.

The impressive Stokes finally got his name on the scoresheet when he exchanged passes with Johansen before sending a shot beyond Ridgers.