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Trivia
- Celtic remain 18pts ahead. Rangers get last gap win v Motherwell, so we have to wait until next weekend to win title outright.
- Lustig starts only second game.
- Stan Petrov (former player, at time of writing at Aston Villa) diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Celtic team and fans show their support. Applause of support from all at 19mins; Team & managers all wear "Petrov 19" shirts. Our whole support is behind him.
- Two men convicted of sending nail bombs to Neil Lennon and two others. Crazily the attempted murder charge dropped. (see link)
- Rangers administration continues with couple of bids dropping out. Liquidation increasingly mentioned.
- Lennon gets it in the neck in media, following "antics" (sic!) at last game v Rangers. Charlie Nicholas describes him as an embarrassment. Pathetic! Don't remember Ally McCoist getting this abuse after his antics going into the opposition managers face at game v us. Charlie Nicholas is a farce as a football analyst.
Review
(dom90 of KDS)
St Johnstone were well organised today. Lomas set them up well and they did create some well worked chances so Celtic were never realistically gonna roll them over.
Samaras, Brown and Mulgrew were excellent today.
When did we become so effective from set pieces? I can remember most people on here moaning about getting 15 corners in a match and earning nothing from them. Commons delivery was superb.
Dreadful passing for the best part. Ki was the right move but I'd have hooked Stokes or Hooper before Lustig. Like we need another RB to get us goals.
One thing I did notice today was the lack of pace from our CB's. If we are to succeed in Europe next season then we need to sign good CB's. Its almost comical any Celtic manager has failed to sign a quality CB.
Officials were gash. Again Stokes fell victim to the phantom offside rule that exists only for Celtic players. Samaras was decked in the box twice under more contact than Cha on Wallace'y.
Out of sight. Champions. Next week will be a fitting end to a remarkable season.
(Jungle G of KDS)
Not quite a non-event but definitely a bit of an anti-climax after the huns last min winner the day before put the title party on hold.
Lots of day-trippers who decided this would be their one match of the year to attend and were probably thinking all week they'd won a watch with the weather also looking fine for a trophy presentation, so nae luck to the part-timers, but there's always this time next year if not even sooner.
First 15 mins of the second half marked by the usual murmurs and increasingly vocal grumbling of the home crowd in matches against diddy teams we aren't winning handsomely enough for the zoomers but thankfully Sammy capped a decent performance and helped stop the whinging in its tracks with a great header and fizzing low drive that delivered the opener and helped create that 'crucial' second respectively.
We were 5/10 for the first hour and 7/10 once we got the goal to settle us. Won it with plenty to spare. To be fair looks like it's a bit more of a struggle for this young team to fire themselves up to the extent they can match the peak levels of a couple of months back, now that the long unbeaten run is over, the league a formality and fatigue has probably kicked in at the same time the adrenalin levels subside a bit.
I'm not too fussed by that but do hope we can get motoring somewhat again ahead of the 29th at least.
Not convinced by starting XI and again concerned to see NL second guessing his own set-up before long at all (switching Samaras and Commons).
Hooper and Stokes on totally different wavelengths.
Commons emerged in the last half hour with some very smart long-range passing but was lethargic from the start and still only looks a shadow of last year's game-changer.
In defence we had little to do though Rogne made heavy weather of a few bouncing balls without every being caught out. Lustig was diligent doesn't have anything like the attacking instincts of other full-backs at the club so it was hard to judge the guy with the team in pedestrian mode.
Re Sammy, MOTM but still reckon he flatters to deceive. A standout in an ordinary game against sluggish opponents. Great headed finish though and perfect choice of final ball to force an own goal. He's very important to us right now but remain unconvinced we shouldn't be open about selling him if it's one of the moves that helps bring in the mythical attacker who can both mix it up for us in terms of playing style, AND score prolifically. I await the "unplayable on his day" remarks – if any of those days arrive during the Euros we should still be open about cashing in whilst his value is at a high.
