| Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic still second, but have game in hand over Inv Caleywho lost, both have 16pts.
- Pukki two goals now in two games, and Virgil coming good too.
- James Forrest struck by mystery virus so likely out of Barca match acc to reports.
- PSV 4-0 Ajax on Sunday, bodes well then for Celtic in match against them we hope.
Review
(Quiet Assassin of KDS)
Obviously we played very well in the first half, but absolutely garbage in the second. Getting the three points was the main thing, and it looks like our horrendous form of the start of last season won't be repeated, which is obviously a good thing.
Great to see Pukki score again, but it was awful goalkeeping. As long as he keeps putting the ball in the pokey though, it's all good. He does look to drop deep an awful lot, which is a similar game to Stokes, so how well they will team up will be interesting to see. He also looked pretty slow off his mark yesterday which is a surprise as he does have decent pace.
Thought Boerrigter had a game to forget. Biton didn't do very much to impress, but you can't draw any conclusions on that. Hopefully he plays v Morton to get a feel for the place and the team. Van Dijk looks class and he and Ambrose look to have a decent partnership.
The stramash at the end was as clear a red as you'll see for the St Johnstone scorer. He lands a hand on Forster's face after they get up, which the TV highlights seem to conveniently miss. The ref also had that thing or 'interpreting' laws and 'enforcing' them in different situations. An arse of a man.
Teams
Celtic
- 01 Forster Booked
- 02 Matthews (Biton – 46' )
- 03 Izaguirre
- 04 Ambrose
- 05 van Dijk
- 08 Brown
- 11 Boerrigter
- 15 Commons (Samaras – 59' )
- 21 Mulgrew
- 10 Stokes
- 20 Pukki (Balde – 87' )
Substitutes
- 24 Zaluska
- 06 Biton
- 18 Rogic
- 37 Atajic
- 46 McGeouch
- 09 Samaras
- 17 Balde
Goals
- Pukki 11′ Mulgrew 26′
St Johnstone
- 01 Mannus
- 02 MacKay
- 05 Wright
- 06 Anderson Booked
- 24 Easton
- 04 Cregg Booked (Hasselbaink – 87' )
- 07 Millar
- 08 McDonald
- 10 Wotherspoon (Caddis – 68' Booked )
- 18 Davidson (May – 61' )
- 09 MacLean
Substitutes
- 15 Banks
- 03 Scobie
- 19 Miller
- 14 Edwards
- 16 Caddis
- 17 May
- 11 Hasselbaink
Goals
- Caddis 81′
Ref: Muir
Att: 45,220
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Audio Report: Paradise Report
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
- 2013-14 Winners
Stats
Celtic St Johnstone
Possession
44% 56%
90mins
Shots
6 4
On target
2 2
Corners
5 5
Fouls
5 8
Articles
Celtic 2-1 St Johnstone: Saints give Hoops fright
The Scotsman
by TOM ENGLISH
Published on the 22 September
AFTER the tumult of Milan, the last thing Neil Lennon needed was another dramatic and painful finale to a game they had dominated, but the Celtic manager very nearly got it.
Scorers: Celtic – Pukki (11), Mulgrew (26); St Johnstone – Caddis (81)
Bookings: Celtic – Forster; St Johnstone – Anderson, Cregg, Caddis
Ultimately, it was a victory for the home team, but to say they were hanging on at the end would be an understatement. They were jaded and vulnerable, but they survived. Just.
Nobody could see this bonkers end-game coming. With little more than half an hour gone, Celtic had their feet up on the metaphorical desk. They were leading 2-0 and so cosy in the match that they could have allowed themselves a snooze. What woke them up was an 82nd minute Liam Caddis goal and the realisation that if they didn’t snap out of their torpor and find some energy in those tired limbs then the most comfortable victory could have become the most wasteful draw.
