2010-01-24: St Johnstone 1-4 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2009 – 2010 | 2009-2010 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic move to 7pts behidn the huns with one game in hand; Rangers drew with Hearts.
  • Celtic were 1-0 down at half-time to a penalty but fought back strongly.
  • Thompson starts; and O'Dea is made captain!!!!! Depleted side due to injuries. Loovens off after conceding a penalty and a later head-knock ko'ed him.

Review

Marc-Antoine Fortune scored twice as Celtic came from behind to overwhelm 10-man St Johnstone and move to within seven points of league leaders Rangers.

We don't half make things difficult for ourselves. One-nil down to a penalty which was very avoidable and the vultures were hovering to feed off the Celtic carcass for this season. Many likely were believing that this was the end to the season title campaign for us. Fortune bailed Celtic out with a scorcher of a goal after some great work whilst a few added goals later got us over the line. St Johnstone lost a player to a sending off for a daft challenge. Paddy McCourt entered the support with some great runs when he came on, but can he do it for 90mins?

At the end, a good day the office but it's becoming a Cup Final every league game as we try to crawl back what we have lost.

Teams

St Johnstone

  • 25Smith
  • 02Irvine
  • 03Grainger
  • 12MacKay
  • 18Gartland; yellow card, red card
  • 04Morris
  • 07Millar
  • 10Craig
  • 20Davidson (Moon 78)
  • 09Milne (Anderson 48)
  • 17Deuchar (MacDonald 63)

Substitutes

  • 01Main,
  • 24Anderson,
  • 14Moon,
  • 22Morais,
  • 16MacDonald,
  • 23Jackson,
  • 32Reynolds

Goals

  • Craig (pen) 12

Celtic

  • 01Boruc
  • 02Hinkel (McCourt 56)
  • 22Loovens (Caddis 23)
  • 38Thompson
  • 48O'Dea
  • 14McGinn
  • 17Crosas
  • 27Zhi (McGowan 61)
  • 46McGeady
  • 09Samaras; yellow card
  • 10Fortune

Substitutes

  • 24Zaluska,
  • 34Lafferty,
  • 52Caddis,
  • 20McCourt,
  • 29Mizuno,
  • 49Forrest,
  • 55McGowan

Goals

  • Fortune 64
  • Samaras 77
  • Fortune 81
  • McCourt 86
Ref: Collum
Att: 7,743

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • St Johnstone 37%
  • Celtic 63%

Attempts on target

  • St Johnstone 2
  • Celtic 17

Attempts off target

  • St Johnstone 2
  • Celtic 12

Corners

  • St Johnstone 2
  • Celtic 11

Fouls

  • St Johnstone 14
  • Celtic 8

Articles

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes:
"I don't think there's any doubt the red card changed the game.

"I would suggest we were the best side in the first half. I felt we caused Celtic a lot of problems and the players' appetite and attitude towards the game was fantastic.
"It was difficult to stop. Once you went down to 10 men against a team like Celtic it becomes difficult.
"We stemmed the tide for a wee bit and we stretched the game, but they have players who can hurt you on the counter-attack.
"But their goals were great finishes, and we're disappointed with the end result, because my players didn't deserve that."
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:
"It was two different halves. In the first half, they made it ultra-competitive.

"You have to give them a lot of credit for turning it into a physical affair. We stood our ground as much as our physicality allows.
"Obviously, the sending off at the start of the second-half allowed us to move the ball around quicker and their legs tired on a what was a very heavy pitch, and the rewards came.
"The goals came in the end, with some quality finishes, so I'm happy enough.
"My message at half-time was to keep playing football and keep moving the ball around the pitch, and things will turn.
"It's not a philosophy that changes with the wind. If you believe in what you do and the players are brave enough to keep going, you'll get your rewards in the end."