Various tributes to Petrov were the highlight of the day. Win that fight, Stan, YNWA.
Teams
Celtic
01 Forster
21 Mulgrew
22 Loovens
23 Lustig (Matthews – 55' )
25 Rogne
08 Brown
16 Ledley
09 Samaras
10 Stokes (Ki Sung-Yeung – 63' )
15 Commons
88 Hooper (Blackman – 87' )
Substitutes
24 Zaluska
03 Izaguirre
06 Wilson
39 Blackman
02 Matthews
18 Ki Sung-Yeung
46 McGeouch
Goals
- Samaras 66′
- Millar (og) 70′
St Johnstone
15 Mannus
02 MacKay
05 Wright
12 Maybury Booked
18 McCracken
04 Morris (Moon – 85' )
07 Millar
09 Croft Booked (Oyenuga – 90' )
10 Craig Booked
11 Sheridan
21 Sandaza
Substitutes
01 Enckelman
06 Anderson
31 Moffat
14 Moon
16 Robertson
36 Greg Mitchell
22 Oyenuga
Ref: Salmond
Att: 57,848
Articles
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Pictures
Forum
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Stats
Celtic v St Johnstone
Possession
59 v 41
Shots
Articles
Celtic 2 – 0 St Johnstone: ‘Stan’ together as club focus on Petrov
The Scotsman
By ALAN PATTULLO
Published on Monday 2 April 2012 03:26
CELTIC Park did not have the opportunity to stand and honour the title winners. Instead, those gathered inside the stadium rose to applaud the fight being waged by Stiliyan Petrov, the former Celtic midfielder diagnosed with acute leukaemia at the end of last week.
This show of support was choreographed for the 19th minute, the number of shirt which the man known as Stan wore both at current club Aston Villa and during his distinguished days at Parkhead, footage from which was shown at half-time.
The Celtic coaching staff also displayed the fact that their thoughts were with their former team-mate by wearing training tops bearing the name Petrov across the shoulders and his squad number on the back.
Rightly, there was barely an acknowledgement of what might have been had Rangers not grabbed a last-gasp winner against Motherwell the previous day. Those who remained until the final whistle afforded their heroes a quick cheer and then departed into the afternoon. Next stop, Rugby Park.
This would not have been the day for a party whatever had happened at Fir Park. The focus returned to Celtic’s own efforts yesterday after some Petrov-inspired reflection. At the moment, it is a rather brutal light which has to be trained on the champions-elect, who were unimpressive again yesterday after a run of only one win in four away outings.
Yet the win gained on this return to Parkhead, earned through a header by Georgios Samaras and an own goal by St Johnstone midfielder Chris Millar, sets up the possibility of a title coronation at Rugby Park in six days’ time. Celtic know that another victory, or draw, will seal a championship win viewed as inevitable since the day Rangers entered administration. Deprived of bona fide challengers, Celtic have resorted to making it hard for themselves.
The visitors will rue a brace of near misses at the start of the second half as St Johnstone attempted to catch Celtic cold after holding their hosts in the opening 45 minutes. Cillian Sherdan’s header past the post, following Dave Mackay’s cross, was possibly the best opportunity. Fran Sandaza then sent a looping header just over.
Manager Steve Lomas also lamented a series of key decisions by referee George Salmond which he felt had gone against his side. He wanted a penalty for a body-check on Sandaza in the second-half and he also complained about the soft nature of the free kick, for David McCracken’s barge into Samaras, from which Celtic opened the scoring. His list of grievances was completed by what was an admittedly flagrant foul on Liam Craig by Kris Commons in the run-up to the home team’s game-sealing secong goal, ‘claimed’ by the unfortunate Millar.
With the league title celebrations on hold for another time and place, attention fell on the race for the Champions League qualifying place. It is a contest which has been ignited by Motherwell’s defeat by Rangers on Saturday, coupled with the good form of both St Johnstone and Dundee United.
