THE JOYS OF SIX | CELTIC 6-0 ST MIRREN

David Turnbull bagged his first ever career hat-trick this afternoon as Celtic stormed to the top of the league for the first time in a year after a relentless six-goal battering of St Mirren.

Two Liel Abada goals in five first-half minutes - either side of an Alan Power red card - and a Turnbull brace had the hosts four up at the break.

Odsonne Edouard added a fifth just after the hour before Turnbull completed his hat-trick to move the home side top on goal difference.

Ange Postecoglou's men are preparing themselves perfectly for a seismic week which sees them go to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by the first Glasgow derby of the season at Ibrokes next Sunday.

The last meeting between these sides at Parkhead resulted in a grim 2-1 defeat for Celtic in January - St Mirren's first victory at Parkhead in 31 years.

That result left the ill fated Neil Lennon's side 23 points behind an overrated Rangers side, but things have completely turned on their head seven months on as Celtic delivered another scintillating, high octane performance in front of a fanatical and vociferous home crowd.

Celtic set the tone early when Davie Turnbull battered the ball off the inside of St Mirren's left-hand post with a 25 yarder.

Liel Abada was next to menace the Paisley Fegs, seeing an effort loop just over the bar, but he would put that to rights finding the net a few minutes later when he cut in from the left and curled a shot into the top corner. Postage stamp!

It was already looking ominous for St Mirren if they hoped to get anything from this game, given Celtic's apparent skill and industry, but their task got a lot harder when a daft sliding challenge from Power caught Turnbull out on the left wing.

To be fair, it probably looked a lot worse than it actually was, but self styled super-adjudicator Willie Collum was there, as ever, looking to grab a wee bit of limelight for himself, boney fingers greedily finding their way into his shirt pocket in search of his by now well worn red card!

Tory linesman Douglas Ross would have been proud, but wherever Saints boss Goodwin was watching from, he'd have been keeking through his fingers as just three minutes after his side went down to 10, Celtic doubled the deficit.

Greg Taylor's chipped ball to the back post was met by the impressive young Abada, whose textbook header lasered down into the ground and up over the flailing arms of the Saints keeper and into the top-left corner of the net.

The Feegie men thought they got one back when Scott Tanser's looping cross was met by Greg Kiltie, with Curtis Main eager to get the finishing touch. But his effort was in vain as the linesman flagged him offside.

The Glasgow men responded to that blip by stabbing in a third goal, as Turnbull hit a more perfect dig this time round as it flew past Alnwick from 25 yards out.

As it was with the opener, Alnwick got a hand to the ball but it was struck with such power that it seemed to blast through his hand and into the net.

Japanese star Kyogo Furuhashi then forced a close-range effort over after Odsonne Edouard hit the crossbar.

Abada - who tormented St Mirren's defenders all afternoon - drove the ball into the penalty box, and the St Mirren keeper could only parry the cross into the path of Scotland international Davie Turnbull, who was never going to miss from there to clinch Celtic's fourth goal.

Alnwick could do even less about Celtic's fifth, as Edouard reacted fastest, toeing the ball in from close range at the second attempt, after his first attempt was blocked.

And Celtic's rising midfield star Turnbull capped a stunning display when a lovely move resulted in The Wizard of Oz - Tom Rogic - sending the Scotland man through to crack another one past Alnwick.

Man of the match - David Turnbull

The 22-year-old was outstanding throughout and could have easily scored five goals

What did we learn?

Celtic gaffer Ange Postecoglou is demanding that his players are relentless in their pursuit of (playing) a brand of football that sees them remain true to The Celtic Way, and the Bhoys are certainly responding.

Back-to-back six-goal wins in the league have brought the feelgood factor back to Parkhead and the players' confidence levels are peaking now for the first time since the Brendan Rogers era.

The Celts are now set to negotiate a mouth watering double header over the next seven days, starting this Thursday in Holland, as they bid to see off AZ Alkmaar (19:15) and take their place in the Europa League group stages. Then we head down to HMRC's favourite hunting ground to take on one of Scotland's newest professional clubs, the Rangers International Football Club Est 2012, who won their first ever Premiership title last season.

Although Rangers fans are still desperately trying to claim the titles won by the old club, which was liquidated in 2012, are attributed to the new entity. And of course the usual breed of pliant media masons appear ready and willing to add their own brand of confirmation bias to the ludicrous and frankly embarrassing claims.

Anyhoo, the Glasgow derby kicks of at (12:00), and on Celtic's current form, supporters are urged not to look away, not even for a minute.

Hail Hail!