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+1:58 The referee blows for the end of the match.
  • 90:00+0:23 Niall McGinn has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.
  • 89:35 Steven Anderson challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. Georgios Samaras delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
  • 87:56 Centre by Liam Craig.
  • 87:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David MacKay by Georgios Samaras. Direct free kick taken by Gary Irvine.
  • 85:48 Assist by Paul McGowan.
  • 85:48 GOAL – Patrick McCourt:St Johnstone 1 – 4 Celtic Patrick McCourt finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-4 Celtic.
  • 82:59 Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Clearance by Steven Anderson.
  • 82:05 Peter MacDonald takes a shot. Save by Artur Boruc.
  • 80:50 GOAL – Marc-Antoine Fortune:St Johnstone 1 – 3 Celtic Marc-Antoine Fortune gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-3 Celtic.
  • 79:48 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Aiden McGeady, David MacKay manages to make a clearance. Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Save made by Graeme Smith.
  • 79:25 Peter MacDonald sends in a cross.
  • 78:21 Shot from just outside the box by Kevin Moon misses to the left of the target.
  • 77:40 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Liam Craig, Georgios Samaras manages to make a clearance.
  • 77:07 Substitution Kevin Moon on for Murray Davidson.
  • 77:07 Booking The referee cautions Georgios Samaras for unsporting behaviour.
  • 76:06 Assist on the goal came from Josh Thompson.
  • 76:06 GOAL – Georgios Samaras:St Johnstone 1 – 2 Celtic Georgios Samaras gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic.
  • 75:23 Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Save made by Graeme Smith. Corner taken right-footed by Paul Caddis from the left by-line, Liam Craig manages to make a clearance.
  • 74:37 The ball is sent over by Aiden McGeady, clearance by David MacKay.
  • 72:53 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Save made by Graeme Smith. Shot from close range by Darren O'Dea misses to the left of the target.
  • 71:21 Niall McGinn delivers the ball, clearance by Steven Anderson.
  • 69:39 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Paul Caddis from the left by-line, Close range header by Georgios Samaras goes over the bar.
  • 69:33 The ball is swung over by Patrick McCourt, blocked by Graeme Smith.
  • 69:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jody Morris on Georgios Samaras. Georgios Samaras takes the direct free kick.
  • 66:32 Shot by Paul Caddis from 12 yards. Save by Graeme Smith. Corner taken by Paul Caddis, Shot from inside the area by Marc-Antoine Fortune clears the bar.
  • 65:36 The ball is delivered by Marc-Antoine Fortune, Murray Davidson manages to make a clearance.
  • 64:50 The ball is sent over by Chris Millar.
  • 63:39 The assist for the goal came from Paul McGowan.
  • 63:39 GOAL – Marc-Antoine Fortune:St Johnstone 1 – 1 Celtic Marc-Antoine Fortune grabs a goal from just inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. St Johnstone 1-1 Celtic.
  • 62:38 Graeme Smith takes the free kick.
  • 62:38 Substitution (St Johnstone) makes a substitution, with Peter MacDonald coming on for Kenny Deuchar.
  • 62:38 Graeme Smith fouled by Georgios Samaras, the ref awards a free kick.
  • 62:19 Paul McGowan takes a shot. Save made by Graeme Smith.
  • 61:24 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Anderson.
  • 60:21 Substitution Paul McGowan on for Zheng Zhi.
  • 59:25 Paul Caddis has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.
  • 58:33 Corner taken by Marc Crosas from the right by-line to the near post, Darren O'Dea takes a shot. Save by Graeme Smith. Marc Crosas takes a outswinging corner.
  • 58:01 Centre by Marc-Antoine Fortune, Daniel Grainger gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Aiden McGeady played to the near post, clearance made by Liam Craig.
  • 55:43 Substitution Patrick McCourt replaces Andreas Hinkel.
  • 55:43 A cross is delivered by Marc-Antoine Fortune, Shot from close range by Georgios Samaras misses to the right of the target.
  • 55:05 Corner taken by Marc Crosas from the right by-line played to the near post, Liam Craig manages to make a clearance.
  • 53:28 Aiden McGeady takes a shot from close in clearing the crossbar.
  • 52:57 Foul by Daniel Grainger on Niall McGinn, free kick awarded. Marc Crosas takes the direct free kick.
  • 50:51 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, clearance by David MacKay.
  • 50:43 A cross is delivered by Paul Caddis, Murray Davidson makes a clearance.
  • 49:10 Kenny Deuchar challenges Andreas Hinkel unfairly and gives away a free kick. Artur Boruc restarts play with the free kick.