The capture of Derek Riordan could come to be viewed as a canny piece of business if the Perth side are able to secure third spot. The former Hibs player was not named in the squad yesterday, although he looked on from the main stand. Instead, St Johnstone relied on a team of old dependables who had managed to put together a remarkable run of just two defeats in 17 away matches prior to kick-off yesterday. Despite playing with only one striker in the recent clash at St Mirren, Lomas opted for his usal front pairing in Sandaza and former Celtic man Sheridan. “Not many teams come here and play two up front,” commented Lomas afterwards.
St Johnstone can clearly scent history in the air as they take note of Motherwell’s stumbling form. They could and perhaps should have taken something from Parkhead, where they collected all three points on their previous visit earlier in the season.
The visitors were clearly not afraid to have a go and kept the ball well in the opening half. Scoring opportunities were few and far between. Commons’ angled shot slipped past the post after Anthony Stokes had dinked a ball into his path. But the best chance fell just before half time as Charlie Mulgrew sought to sweep the ball into the net after a Commons free-kick created chaos in the box, and left goalkeeper Alan Mannus in a heap on the ground. Frazer Wright, however, was perfectly placed on the line to clear and then made a commendable block to follow up as Stokes tried to rifle in the rebound.
St Johnstone’s game-plan was likely based around preventing Celtic scoring in the first half. This aim duly achieved, they set about hurting their opponents at the start of the second half. The hosts were strangely subdued as first Sheridan flicked a header past and then Sandaza looped an effort over the bar.
Neil Lennon quickly sought to give his side more impetus, switching home debutant Mikael Lustig for Adam Matthews after only 55 minutes. Scott Brown then sent a deflected shot narrowly wide before Commons saw his looping effort tipped over by Mannus. Commons, clearly relishing his return to favour under Lennon, then turned provider as his delivery was headed into the net by Samaras, after 66 minutes.
It seemed a sadly uncomplicated way for St Johnstone to go behind following the investment of so much energy since kick-off. They might well have equalised only three minutes later if not for a last-ditch clearance by Matthews at the far post, with Craig waiting to pounce on a Lee Croft cross.
Just a minute later came the game-sealing goal, though no-one will convince Lomas that it should have been allowed to be scored after Commons bundled Craig over in the Celtic half. The home side took advantage of the fact there was no whistle and quickly broke upfield. Samaras’ dangerous cross, after a lay-off by Ki, was turned into his own net by Millar as he made a desperate attempt to clear.
St Johnstone might have at least scored with three minutes remaining, but Sandaza’s half-cleared cross fell to Craig’s wrong foot, and he blazed over. Although there was not even the consolation of a goal on this occasion, the visitors know there is still much to play for in the coming weeks. Celtic, too, move on with relish.
BBC
Celtic 2
Samaras 66′
Millar (og) 70′
Team badge of St Johnstone
St Johnstone 0
90 +4
HT 0-0
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1 April 2012 Last updated at 14:50
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By Clive Lindsay BBC Scotland
Georgios Samaras inspired Celtic to a victory over a stubborn St Johnstone that takes Neil Lennon's side to within a point of the Scottish title.
Frazer Wright headed a Charlie Mulgrew header off the Saints line during a fairly even first half.
But Samaras powered a header home from Kris Commons' 66th-minute free-kick.
And, four minutes later, the Greek striker's low cross was turned into his own net by Chris Millar as Celtic stretched their lead to 18 points.
Those two goals ended Wright's amazing record, the defender having started the game with 911 minutes of football behind him without St Johnstone having conceded a goal while he was in their line-up away from home.
The home side had gone into the game looking to avoid losing three straight domestic games in a row for the first time since 1994.
However, getting back to winning ways – and ending Saints six-game unbeaten run – means Celtic can now depose second-top Rangers as champions when they visit Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Celtic fans sent a message of support to Stilian Petrov
Celtic fans sent a message of support to Stilian Petrov
Right-back Mikael Lustig had been handed his home debut, while Commons, Glenn Loovens and Gary Hooper started with Cha Du-ri and Victor Wanyama suspended and Adam Matthews and Ki Sung-Yueng dropped to the bench.
