Commons coy over hat-trick claim

Kris Commons was a somewhat sheepish hat-trick hero after inspiring Celtic to a 5-0 trouncing of St Johnstone in their Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-final clash at Parkhead.

The Hoops midfielder began the demolition in the 28th minute when his shot was deflected into his own net by Perth midfielder Liam Craig and four minutes later he grabbed number two with another drive, before setting up Gary Hooper for a third before the break.

The Scotland midfielder scored from the spot 10 minutes into the second half to begin an argument of whether or not that was his hat-trick before substitute Charlie Mulgrew, on at the interval for Hooper, completed a night of misery for the hapless McDiarmid Park men when he made it five. Commons, who was given the match ball, said: "I will take it. Have I got it?"

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.