Reo Hatate scored a double from right-back as Celtic consolidated top spot in the Scottish Premiership with a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone. Kyogo Furuhashi also netted twice as the Hoops restored their nine-point lead over Rangers at the summit. Drey Wright pulled one back but Celtic went into Christmas with a 19-goal advantage over their city rivals. VAR had a major say on proceedings with goals for each side given following interventions and the Celtic substitute David Turnbull was sent off in stoppage time after the referee Kevin Clancy went to his monitor to take another look at his challenge on the goalkeeper Remi Matthews. Clancy upgraded his initial yellow card to a red, meaning the midfielder will be suspended for games against Hibernian and Rangers. St Johnstone arrived at Celtic Park on the back of a six-match unbeaten run but taking on the champions on their home turf is a different proposition. Ange Postecoglou’s side have now taken 55 Premiership points from a possible 57 at Parkhead over the course of 2022. Postecoglou had promised changes after being dissatisfied with elements of his side’s attacking play in the 2-1 win over Livingston, with James Forrest and Daizen Maeda seizing their chance on the wings. Celtic caused St Johnstone early problems down the left and Furuhashi claimed he had scored from the latest in a series of Aaron Mooy corners but there was no VAR review called after Matthews palmed the ball away. Matt O’Riley swept the ball wide from Callum McGregor’s pass before Stevie May headed just wide from Graham Carey’s free-kick. The 14th-minute opener came after Furuhashi sent Maeda tearing down the left. The Japan international’s low cross eventually fell for Hatate, whose 20-yard strike was deflected inside the near post. The second goal also came from the left flank four minutes later as Furuhashi flicked O’Riley’s low cross home at the near post. Furuhashi poked the ball straight at Matthews from a decent chance moments before notching his second goal five minutes before the break. Mooy’s lofted pass got Forrest in behind and the winger squared for Furuhashi to net from close range. Hatate’s second goal in the 52nd minute was initially disallowed for offside but the decision was overturned following a VAR check. The stand-in full-back had run on to McGregor’s pass and slotted into the far corner. Forrest had a shot saved while at the other end Joe Hart made a double stop from May and Wright before the latter netted the rebound. Again the goal was flagged offside before VAR overturned the decision. Hatate came close to a hat-trick when his left-foot effort hit the outside of the post after an overlap. Giorgos Giakoumakis had come on immediately after St Johnstone’s goal amid a raft of attacking changes for Celtic and the striker was denied on three occasions by Matthews. Fellow substitute Liel Abada also missed chances either side of Turnbull’s dismissal.