Celtic moved a massive 21 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table as they continue to close in on retaining the title following a 1-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday.

The Hoops won their 13th league match in a row as Fraser Forster set a new club record of 11 consecutive clean sheets to break the record first set by Charlie Shaw in 1913/14 before being equalled in 1922.

The goal came in the sixth minute, Kris Commons opened the scoring for the 13th time this season as Celtic remain unbeaten after 24 league matches.

Celtic had made two changes from the midweek win over Kilmarnock as Anthony Stokes returned from suspension to replace Teemu Pukki while Stefan Johansen took the place of Joe Ledley, who made a transfer deadline move to Crystal Palace.

However, the opening goal came from a familiar face after just five minutes. The in-form Commons collected a pass from Emilio Izaguirre and took a couple of touches before unleashing a 20 yard shot that snuck under the body of Marian Kello.

The crowd were on their feet again in the 18th minute as they rose to acknowledge manager Neil Lennon.

The show of support came a day after the Celtic boss had been forced to leave the Scottish League Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and St Johnstone early after suffering a torrent of abuse.

Lennon was spat at, had coins thrown at him and was the subject of verbal abuse while sitting as a spectator in the main stand.

In the 23rd minute Stokes tried his luck from long range, sending a fierce dipping strike just over the bar.

Scott Brown wasted a decent opportunity after Commons dummied a cut-back from Charlie Mulgrew but the Celtic captain sent his effort sailing over.

Johansen was making his first start for Celtic since signing from Stromgodset in January and he tried to mark it with a goal but the Norwegian dragged a shot from 20 yards wide.

James Forrest then had a low shot saved after cutting into the box before Stokes ended a rampaging run with a curling shot that just went wide on the stroke of half-time.

Forster has been a spectator for a lot of the 1035 minutes since he last conceded but the English keeper has always been alert enough to make crucial saves when called upon.

This incredible run of form continued on the hour mark when on-loan forward Josh Magennis burst past Efe Ambrose into the box but saw his fierce strike blocked by the body of the advancing Forster.

A free-flowing move then saw Mulgrew and Stokes link up down the left to set up Forrest for a shot but the Scotland international fired just wide of Kello's near post.

Stokes then blew a golden chance to seal the win a minute before time when he pounced on a short back-pass to round Kello but the Irish striker's shot from a tight angle was well over.