However, it was Samaras, looking majestic in recent weeks, who was the inspiration as Celtic began at breakneck speed, making their opponents looking a yard slower.
Unchanged St Johnstone, with former Celtic forward Derek Riordan not even considered fit enough for the bench after being signed as a free agent, steadied themselves and gradually worked themselves into the game.
The match itself was subdued in comparison to the 19th-minute standing ovation given by the capacity crowd as get-well wishes were sent to former Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov following news that the Aston Villa No.19 is suffering from acute leukaemia.
A Commons drive across the face of goal and a 30-yard Liam Craig free-kick pushed away by Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster were the highlights until just before the stroke of half-time.
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Wright's head prevented a goal after Mulgrew got his toe to the ball after goalkeeper Alan Mannus made a hash of clearing a Commons free-kick into the six-yard box and Stokes had his shot blocked on the rebound by the Saints defender.
Cillian Sheridan headed wide from eight yards when he ought to have hit the target then Francisco Sandaza sent a looping header onto the roof of the net as Saints began the brighter after the break.
Mannus clawed away a curling Commons effort, but the goalkeeper was left helpless when the winger's free-kick found the head of Samaras 10 yards out to open the scoring.
Saints had claims for a penalty rejected moments later when Loovens checked Sandaza's progress.
And, as the visitors claimed for a foul for a Commons challenge on Craig, Celtic raced to the other end and Millar diverted a low Samaras cross past Mannus.
Craig had a blistering free-kick turned over the crossbar by Forster and then fired over with the goal at his mercy after the goalkeeper could only parry a Sandaza cross as Saints applied some belated pressure.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon : ''Absoulety delighted with that, although we were not at our best in the first half.
"We wanted a wee bit more intensity to our play, particularly in the froward areas. We certainly got that in the second half and it's a huge win.'
''It's really hard winning games, even more hard winning championships.
"But Samaras has come to the fore in recent months and he was fantastic today.'
"I admit I didn't fancy his consistency and his mentality, so we've had to work away with him.''
St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas : "My boys were brilliant yet again.
"Probably the only criticism I can aim at them is that, when you have your chances, you have to take them and we didn't do that.
"Celtic Park is a hard enough place to come to get something, they are a fantastic team, they thoroughly deserve the championship when it comes, but we feel mightily aggrieved.
"I don't want to criticise referees, but in our opinion, Francisco Sandaza has a blatant penalty, the second goal is a free-kick on Liam and even the first goal came from a very soft free-kick."
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +2:47
The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00 +0:50 Substitution
Substitution Kudus Oyenuga is brought on as a substitute for Lee Croft.
89:29
Chris Millar concedes a free kick for a foul on Kris Commons. Strike on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick, save made by Alan Mannus.
88:03
The ball is swung over by Andre Blackman, save made by Alan Mannus.
87:50
The ball is delivered by Scott Brown.
86:36 Substitution
Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Andre Blackman coming on for Gary Hooper.
86:20
Shot on goal by Liam Craig from just inside the area goes over the target.
86:14
The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, save made by Alan Mannus.
84:09 Substitution
Substitution Kevin Moon comes on in place of Jody Morris.
83:56
Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.
82:52
Corner taken by Chris Millar, Sung-Yeung Ki makes a clearance.
82:02
Joe Ledley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Croft. Lee Croft takes the direct free kick.
80:24
Corner taken right-footed by Kris Commons, Lee Croft manages to make a clearance.
78:12
Charlie Mulgrew gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francisco Sandaza. Liam Craig delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance by Charlie Mulgrew.
74:02
Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Alan Mannus.
71:34
Lee Croft produces a cross, Liam Craig challenges Adam Matthews unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Thomas Rogne.
70:22 Booking
Booking Liam Craig is cautioned.
69:21
Georgios Samaras provided the assist for the goal.
