RONNY Deila claimed playing three games in seven days, and four in the last 12, had caught up with Celtic as they eased past Partick Thistle at Parkhead last night.

RONNY Deila claimed playing three games in seven days, and four in the last 12, had caught up with Celtic as they eased past Partick Thistle at Parkhead last night.

Celtic controlled a low-key game but required Virgil van Dijk's second-half goal - his third strike in two games and sixth of the season - to see off Thistle and move three points clear at the top of the SPFL Premiership.

"We were dominant for the whole game," said Deila. "We created a lot of chances and deserved to win. But I think it was an okay performance, nothing more.

"We tried to be positive but I have to think we have played a lot of matches recently, every three days almost, and that is affecting the energy in the team. But the players fought that, we got three points and I'm very happy with that.

"Virgil is a very good player. He performs week in, week out. He is consistent and is a leader in the group. He is developing all the time. When he scores goals as well, it makes me even happier."

Celtic had been top of the league on goal difference but their eighth consecutive domestic win meant they are clear at the top for the first time since Deila became manager.

Extending that lead was the short-term objective, he said: "That is the goal. We want to keep on winning now. We are going on a good run and we have momentum and we have confidence. We want to continue now on Saturday against Motherwell to get three new points."

Thistle manager Alan Archibald said: "I thought we frustrated them for spells and we knew Paul Gallacher would need to make saves which he did. We stayed in the game and passed the ball okay.

"Abdul has his chance in the first half and should have done better. The biggest disappointment is to lose from a set-piece as it was a scrappy goal. We should have defended better but I was pleased with the attitude as we didn't try to sit in for 90 minutes."