Celtic striker Henrik Larsson silenced the critics as the champions increased their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 16 points at Parkhead today.

The Swede was harshly criticised after passing penalty-taking duties to John Hartson at Kilmarnock last week and even he would admit that he has not hit the heights of last season.

Larsson though is not the type of man who lies down easy and he hit back today with the winner as Celtic look to have killed off the title race even before Rangers play later this evening.

The criticism could not have come at a worse time for struggling St Johnstone, who were nine points adrift at the foot of the table even before this daunting trip to Glasgow.

The visitors did not help themselves by having the audacity of taking a shock early lead through Darren Dods - especially with inconsistent on-loan goalkeeper Alan Miller behind the defence.

Celtic though showed the true mark of champions by storming back with goals from Alan Thompson and Larsson to keep Bill Stark's men on course for the relegation to the First Division.

As expected the visitors found themselves on the backfoot from the first whistle and Miller looked nervous between the sticks in the early stages.

In the third minute, the Blackburn player was unable to hold Stilian Petrov's low long-range effort and Darren Dods needed to make a vital header to prevent Larsson from following up.

St Johnstone, however, woke the Celtic players and silenced the home crowd after just five minutes by taking the lead.

Paul Kane found Paul Hartley and his cross was headed home by Dods at the back post.

That lead, however, was short lived as Larsson found space in the box and fired emphatically into the corner of the net for his 20th goal of the season.

That strike gave the home side the initiative and they took the lead two minutes later, albeit in fortunate fashion.

Alan Thompson failed to get the kind of power he was looking for on his long-range free-kick, but it bounced in front of Miller and went through his guard and into the back of the net.

St Johnstone were desperately hanging on and Miller made amends for his mistake to deny Larsson's shot after exchanging passes with Hartson just inside the box.

The Swede's confidence looked to be restored and his acrobatic scissor-kick from the Welshman's chip sailed just wide.

Larsson had a glorious chance to extend Celtic's lead without realising it in the 34th minute.

He found himself on-side from Jackie McNamara's floated cross, but he failed realise the ball was behind him and Miller came out to claim.

The St Johnstone keeper though was having a day to forget and after making a hash of clearance minutes later he was treated to ironic cheers by the home crowd.

The half-time whistle could not come quick enough for Stark's side as Thompson's left-foot free-kick flew just over the bar.

Miller again made a hash of McNamara's weak effort, but fortunately for him Paul Hartley was on hand to clear.

Celtic started the second half briskly, but St Johnstone were desperately hanging on even though Miller was doing nothing for their confidence.

Petrov whistled a sweet right-foot drive over the crossbar from Thompson's corner, but the vital goal still evaded Celtic.

Miller then almost spilled the ball with no Celtic player in sight.

Olivier Tebily's hesitation then allowed Rachid Djeballi to take the ball and test Douglas, but his shot lacked the power to beat the Celtic man.

Miller did manage to stop Hartson's weak right-foot effort on the hour, but the Welshman should have probably done better.

The crowd were celebrating prematurely three minutes later as Hartson blazed a fierce right-foot volley against the stanchion behind the goal from Larsson's great pass.

The home supporters were getting more anxious as the game wore on, but the visitors offered very little up front.

In the 75th-minute Miller produced a great one-handed save to keep Thompson's powerful shot out.

The midfielder then blazed a dipping and curling long-range effort past Miller and against the crossbar with five minutes to go.

Stark's men though look dead and buried at the foot of the table after this defeat, while Martin O'Neill's stars and - in particularly the rejuvenated Larsson - look hungry for more glory over the coming months.

Teams:

Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Tebily, Valgaeren, McNamara, Lambert, Petrov, Moravcik (Petta 67), Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Sylla, Maloney, Smith.

Goals: Larsson 9, Thompson 11.

St Johnstone: Miller, Dods, McCluskey, Falconer, Murray, Lynch, Kane (Jones 81), Hartley, McCulloch (McClune 62), Djebaili, Russell (Connolly 76).

Subs Not Used: Cuthbert, Macdonald.

Booked: Kane, Djebaili.

Goals: Dods 6.

Att: 58,547

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).