WHAT a difference a year makes – just ask Neil Lennon and his Celtic players.

Twelve months ago today, they crashed 3-2 at Inverness – and saw their title dream shattered.

Now they have the championship safely back in their possession, and need different goals to give the remainder of the season a purpose.

Celtic remain on course to equal the shut-out record in the SPL after defeating St Johnstone 1-0.

The Hoops require to keep Dundee United out on Sunday, then Hearts in the final game a week later to rack up seven clean sheets in a row. That has not been done since Rab Douglas put up the shutters for Celtic 11 years ago.

The current side almost managed it earlier this year, but a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie on March 3 blew their chance.

Along with bettering the 92 points they earned last season – they are now on 90 –it is one of the self-set targets which Lennon can use to keep his side focused in he closing weeks of the campaign.

The manager was not content to be removed from the action and put into the stand as he began his latest three-match ban for his behaviour at the end of the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Hearts.

Fresh from his appearance before a judicial panel at Hampden, he elected to take half his regular first-team with him – including Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew, Fraser Forster, Georgios Samaras and Glenn Loovens.

The Hoops boss left it to a clutch of bit-part players to get the points against St Johnstone and, ahead of the transfer window opening, got a clear insight into what depth he truly has to his current squad.

Lukasz Zaluska, Mark Wilson and Mo Bangura all got the chance to enjoy some rare game time, while Dylan McGeouch enjoyed another chance to entertain the Parkhead crowd before being replaced after 67 minutes.

For Anthony Stokes and Kelvin Wilson, it was the opportunity to remind the manager, and everyone else, what they can offer as plans are laid for next season's defence of the SPL title.

There was even a long-awaited cameo from Rabiu Ibrahim, who came on as a sub for the final 17 minutes and would have marked the occasion with a goal had Gary Hooper not decided to make sure by poking it over the line from an offside position.

The appearance of the club's victorious Under-19 side to receive their league trophy, meanwhile, served as a reminder that the manager is probably planning to promote a few from within.

It is all a world away from the scene of devastation at the Tulloch Stadium last year, or, indeed, the implosion currently taking place on the other side of the city.

However, Lennon accepts that to stand still is to go backwards in this game, and his ambitions simply do not allow for that to be an option, so plans will be advanced to improve the quality of his current squad with a view to making an impact in the European arena.

The problem is that, with Rangers at best likely to be severely weakened, and teams like St Johnstone struggling to test even a makeshift Celtic XI, the jump between playing domestically and jousting with Euro giants will remain of quantum proportions.

Only by being extended on a regular basis will the Hoops reach the level of consistency the manager knows is essential to realise his ambitions.

All due respect to Steve Lomas's Perth side, who had won on their previous visit to Parkhead, but they never looked like repeating the feat.

They had fallen behind after 28 minutes, and were aggrieved that assistant referee Raymond Whyte – later 'subbed' after turning an ankle – awarded a corner when Liam Craig challenged Stokes near the goal-line.

But they were even unhappier when the same official kept his flag down as the striker ended a well-worked set-piece involving Kris Commons, McGeouch, Victor Wanyama, Mark Wilson and Bangura to score from inside the six-yard box.

It was enough, though, to bring shrills of delight from the 42 Thai Tims, who were swelling the crowd which earlier had enjoyed their unique brand of singing and dancing.

Had Bangura, playing his first game after returning from a long-term knee injury, not hit the post from a good position 10 minutes after the break, there would have been even more to celebrate.

But the man who raised eyebrows when he announced on his arrival at the start of the season that he envisaged he would only be here for a year before stepping up to the English Premiership at least kept crowd interest high, given his unique opinion of his own capabilities.

Bangura may not be a threat to Samaras's place in the team, but he could easily become a challenger for his mantle as the biggest enigma in the squad.

One clever piece of play is often followed by a poor touch or shot. Still, he can claim to play for a title-winning side, and many better footballers than Bangura envy him that.

CELTIC MAN BY MAN

By MATTHEW LINDSAY

ZALUSKA (6) Given the nod ahead of Fraser Forster. Saved well from Murray Davidson just before half-time. That apart, had nothing to do.

MARK WILSON (6) Captain for the night. The right-back showed the quality player he still is with an assured, mature performance. Always keen to get forward.

ROGNE (7) Untroubled by St Johnstone striker Cillian Sheridan. This young Scandinavian has really come of age in the 2011/12 campaign.

KELVIN WILSON (6) Quick and good with the ball at his feet. But question marks remain over his defensive abilities. Next season will be massive for him.

IZAGUIRRE (7) Quieter than he was in Sunday's Old Firm game. Still, he was a real handful for the visitors. Adds another dimension to his team's play.

McGEOUCH (6) Did not look out of his depth whatsoever. Far from it, in fact. Beavered away tirelessly down the right flank.

WANYAMA (7) The young Kenyan's physicality complements Joe Ledley's intelligence beautifully in central midfield. Strolled through the 90 minutes. LEDLEY (7) As ever, he pulled all the strings in the boiler room for his team. Tested Alan Mannus with a goal-bound volley early in the second half.

COMMONS (7) Rich vein of form continues. His distribution and dead-ball delivery was exceptional. Seemed pivotal to most of his team's best passages of play.

STOKES (7) Scored his 21st goal of the season to earn his side the three points. It was probably the easiest of the lot. Tapped into an empty net from a few yards out.

BANGURA (6) Given plenty of encouragement by a support willing him to succeed. Had a hand in the opening goal in the first half and hit the post in the second.

HOOPER (3) The striker came on for McGeouch, but was unable to add to his team's tally.

CHA (2) Replaced Wilson. Hardly involved.

IBRAHIM (4) Took over from Commons for the closing stages of the match. Looks a real livewire. Seemed set to score a late goal only for the offside Hooper to take if off his toes.