Partick Thistle v Celtic as it happened

1. Mackay-Steven & Armstrong both score on debuts
2. Stefan Johansen adds third goal
3. Celtic move three points clear at top of Premiership

The next live action for us is Rangers v Hibernian on Friday night. Make sure you join us for than one. I'll say goodbye now. Cheers.

So that's Celtic three points ahead of Aberdeen with a game in hand. You can see online highlights of tonight's 3-0 win at Firhill from midnight, if you fancy staying up a bit longer. They'll be available for seven days if you need to get off to your kip.

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald also thought his side should have had a penalty when a Stuart Bannigan shot hit the elbow of Emilio Izaguirre. It was from very close range but it also changed the direction of a net-bound shot...

"We've had one penalty all season," laments Archibald. "I don't think you get penalties like that against Celtic."

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald

"It was a terrible start. It's important when you play Celtic that you make them work for their goals but we gifted them the first two. Our season won't be defined by games against Celtic and we have important games coming up. We need to get more belief out of the players."

BBC Sportsound pundit Murdo MacLeod

"Every single Celtic player looks sharp, they all get about the park and they all know their jobs. The two new boys are just going to get better and better as well."

Celtic manager Ronny Deila on BBC Radio Scotland

"We had good energy on the pitch. We had good intensity. We pressed the opponent all over the pitch and it's hard work, that's why we need more than 11. It's tough coming to a new team when they expect to win. I'm still learning and the team is still developing."

Celtic are away to St Johnstone for Saturday's early kick-off then comes the small matter of Inter Milan a week tomorrow in the Europa League. Have Armstrong and Mackay-Steven done enough to get a taste of European football in their new colours?

Celtic new boys on BBC Radio Scotland

Gary Mackay-Steven: "It's crazy. You dream about making your debut and making a positive contribution - and for Stu to follow it up is the icing on the cake."

Stuart Armstrong: "The boys have been giving us stick about how we do everything together, so I thought I'd better get in on the act and score."

The former Dundee United duo both scored on their debuts...

FULL-TIME

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Celtic wrap up their seventh consecutive victory of 2015, with Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong banging in debut goals and the impressive Stefan Johansen bagging the third after the interval.

Jags midfielder Ryan Stevenson thumps in a powerful strike from 25 yards and Craig Gordon is taking no chances, getting two strong hands behind the ball to fend it away.

Stephen O'Donnell shows great pace to get down the right flank and delivers a promising low cross in the direction of Kris Doolan but the ball takes a wee bobble in front of the Partick striker and the chance for a consolation goal is gone.

Partick Thistle are on their way to a third consecutive defeat ahead of a weekend trip to Dens Park.

Another routine save for Craig Gordon as a raking shot from distance comes his way from Gary Fraser. The Celtic goalie hasn't been beaten since 21 December - when Stuart Armstrong, the scorer of tonight's second goal, was on target for Dundee United!

SUBSTITUTION

More changes as Gary Fraser comes on for Jags midfielder Stuart Bannigan and Celtic send on Callum McGregor for Gary Mackay-Steven, who opened the scoring.

Kallum Higginbotham cuts in from the right flank after good link up play from Stephen O'Donnell and Declan McDaid and the Partick Thistle substitute's shot takes a double deflection on its way through to the arms of keeper Craig Gordon.

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Stefan Johansen applauds the visiting fans on his way off. The Norwegian capped another fine display with Celtic's third goal.

Join the debate at #bbcscotfootball

Ross Anderson: "Paul Hartley scoring a hat-trick of penalties on his debut for Aberdeen against Hamilton #bbcsportscot"

My colleague Andrew Southwick adds another Dons debut to the list - "Hans Gillhaus, two goals against Dunfermline in the first 16 minutes of his Aberdeen debut, the second of which was a majestic overhead kick."

SUBSTITUTION

Celtic make another change, with Darnell Fisher getting a rare run-out in place of fellow right-back Adam Matthews.

SUBSTITUTION

Stefan Johansen is given a rest, with Liam Henderson taking the Celtic midfielder's place. Partick make a double change, with Kris Doolan and Kallum Higginbotham on for the final 20 minutes in place of Lyle Taylor and Christie Elliot.

