2011-08-21: Celtic 0-1 St Johnstone, SPL

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• Celtic blow it and go 1pt behind Rangers who win 3-0 at Motherwell.

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Poor show, some bad luck but we have to do better!!!!!

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The Scotsman

Peter Enckelman saved Kris Commons' penalty after three minutes and the Saints keeper went on to enjoy a fine afternoon with a string of impressive saves.

Mackay's deflected shot on the hour mark sealed a miserable day for the Parkhead side who hit the woodwork through Commons and substitute Paddy McCourt.

Neil Lennon made three changes to his Celtic side for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at Parkhead.

Striker Georgios Samaras, who bore the brunt of the criticism from the Hoops fans during their goalless Europa League play-off first leg clash with Sion on Thursday night, was dropped with both full-backs Mark Wilson and Cha Du-ri also starting on the bench.

In a reshuffled side, new signing Victor Wanyama came in to make his SPL debut alongside Daniel Majstorovic at the heart of the Celtic defence with Shaun Maloney making his first start of the season and Adam Matthews in at right-back.

St Johnstone also showed three changes with Kevin Moon, Marcus Haber and Carl Finnigan out and Callum Davidson, Alan Maybury and Francisco Sandaza in.

The Perth side, with only one point from their first three SPL games while still looking for their first goal, were certainly not expected to improve on the former statistic.

And Celtic had an early chance to take the lead in the third minute when they were awarded a penalty by referee Brian Winter after he adjudged Peter Enckelman to have up-ended Anthony Stokes in the box after the Irishman had raced through on to a fine Matthews pass.

The Saints keeper made up for his transgression, however, by diving to his right to save Kris Commons' spot-kick.

Celtic shrugged off the missed opportunity to pin St Johnstone back and in the ninth minute Charlie Mulgrew's header at the back post from a Ki Sung-yueng corner was cleared away by St Johnstone defender David McCracken.

Maybury then injured himself preventing Commons sliding in a Maloney cutback for what would have been a certain goal but resumed his place at right-back after treatment.

Stokes then drilled an angled shot past the far post after working some space for himself inside the Saints box.

It was one-way traffic for the most part with Celtic beating a steady path towards the Perth side's goal.

In the 26th minute Maloney had to twist to get on to another Matthews cross and the ball sped wide, before Enckelman smothered Mulgrew's right-footed drove at his near post.

Seven minutes from the break Ki's long-distance drive was deflected just past the post but the home side could not capitalise on the corner.

Moments later, when Saints midfielder Murray Davidson fouled the South Korean 25 yards out, Commons struck the post with his flighted free-kick.

In the 44th minute, with Celtic camped at the edge of the St Johnstone box, Enckelman dived at the feet of Stokes to prevent the Irishman rounding him.

Wilson replaced Mulgrew for the start of the second half and Celtic resumed their control of the game.

But Enckelman was proving to be inspired and the Parkhead men were fortunate not to concede in the 55th minute in a rare Saints' attack.

Maybury's swirling cross to the back post was met by Liam Craig who steered it back across the six-yard box, but Sheridan arrived just too late to slide it into the empty net.

Enckelman proved his worth again moments later when he made a good block from Stokes' close-range header after the former Hibernian striker had leapt to reach Commons' cross.

Then Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster made a decent block from Jody Morris' drive but on the hour mark the visitors took a sensational lead.

When Craig's ball from the left arrived at David Mackay at the far side of the box, the Saints defender drilled the ball towards goal and it took a nick off Murray Davidson before speeding past Forster.

Paddy McCourt came on for Commons to provide some much-needed inspiration but the anxiety which had gripped Celtic Park and the home defence looked like helping Saints grab their second.

The Parkhead men stepped up the pressure though, and McCourt side-footed a shot against the post after weaving his way into the St Johnstone box before Enckelman made another good save from a Stokes header.

There was another penalty claim when Stokes went down under a challenge from Mackay in the box but Winter ignored it.

In the 83rd minute Callum Davidson tripped McCourt 20 yards out but Maloney fired the free-kick wide to sum up a miserable afternoon for the home side.

BBC

Page last updated at 16:12 GMT, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:12 UK
A second-half goal from Dave MacKay gave St Johnstone a shock first win at Celtic Park since 1999.
Kris Commons failed to convert from the penalty spot after Saints keeper Peter Enckelman brought down Anthony Stokes in the box in the third minute.
But St Johnstone eventually broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, with MacKay's shot deflected into the net.
Celtic's first league defeat means that no Scottish Premier League club has a 100% record.
The first half was characterised by sustained Celtic pressure, but an inability to convert chances.
Saints' keeper Enckelman handed Neil Lennon's side the first of those chances, when he was judged to have brought down Stokes inside the box.
But the Finn, who escaped a booking, soon made amends, diving to his right to save the resulting penalty kick from Commons.
That missed opportunity sparked Celtic into life, and Lennon's side enjoyed a spate of first half chances, most created by the industry of Shaun Maloney who set up chances for Commons and Stokes, as well missing an opportunity created by Adam Matthews in the 26th minute. Anthony Stokes was fouled by Peter Enckleman leading to a penalty for Celtic. But the best chance for the home side came from a set piece, Commons almost making amends for his penalty miss with a terrific curling free kick which came off Enckelman's post five minutes before the break.
And Celtic seemed to approach the restart with gusto, Commons ekeing out another chance seconds into the half.
But it was St Johnstone who took a shock lead on the hour mark.
A move that began with a Jody Morris drive, which was beaten away by Fraser Forster, then saw MacKay volley towards goal from the right hand side of the box, his shot deflecting off Joe Ledley and past Forster.
After dominating possession throughout the match, that sucker-punch appeared to stun the Parkhead side, who struggled to regain their tempo.
Substitute Paddy McCourt, who replaced Commons immediately after the goal, offered a piece of individual skill almost immediately, twisting and turning his way through a wall of blue jerseys in the St Johnstone box before eventually being dispossessed.
In defence though, Celtic were in disarray, confusion between Daniel Majstorovic and Forster almost allowing Saints substitute Sean Higgins clear through on goal 20 minutes from the end.
McCourt continued to create chances, a shot five minutes from time coming off the post, the Irishman drawing a free-kick on the edge of the box out of Saints defender Callum Davidson, but Maloney's set piece was marginally off target.
And a hard-working and resolute St Johnstone defence managed to neutralise a flurry of late chances to secure Derek McInnes's first win of the season and increase the pressure on Celtic ahead of their midweek Europa League tie.