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Trivia
- This match was originally scheduled for 31st jan 2001, and was supposed to be the first ever SKY pay-per-view match.
- When it was played, it was beamed back to Celtic Park.
- Henrik Larsson headed his 44th goal of the season to move Celtic 16 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League which put them within touching distance of the championship.
- A late injury to Stilian Petrov soured an otherwise perfect evening for Celtic when he was stretchered off late on with a suspected broken ankle which could see him miss Sunday's League Cup final.
Review
As expected Martin O'Neill drafted in striker Tommy Johnson for veteran play-maker Lubo Moravcik in the only change from the Celtic side which beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
But it was the Perth side who almost took a shock lead just a minute into the game. Forsyth's ball over the top caught out Ramon Vega, who underhit his pass back, giving Kiegan Parker the chance to nip in. Goalkeeper Robert Douglas headed out as far as Momo Sylla who followed up to shoot but Vega made amends to block.
Henrik Larsson shaved the St Johnstone post in the 17th minute when he latched on to Alan Thompson's cross with the outside of his right boot.
Johnson looked lively and almost bagged the opener in the 24th minute, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and run on to Larsson's through-ball. The striker fired low from a tight angle and Main saved with his feet.
Four minutes later though Johnson was celebrating. Unmarked, he headed the ball from a Thompson corner past Main from six yards to break the deadlock.
St Johnston however hauled themselves back on level terms in the 42nd minute when Neil Lennon was adjudged to have brought down Sylla outside the box. Paul Kane curled in a dangerous free-kick and Stuart McCluskey found space to head past Douglas into the corner of the net.
Celtic regained their lead when Thompson curled in a free-kick and Larsson outjumped the St Johnstone defence to head past Main and into the corner for his 44th goal of the season.
Agathe almost caught out the home side in the 63rd minute when he found himself in acres of space and tried to lob Main but the keeper got a slight touch.
But with nine minutes remaining Celtic were dealt a massive blow ahead of Sunday's cup final when Stilian Petrov was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle after a tackle with Jim Weir.
Teams
St Johnstone:-
Main, Weir, Kernaghan, McCluskey, Frail (Hartley 78), Forsyth, Dasovic, Kane, Crozier (Lovenkrands 67), Sylla, Parker.
Subs not used:- Cuthbert, O'Neill, McClune.
Goal:- McCluskey 41.
Booked:- Kernaghan.
Celtic:-
Douglas, Valgaeren, Mjallby, Vega, Thompson, Agathe (Crainey 90), Lennon, Lambert, Petrov (McNamara 83), Johnson, Larsson.
Subs not used:- Gould, Boyd, Moravcik.
Goals:- Johnson 28, Larsson 61.
Att:- 8,993
Ref:- J Underhill.
Articles
Pictures
Larsson puts Celtic on brink
St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic
BBC
Wednesday, 14 March, 2001, 23:06 GMT
Henrik Larsson headed his 44th goal of the season as Celtic won 2-1 at St Johnstone to stretch their lead at the top of the SPL to a surely impregnable 16 points.
But an injury to Stilian Petrov soured an otherwise perfect evening and he faces CIS Cup final heartache after being stretchered off late on with a suspected broken ankle.
Stuart McCluskey had cancelled out recalled striker Tommy Johnson's opener but once again it was Larsson who delivered the winner and the boost for Sunday's Hampden date with Kilmarnock.
As expected Martin O'Neill drafted in striker Tommy Johnson for veteran play-maker Lubo Moravcik in the only change from the Celtic side which beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
Alterations
In contrast St Johnstone boss Sandy Clark made four alterations from the team beaten at home by Dundee in the league.
Gary Bollan, Michael O'Neill, Paddy Connolly and John Paul McBride made way for Nick Dasovic, Stephen Frail, Ross Forsyth and Brendan Crozier in an inexperienced line-up.
But it was the Perth side who almost took a shock lead just a minute into the game.
Forsyth's ball over the top caught out Ramon Vega, who underhit his pass back, giving Kiegan Parker the chance to nip in.
Goalkeeper Robert Douglas headed out as far as Momo Sylla who followed up to shoot but Vega made amends to block.
That jolted the runaway league leaders. Johan Mjallby played the ball over the top to Johnson and the striker broke into the box and unleashed a powerful effort saved by Alan Main's feet.
Lively
Henrik Larsson shaved the St Johnstone post in the 17th minute when he latched on to Alan Thompson's cross with the outside of his right boot.
Johnson looked lively and almost bagged the opener in the 24th minute, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and run on to Larsson's through-ball.
The striker fired low from a tight angle and Main saved with his feet.
Four minutes later though Johnson was celebrating. Unmarked, he headed the ball from a Thompson corner past Main from six yards to break the deadlock.
St Johnston however hauled themselves back on level terms in the 42nd minute when Neil Lennon was adjudged to have brought down Sylla outside the box.
Paul Kane curled in a dangerous free-kick and Stuart McCluskey found space to head past Douglas into the corner of the net.
St Johnstone took the initiative after the restart and in the 48th minute Thompson had to defend Kane's dangerous cross with a header behind with Frail lurking ominously behind.
From Kane's resulting corner Alan Kernaghan proved the unlikely dangerman when he turned just inside the box before firing a shot on target which Douglas saved low to his right.
Celtic regained their lead when Thompson curled in a free-kick and Larsson outjumped the St Johnstone defence to head past Main and into the corner for his 44th goal of the season.
Agathe almost caught out the home side in the 63rd minute when he found himself in acres of space and tried to lob Main but the keeper got a slight touch.
But with nine minutes remaining Celtic were dealt a massive blow ahead of Sunday's cup final when Stilian Petrov was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle after a tackle with Jim Weir.
St Johnstone: Main, Weir, Kernaghan, McCluskey, Frail, Forsyth, Dasovic, Kane, Crozier, Sylla, Parker.
Subs: Cuthbert, Lovenkrands, Hartley, O'Neill, McClune.
Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren, Mjallby, Vega, Thompson, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Johnson, Larsson.
Subs: Gould, Boyd, McNamara, Moravcik, Crainey.
Referee: J Underhill