Celtic increased their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 11 points with a 1-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Thursday.

Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk got the only goal of the game in the fifth minute with a superb finish following a mazy run which started just inside his own half.

Anthony Stokes also had an effort chopped off for offside as Celtic dominated the first half with the home side failing to muster a shot on target.

St Johnstone were vastly improved after the break but Celtic's unbeaten start to the season never really looked to be in danger of coming to an end as the Hoops kept a clean sheet for the fourth consecutive league match.

Celtic now have an 11-point lead at the top of the table over Motherwell, who moved second thanks to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen and Dundee United's surprise 4-1 loss to St Mirren.

St Johnstone had threatened to strike first as Stevie May chased down a long ball out of defence but van Dijk raced back to nick the ball off the striker's foot and put it out for a corner.

The Dutch defender then showed off his skills at the other end of the park as he put Celtic ahead with a superb solo goal.

Van Dijk picked up the ball just inside his own half and after a mazy run past a couple of defenders he arrowed a low shot past 'keeper Alan Mannus.

Scott Brown and Anthony Stokes both had efforts saved before the Hoops came close to adding to their advantage when Georgios Samaras' inviting cross was nearly deflected into the net by a St Johnstone defender.

Celtic did have the ball in the net again when Stokes knocked in Scott Brown's cross from close range but his effort was chalked off for a tight offside decision.

In the 34th minute Gary Miller did well to get on the end of Nigel Hasselbaink's super cross from the left but his fierce striker was bravely blocked by Emilio Izaguirre.

Almost immediately at the other end, only some frantic defending kept Celtic at bay as Stokes was crowded off the ball by Frazer Wright and Sanel Jahic after he had knocked the ball over 'keeper Mannus.

The home side were much improved in the second half with the Celtic defence having to scramble away inviting crosses from May and Hasselbaink.

St Johnstone were then appealing for a penalty in the 57th minute when May appeared to be pushed to the ground by van Dijk as he tried to get on the end of a cross from the left but referee Craig Thomson waved away their appeals.

In the 77th substitute Gwion Edwards raced down the left before cutting in and stinging the palms of Fraser Forster with a viciously hit strike from the edge of the box.

A minute later Mannus made a superb stop to keep out a first time strike from Commons after he connected with Joe Ledley's cross as Celtic made it six straight wins.

Elsewhere, Hearts lost 4-0 at home to Kilmarnock, Hibernian won 2-0 away to Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Partick Thistle ended goalless.