  • 48:49 The ball is delivered by Chris Millar.
  • 47:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren O'Dea on Kenny Deuchar. Free kick taken by Gary Irvine.
  • 47:01 Substitution Steven Anderson comes on in place of Steven Milne.
  • 46:41 Georgios Samaras crosses the ball.
  • 45:23 Strike comes in from Aiden McGeady from the free kick.
  • 45:23 Sent off The referee red cards Graham Gartland for professional foul.
  • 45:11 Graham Gartland concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc-Antoine Fortune.
  • 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+4:13 The referee calls an end to the first half.
  • 45:00+3:42 Unfair challenge on David MacKay by Georgios Samaras results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Graeme Smith.
  • 45:00+3:17 David MacKay challenges Aiden McGeady unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Marc Crosas.
  • 45:00+2:08 Niall McGinn takes a shot. Graeme Smith makes a save.
  • 45:00+2:02 Marc-Antoine Fortune delivers the ball.
  • 45:00+1:16 Niall McGinn fouled by Daniel Grainger, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Marc Crosas, clearance by David MacKay.
  • 45:00+0:12 Daniel Grainger sends in a cross, Liam Craig produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.
  • 44:03 Shot on goal by Niall McGinn from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
  • 43:38 Unfair challenge on Paul Caddis by David MacKay results in a free kick. Marc Crosas restarts play with the free kick.
  • 43:25 The ball is swung over by Paul Caddis, clearance by Graham Gartland.
  • 40:27 The ball is sent over by Niall McGinn, blocked by Daniel Grainger. The ball is crossed by Marc Crosas, Headed effort from close range by Darren O'Dea goes wide left of the target.
  • 39:32 Paul Caddis crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by David MacKay.
  • 39:32 Booking Graham Gartland receives a caution.
  • 39:28 Graham Gartland gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady.
  • 37:19 Chris Millar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Caddis. Marc Crosas crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, David MacKay manages to make a clearance.
  • 34:38 Shot from just outside the box by Marc-Antoine Fortune goes over the target.
  • 33:36 Foul by Jody Morris on Georgios Samaras, free kick awarded. Darren O'Dea restarts play with the free kick.
  • 32:49 Foul by Marc Crosas on Kenny Deuchar, free kick awarded. Daniel Grainger takes the direct free kick.
  • 31:34 Centre by Niall McGinn.
  • 30:38 Shot on goal by Niall McGinn from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 27:31 Gary Irvine produces a cross, save made by Artur Boruc.
  • 26:19 Gary Irvine delivers the ball, clearance by Niall McGinn.
  • 25:47 Liam Craig takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 25:38 Centre by Jody Morris, Darren O'Dea gets a block in.
  • 25:10 Steven Milne produces a cross, Josh Thompson gets a block in.
  • 22:06 Substitution Paul Caddis replaces Glenn Loovens.
  • 18:44 Unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady by Gary Irvine results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Aiden McGeady.
  • 17:46 Daniel Grainger has an effort at goal. Josh Thompson gets a block in.
  • 17:15 Kenny Deuchar fouled by Josh Thompson, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Craig takes the free kick.
  • 15:56 The ball is delivered by Marc Crosas, Graeme Smith makes a save.
  • 14:58 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save by Graeme Smith. Corner taken right-footed by Marc Crosas from the right by-line, clearance by Liam Craig. Marc Crosas crosses the ball, Zheng Zhi takes a shot. Blocked by Graham Gartland.
  • 13:42 Corner taken right-footed by Marc Crosas from the left by-line, Graeme Smith makes a save. Zheng Zhi takes a shot. Blocked by Jody Morris.
  • 11:52 GOAL – Liam Craig:St Johnstone 1 – 0 Celtic Penalty taken left-footed by Liam Craig and scored. St Johnstone 1-0 Celtic.
  • 11:06 Unfair challenge on Steven Milne by Glenn Loovens results in a Penalty.
  • 10:00 Murray Davidson produces a cross.
  • 8:45 Chris Millar sends in a cross, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.
  • 4:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kenny Deuchar on Glenn Loovens. Free kick taken by Artur Boruc.
  • 3:42 Niall McGinn produces a cross.
  • 2:47 Glenn Loovens challenges Kenny Deuchar unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Irvine.
  • 2:18 Shot from outside the area by Zheng Zhi misses to the left of the target.
  • Correction – 0:14 Foul by Liam Craig on Marc-Antoine Fortune, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Zheng Zhi.
  • 0:14 Liam Craig gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune. Marc Crosas takes the free kick.
  • 0:00 The match has kicked off.

