IT is said that the mark of champions is a team which can grind out a win without playing well.

By the same token, Celtic’s 1-0 win over Partick Thistle on a fairly flat December night is more an indicator of how a side can win without really getting out of second gear.

So far this season an unstoppable Celtic have motored ahead of the chasing pack, the Ladbrokes Premiership title holders cruising into an already commanding lead.

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All that matters to Brendan Rodgers and the healthy number of Celtic supporters who braved torrential rain to miss Christmas shopping with the other half is that the Parkhead side now sit 14 points ahead of rivals Rangers at the summit of the table. They also still have a game in hand.

Scott Sinclair’s goal on 16 minutes was the difference in a game that did see both teams miss glaring opportunities to add to the score tally, while Craig Gordon and, in particular, Tomas Cerny both earned their keep during an unusual 90 minutes.

To say Celtic were poor would be doing them and their manager a disservice. To suggest they weren’t at their most fluid best would be accurate as well as understandable given the circumstances.

Rodgers suggested in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Dundee here that changes would be made for this match at the start of a frantic festive fixture run, and the Northern Irishman was true to his word.

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All told only three players remained from the weekend – Cristian Gamboa, Jozo Simunovic and Gordon – while the likes of Liam Henderson, Patrick Roberts and Sinclair were reintroduced from the off.

Most significantly, there was also a debut for 18-year-old Calvin Miller, a product of the club’s academy, who will be able to look back fondly on his first senior competitive appearance in a green and white shirt. The teenager was composed at left-back as well as going forward, the only regret being he didn’t earn the goal to commemorate the occasion that he maybe should have during a first half shot straight at Cerny.

At times this season Celtic have blown away their opponents. Here, it was a more methodical approach that ground out opportunities against the side that started the night bottom of the league, albeit only five points off sixth.

Indeed, the goal was probably the first thing of note the Thistle keeper had to contend himself with, only to be left rooted to the spot.

A rash challenge by Callum Booth on Gamboa down the right side allowed Henderson to deceive everyone and pull the ball back for Sinclair, and the former Manchester City man swept a perfect first-time shot beyond the helpless Czech from the edge of the area into the top corner.

It is a sign of the distribution of goals in this Celtic side that Sinclair took his tally for the term to 11, a feat of getting over 10 that only Leigh Griffiths managed throughout the whole of last season.

Miller was thriving in the occasion and it was his one-two with Henderson that found him with the ball at his feet just inside a cluttered Thistle box on the half hour. He managed to get a low shot off but it only squirmed into the arms of Cerny.

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The first half was not without its frustrations for the home support. The centre of defence, marshalled by Simunovic and Mikael Lustig, was far from convincing at times. Rare moments that offered plenty of encouragement to plucky Thistle.

Australian talent Ryan Edwards had forced Gordon into an early save, while the enigmatic Ade Azeez was given time and space to burst down the right and also try his luck. The two would later combine to play the latter in on goal, but any composure held by the Englishman deserted him as he fluffed his shot with Gordon diverting it into the side netting. There was also time for Sean Welsh to misdirect a header shortly before the break.

Celtic were guilty of being wasteful in possession at times too. Both at the back and in forward areas as they attempted to take an extra tough or be over elaborative.

It was a feature of their play that was evident throughout the match as the crowd showed their frustrations, but they continued to come forward and, to their credit, the chances started to come.

Just two minutes after the break Dembele saw a shot nick off Welsh and loop just beyond the far post, Callum McGregor’s weaving run ended with a square ball to Roberts but that man Cerny was again on hand to block with his feet.

Sinclair would also be denied with 20 minutes to go before being subbed off as he raced in behind a high Thistle defence but man-of-the-match Cerny foiled him again. While we’re at it, he did the same to an out-of-sorts Moussa Dembele a few minutes later.

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In the end, the two best chances came to Thistle players, but arguably the wrong ones.

Right-back Ziggy Gordon was played in by David Amoo for a clear and unchallenged run into the Celtic box. The defence stood off as he wound up his shot which ended up going a good yard wide of the far post. Welsh would also fluff after Chris Erskine made a hash of a close-range Booth cross.

It wasn’t quite a fairytale for Celtic, but the dream of finishing the year unbeaten and out of sight looks very much alive and kicking.