CELTIC fans had double cause for celebration today as their team extended their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table to 12 points with a comfortable 3-0 win and Leigh Griffiths made his comeback from injury.

A first-half Moussa Dembele penalty and second-half goals from Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic ensured that Brendan Rodgers's team pulled further away from Rangers and Aberdeen in the table.

The Glasgow club's cause was made a lot easier when their rivals were reduced to 10 men - Andrew Davies was sent off for an appalling challenge on Scott Brown six minutes before half-time.

Despite the defeat, the Dingwall club remain just three points behind Partick in the league as the Firhill club also slumped to a loss against Hibernian away at Easter Road.

The day ended on a huge high for the defending champions as Scotland striker Griffiths, who has been sidelined for over two months with a calf injury, came on for Dembele.

Rodgers made three changes to the team which had been held to a 0-0 draw by Motherwell at Fir Park before the international break - Mikael Lustig replaced Jack Hendry in defence, Armstrong came in for Olivier Ntcham in central midfield, while Scott Sinclair took the place of Odsonne Edouard out wide.

Ross County caretaker managers Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell, meanwhile, made the same number of alterations to the team which had earned a 2-2 draw with Hamilton in Dingwall a fortnight earlier.

Ross Draper, Jamie Lindsay, who is on loan at County from Celtic, and Tim Chow dropped out as Craig Curran, Jim O’Brien, and Harry Souttar came in.

The Highlanders’ track record against their Glasgow opponents hardly gave them hope they could pull off an upset – they had never won against them in the top flight in 16 previous meetings.

The visitors started well. Billy McKay forced a save from Scott Bain, who remained between the sticks ahead of Dorus de Vries, in the fifth minute after being put through on goal by Alex Schalk.

But the home team, with Armstrong involved in all of their best moves going forward, soon took control of the game and laid siege to their rivals’ goal. It was no surprise to anyone inside the stadium when they broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Jason Naismith tripped Sinclair inside his own area and referee Steven Mclean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Moussa Dembele stepped up to take and sent keeper Aaron McCarey the wrong way and put his team ahead.

The Celtic supporters had something more to cheer just a minute later when Griffiths emerged from the dugout to warm up in front of the Jock Stein stand with his fellow substitutes.

Davies scythed down his opposing skipper Brown in the 39th minute and quickly found himself surrounded by irate Celtic players. McLean showed the Englishman a straight red card and he walked off to the boos of the home support.

McCarey joined his captain in the dressing room shortly before half-time. The keeper trudged off injured and was replaced by Scott Fox.

Jack Hendry, who made his Scotland debut against Hungary on Tuesday evening, came on for Dedryck Boyata at the start of the second-half and Celtic quickly built on their lead when Armstrong got his name on the scoresheet three minutes after the restart.

Tom Rogic made it three on the hour mark with the best goal of the game. After receiving the ball from James Forrest outside him he sidestepped Liam Fontaine and slotted beyond Fox.

There were no more goals, but when Griffiths came on for Demeble in the 71st minute it raised a huge cheer from the Celtic supporters.

Brown and his team mates are now 12 points clear of Rangers and Aberdeen with seven games remaining.