Lambert steals show from Larsson

Celtic 3 St Johnstone

Martin O'Neill may be on his way to Old Trafford after all, though only as a day-tripper. Celtic began the defence of their Scottish Premier League title last night with an emphatic win, yet are scanning wider horizons.

The euphoria of last season's Treble has not worn off, but chairman Brian Quinn admitted in a pre-match radio interview that he would prefer Celtic to be pursuing the English Premiership title rather than Scotland's.

After declaring that the board had no intention of allowing O'Neill to move to Manchester United, Quinn hinted Celtic would like nothing better than to head south of the border.

Lobbying of his English counterparts had indicated that "without exception, every club in the English Premiership relishes the idea of Celtic and Rangers joining them in some form". Certainly, St Johnstone would be glad to see the back of the Celtic captain Paul Lambert, whose excellent double killed them off.

Before the match, Quinn was thinking as much of the past as the future as he took to the microphone to address the assembled 58,000. St Johnstone were visitors on the last day of the 1997-98 season, when Celtic secured a title which ended 10 barren years in the wilderness. It was, though, a false dawn, as Quinn reminded the supporters, with the then manager, Wim Jansen, departing within three days of the triumph and Celtic consigned to another spell in Rangers' shadows until O'Neill's arrival.

"This time, we were able to savour our success all summer," Quinn announced, "and more importantly, Martin O'Neill is still here. Now, with the help of the Blessed Martin and the King of Kings [a reference to Larsson], I don't see how we can go wrong."

Larsson threatened to add to his pre-season friendly collection of goals against Fulham and Sunderland after just four minutes, when he burst on to Chris Sutton's headed flick but St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Main blocked the shot from the man with the Golden Shoe.

Larsson's ceaseless probing almost earned reward in the 20th minute when Neil Lennon's free kick picked out his leap, but Main dived to his left to hold out the glancing header and then pulled off an equally fine save from Sutton's venomous drive.

St Johnstone almost broke the deadlock and it took Joos Valgaeren's goal-line presence to deny Mohammed Sylla before Celtic's other Swede, Johan Mjallby, stole his compatriot's thunder.

Alan Thompson's corner was so deep that Bobby Petta, lurking on the far side, was able to return it and Mjallby buried a near-post header from four yards.

Larsson thought he had added to the lead in the 56th minute, having shaken off his marker, Benito Kemble, with a sweet turn before lifting the ball over the advancing Main, only to watch it bobble wide.

Yet, this prolific scorer is equally menacing as a provider for others as he underlined nine minutes later.

Lambert exchanged roles, and passes, with Larsson whose deftness allowed the midfielder to escape the attention of Grant Murray. Lambert showed composure to steer the ball under the keeper and make it 2-0.

Lambert had developed a taste for this goalscoring stuff. Seven minutes elapsed before he plundered another, controlling Didier Agathe's throw-in before splendidly volleying a left-foot shot into the roof of Main's net. It was an extravagant flourish from a man who eschews flashiness, but symbolised that Celtic are no one-man act.

Celtic 3 St Johnstone 0

Mjallby 37, Lambert 64, 72

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 58,005