Stefan Johansen is running the show here as he dinks a cute cross into the penalty box for John Guidetti to run on to but the big Swede goes for too much power, blasting his volley over the top.

GOAL

Celtic were looking a bit sluggish for a spell there but suddenly strike to stretch their lead as a header forward from Nir Bitton makes it way to Stefan Johansen after John Guidetti is cleaned out by defender Frederic Frans. The Norwegian defender runs on to drill an angled strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

This is better from Partick Thistle as Ryan Stevenson breaks down the left channel and pings in a cross for Lyle Taylor to meet at the near post but the striker can only shoot wide under pressure from Virgil van Dijk.

PENALTY APPEAL

Thistle are claiming for a spot-kick as a shot from Stuart Bannigan cannons off the elbow of Emilio Izaguirre, who was sliding into a block on the edge of his own penalty box. Referee Crawford Allan waves play on...

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William Kay: "David Ferrère scored a second half hat-trick for M'well on his debut, as a second-half substitute, against Hibernian. #bbcsportscot"

Thistle are looking more purposeful now, winning more of the 50-50s in midfield. Have the hosts upped their game or have Celtic dropped a gear? A bit of both, probably.

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Daniel Straiton: "@TheForumJersey: Jonathan Woodgate debut for Real Madrid scored own goal and got sent off that takes some beating #bbcsportscot"

Anthony Cameron: "Freddy Eastwood (Southend) career debut goal after 7.7 seconds on way to a hattrick #bbcsportscot #bbcscotfootball"

Not for the first time, Celtic skipper Scott Brown is on to a loose Partick pass in a flash to set up an attack. He feeds Stefan Johansen, who drifts past an opponent with ease only to scuff a tame shot wide from 20 yards

We have a shot on target from Thistle! Declan McDaid, who has had a few nice touches, drills in an effort from 20 yards but keeper Craig Gordon is behind it all the way.

Celtic break at pace again with Stefan Johansen slipping a pass in behind the home rearguard but goalkeeper Scott Fox is out to collect before Gary Mackay-Steven can reach it.

KICK-OFF

The second half is up and running...

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has not muddied his gloves yet and may well be on his way to an eighth consecutive clean sheet.

How do Partick Thistle react? They need to keep hold of the ball better than they have been for starters and the long balls over the top towards Lyle Taylor have yielded very little.

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The Celtic new boys have made quite an impact. Can you recall any great debut stories from your favourite team? Hat-tricks, own goals, red cards - all of the above? Let me know using #bbcsportscot on yon Twitter.

BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson at Firhill

"Partick Thistle living on the edge, with Celtic able to spring decisive counter-attacks. The visitors deserve their lead, even though Taylor has been bright up front for the home side. The half belonged to the debutants, however: Mackay-Steven and Armstrong both on the scoresheet for Celtic."

HALF-TIME

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Celtic are well on their way to a three-point lead at the top of the Premiership thanks to debut goals from Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong.

Thistle have a few tidy players but they are being made to look distinctly ordinary in this first half as Celtic keep up a relentless tempo the home side simply can't live with.

A rare venture forward from the hosts as Stephen O'Donnell pings in a decent cross and Lyle Taylor gets to it ahead of defender Virgil van Dijk but he can't keep his header down.

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Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths on Twitter: "Love this! Great for the new boys getting on scoresheet, they've been brilliant since they came to the club, delighted for them!"

BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson at Firhill

"Some excellent attacking football from Celtic: slick, incisive, inventive. Partick finding it increasingly difficult to hold their own."

Celtic just keep coming and this time it looks like Emilio Izaguirre is going to get a clear view of goal but a sliding tackle from Declan McDaid prevents the full-back from getting a shot away at the edge of the box.

GOAL

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Anything you can do... Stuart Armstrong joins fellow debutant Gary Mackay-Steven on the scoresheet. GMS sprints in behind the Jags defence from the right and lays a pass off to his former Dundee United team-mate, who slips a pass to John Guidetti. The striker takes a bad touch but recovers to return the favour and Armstrong slams in a shot from 15 yards.

Celtic striker John Guidetti ploughs into the penalty area from the right but his pass across goal is just too meaty for Stefan Johansen to connect with.

BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson at Firhill

"Celtic look dangerous whenever they push upfield, with Mackay-Steven and Johansen combining well. Partick, though, keep looking to spring Taylor behind the visiting defence. It's been a pleasingly open game so far."