Fortune helps Celtic cut lead at top to seven.

25 January 2010

Provided by: Irish Times

St Johnstone 1 Celtic 4:WITH A quarter of an hour left, this was another one of those afternoons for Tony Mowbray. The manager’s aspirations of a Scottish Premier League title in his debut season at Celtic have been undermined to a large extent thus far by the team’s inability to convert territorial dominance into goals. This time, though, Mowbray’s men ultimately inflicted the sort of punishment which the manager is adamant has been threatening for weeks.
In a familiar scene, Celtic initially contrived to miss chances from positions few would think possible. Artur Boruc, the Celtic goalkeeper, will have had busier Sundays in front of his television.
Georgios Samaras, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Pat McCourt ensured Mowbray this time had an end result. That, coupled with Rangers’ home draw with Hearts on Saturday, meant the Ibrox team’s lead at the summit of the Scottish Premier League had been cut to seven points.
“It is just another three points, every game is significant,” said Mowbray afterwards. “I don’t see this weekend as one where things have swung towards us.”
One down side was Celtic lost Glenn Loovens, who left the field with a serious head wound, having already played a part in St Johnstone’s goal by hauling down Steven Milne inside the penalty area. Liam Craig did the rest from 12 yards in emphatic fashion.
Whether the dismissal of the hosts’ Graham Gartland 20 seconds into the second period was pivotal, or Mowbray’s half-time message had been more robust than ever, is unclear. What was striking is just how dominant Celtic were after Gartland departed having received a straight red card for dragging down the rampaging Samaras on the edge of the penalty area.
Aiden McGeady and Samaras missed glorious opportunities before Fortune converted the most tricky of the lot with a fierce shot into the top corner of Graeme Smith’s net.
A Samaras volley from 12 yards edged the visitors in front before Smith spilled a McCourt shot, allowing Fortune to slot home the rebound before McCourt supplied a goal of equal quality to Fortune’s first. Celtic could have had more but, in the present climate, four goals and three points were welcome enough.
Also yesterday, Dubliner Jon Daly struck a hat-trick as Dundee United regained third spot with a 4-1 victory at Falkirk. David Goodwillie coolly slotted the first goal to give United a deserved 29th-minute lead and Daly struck either side of half-time. The Irishman completed his treble in the closing stages as United’s convincing victory continued their strong revival from the difficult initial spell that followed Craig Levein’s departure.
ST JOHNSTONE: Smith, Irvine, MacKay, Gartland, Grainger, Millar, Morris, Davidson (Moon 78), Craig, Deuchar (MacDonald 63), Milne (Anderson 48). Subs not used: Main, Morais, Jackson, Reynolds. Booked: Gartland. Sent Off: Gartland (46).
CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel (McCourt 56), Loovens (Caddis 23), O’Dea, Thompson, McGinn, Crosas, Zhi (McGowan 61), McGeady, Samaras, Fortune. Subs not used: Zaluska, Mizuno, Forrest, Lafferty. Booked: Samaras.
Referee: W Collum (Scotland).
(c) 2010, The Irish Times.
Irish Times