69:21 Goal scored
Goal – Chris Millar – Celtic 2 – 0 St J'stone An own goal is conceded by Chris Millar. Celtic 2-0 St Johnstone.
69:04
Georgios Samaras delivers the ball.
68:31
Short corner taken by Liam Craig.
67:59
Liam Craig takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Charlie Mulgrew.
67:49
Centre by Lee Croft, clearance by Adam Matthews.
65:38
Kris Commons provided the assist for the goal.
65:38 Goal scored
Goal – Georgios Samaras – Celtic 1 – 0 St J'stone Georgios Samaras scores a headed goal from inside the box. Celtic 1-0 St Johnstone.
64:45
Sung-Yeung Ki fouled by Lee Croft, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is sent over by Kris Commons,
64:08
The official flags Charlie Mulgrew offside. Alan Mannus takes the free kick.
62:15 Substitution
Substitution Sung-Yeung Ki comes on in place of Anthony Stokes.
61:37
Corner taken by Kris Commons played to the near post, Alan Maybury manages to make a clearance.
61:20
Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joe Ledley.
58:09
Chris Millar has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
56:32
Centre by Georgios Samaras, David MacKay makes a clearance.
54:42
Corner taken by Liam Craig, Fraser Forster makes a save.
54:02 Substitution
Substitution Adam Matthews comes on in place of Mikael Lustig.
53:36
Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Brown on Lee Croft. Free kick taken by Alan Mannus.
52:49
Francisco Sandaza gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Charlie Mulgrew. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
52:10
Anthony Stokes sends in a cross, save by Alan Mannus.
50:36
Free kick awarded for a foul by Mikael Lustig on Francisco Sandaza. Jody Morris takes the free kick.
49:25
The ball is crossed by Anthony Stokes, save made by Alan Mannus.
48:21
Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by David MacKay results in a free kick. Mikael Lustig takes the free kick.
47:50
Effort from the edge of the box by Cillian Sheridan goes wide of the left-hand post.
46:19
Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Millar on Gary Hooper. Free kick taken by Kris Commons.
45:01
The second half kicks off.
45:00 +0:01
The ref blows to signal half-time.
44:41
Lee Croft is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
43:08
Kris Commons has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
42:14
Kris Commons shoots direct from the free kick, blocked by David MacKay. Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Blocked by Frazer Wright.
42:14 Booking
Booking Booking for Lee Croft.
41:41
Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kris Commons, David MacKay manages to make a clearance. Georgios Samaras sends in a cross, Alan Mannus makes a save. Lee Croft concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Ledley.
41:22
Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Save by Alan Mannus.
40:33
Lee Croft takes the inswinging corner, save by Fraser Forster.
40:27
Anthony Stokes produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
40:23
Georgios Samaras sends in a cross, David McCracken manages to make a clearance.
39:40
Foul by David McCracken on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Kris Commons takes the free kick.
38:42
Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by David MacKay results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kris Commons.
36:38
The referee penalises Georgios Samaras for handball. Direct free kick taken by Alan Mannus.
31:34
The ball is delivered by Anthony Stokes.
28:15
Cillian Sheridan concedes a free kick for a foul on Thomas Rogne. Free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.
24:28 Booking
Booking Alan Maybury goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
23:21
Cross/shot by Kris Commons.
21:22
Gary Hooper takes a shot. Alan Mannus makes a save.
17:28
Corner taken by Liam Craig from the right by-line, save made by Fraser Forster.
16:46
Kris Commons has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
11:50
Centre by Lee Croft.
9:58
Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Liam Craig.
7:25
Shot from outside the box by Jody Morris misses to the left of the target.
7:12
A cross is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by David MacKay.
5:58
Joe Ledley takes a shot. Alan Mannus makes a save.
5:53
The ball is swung over by Georgios Samaras, clearance made by David McCracken.
5:43
The ball is delivered by Kris Commons, Jody Morris makes a clearance.
0:11
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Liam Craig. Anthony Stokes has an effort direct from the free kick.
0:00
The match gets underway.