Goalkeeper Scott Fox gives the home support a fright as he takes a touch from a pass-back and then has to dribble his way past John Guidetti to complete the clearance.

Stuart Armstrong whips in a fierce corner and it flicks off the head of Ryan Stevenson before zipping wide of the far post. No real danger of an own goal but lucky for the hosts that no Celtic player was in the vicinity to apply a finishing touch.

Partick Thistle are just not holding on to possession as Celtic snap at their heels and the pressure continues to build on Alan Archibald's men.

GREAT SAVE!

Scott Fox is being kept busy on his return to the Partick Thistle starting line-up. This time he leaps to his left to push away a rising strike from Stefan Johansen following a powerful surge from Celtic skipper Scott Brown.

GREAT SAVE!

Stuart Armstong wants in on this goal-scoring debut malarkey as he drives into the penalty box and drills in a shot that is well pushed away by Scott Fox. Thistle defender Frederic Frans gets a toe to the loose ball before John Guidetti can pounce.

That goal has been timed at 38 seconds... Can you think of any quicker debut goals?

GOAL

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Now that's how to mark your debut! A dreadful corner from Stefan Johansen bobbles around in the penalty box and Gary Mackay-Steven is quickest to react, poking the ball under Scott Fox with less than a minute played.

KICK-OFF

Here we go...

The teams have met twice at Celtic Park this season, with Thistle spanked 6-0 in the League Cup before putting up a much better fight in early December only to be undone by Virgil van Dijk's solitary goal.

John Guidetti scored a hat-trick in that League Cup mauling and tonight the on-loan striker replaces Leigh Griffiths, who has twisted his ankle. On Griffiths, Ronny Deila says: "He'll be back for the weekend", while the Celtic boss is confident Kris Commons will have shrugged off a hamstring complaint before next week's Europa League meeting with Inter Milan.

BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson at Firhill

"Plenty of attention on Armstrong and Mackay-Steven making their Celtic debuts but it's a big game also for John Guidetti. Can he recapture his goal-scoring form? Partick will be looking to Lyle Taylor to provide their cutting edge, but it's hard to see past a win for the visitors."

Celtic fans were celebrating in style on their last visit to Firhill since a 5-1 triumph secured a third title in a row last March - the earliest the Scottish top flight has been decided since 1928-29.

Ronny Deila's men will move three points clear of Aberdeen with a game in hand if they manage a win tonight.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila on BBC Radio Scotland

On new signings Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong, who both start tonight...

"They are intelligent players with good technique, good work-rate. They are good people, with good values, and we know they will have good careers at Celtic."

All good then, Ronny...

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald on BBC Radio Scotland

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"We need fresh legs because we know how tough it will be against Celtic. We let ourselves down last Saturday, with our first-half display especially. We know the quality Celtic have and we will have to be at our best."

And Alan Archibald's men will need to be at the top of their game if they are to record their first win over their city rivals since 1995.

Thistle have been the definition of inconsistency this season, not recording the same back-to-back result until last weekend. Unfortunately for the Jags, their Scottish Cup exit at home to Inverness CT means they are striving to avoid a hat-trick of defeats tonight.

The visitors arrive in fine fettle, aiming for a seventh consecutive victory, while they have not conceded a goal in their previous seven matches.

LINE-UPS FROM FIRHILL

Partick Thistle: Fox, O'Donnell, Booth, Frans, Elliot, Osman, Balatoni, McDaid, Bannigan, Taylor, Stevenson. Subs: Craigen, Doolan, Lawless, Gallacher, Higginbotham, Richards-Everton, Fraser.

Celtic: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Biton, Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Armstrong, Guidetti. Subs: Ambrose, Stokes, Scepovic, Zaluska, Fisher, McGregor, Henderson.

Thistle make five changes after a miserable first-half showing at home to Inverness on Saturday, including a switch of goalkeepers as Scott Fox replaces Paul Gallacher.

This is Celtic boss Ronny Deila's first visit to Firhill since the original New Year's Day fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

It's also a first run-out in Celtic colours for Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong following their deadline day moves from Dundee United.

Good evening and welcome to our Scottish Premiership coverage, with leaders Celtic making the short trip across Glasgow to take on Partick Thistle.