Teemu Pukki scored the first of Celtic’s goals on his home debut and Charlie Mulgrew drilled in the second. Celtic owned the ball, the chances and had scored the goals that looked like a launch pad for more. The exertions of Milan hurt then for sure. Maybe there was also a feeling that St Johnstone looked incapable of raising a challenge. Either way, they almost blew it. In the closing minutes, the visitors pushed and pushed for the equaliser and came painfully close to getting it.
In the 87th minute, Steven MacLean screamed for a penalty after a brush with Stokes, an incident that caused some verbal jousting between the respective managers in the aftermath. That wasn’t the end of it. What stress there was in the Celtic team in those dying seconds when Brian Easton’s cross came whizzing into the home team’s penalty area. Gary McDonald touched it on to Stevie May, on the field as a second-half substitute, who flicked an effort on to Fraser Forster’s left-hand post, the ball rebounding out to Dave MacKay whose effort was beaten away by the Celtic goalkeeper. Celtic were dazed, like a prize fighter hanging on for the final bell. It came, just in time.
St Johnstone may have lost their mojo in recent games, but they found it yesterday. They left here with reason to believe that the mini-slump they have found themselves in during their last three winless games might be at an end. Tommy Wright was incredibly testy about why he did not play May from the start. The striker came on just after the hour and instantly the game changed.
Asked for a comment on May, the St Johnstone manager replied that he had done “OK,” when he had quite obviously done a whole lot better than that. Why didn’t May start? “Because I didn’t pick him.” Why didn’t he pick him? “That’s between me and him,” said Wright, who later denied that there was an issue with May. A pretty weak denial.
Lennon started with nine of the San Siro set and had Stokes and Pukki up front, the latter sitting just behind the former and continuing their nice understanding of Tynecastle a week ago. It was that combo that engineered Celtic’s opening goal. Stokes’ slick lay-off put Pukki through on Alan Mannus who resembled a rabbit in the headlights as the Finnish international came at him. To be fair, Mannus was left isolated by his own defenders but he should have done better to stop Pukki’s fairly weak shot.
The traffic was one-way only. Wright threw himself in front of two Scott Brown shots; Mannus saved from Matthews; Steven Anderson slid in on Pukki to avert yet more danger. When a Stokes pass broke off David Wotherspoon, the loose ball fell to Charlie Mulgrew a distance out. The midfielder switched it to his left foot and snapped in a drive that Mannus could do nothing about.
Mulgrew is one of the great successes of this Celtic team. Others get more attention but his consistency in any number of positions is excellent. If he was a product on the shopping channel he’d be one of those multi-purpose chopping gizmos, a thing that can be used in about a dozen different ways and all for the bargain price of… whatever. Mulgrew is a bit like that. A bargain, for sure. And many different uses. Centre-half, full-back, wide midfielder and now central midfield.
Yesterday he was both midfielder and defender, when he moved back to centre-half for the second period, and he barely put a foot wrong in either position. Stokes and Commons and Brown grab our attention more often than not. Pukki will too. But Mulgrew is the guy who helps tie it all together.
If Celtic had kept up their early pace then they would score more goals, no question. But they didn’t. Or couldn’t. Derk Boerrigter headed wide just before the break and Stokes had a header of his own hoofed off the line, but there was a general flatness to it after the second goal.
Then the craziness began to unfold. A scrappy goal for Caddis and a row in the net straight after – Caddis and Forster were both booked – then a penalty appeal and finally the ball pinging around the Celtic box in those late seconds. Lennon’s team will have slept well last night. They looked like a team in need of rest.
BBC
By Jonathan Sutherland BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
Celtic moved level on points with league leaders Inverness as they survived a nervy ending to their match against St Johnstone.
Neil Lennon's side dominated the first half entirely and were two goals ahead thanks to a Teemu Pukki shot and Charlie Mulgrew's low drive.
St Johnstone improved after the break and Liam Caddis pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining.
And Fraser Forster made a great late save to deny Saints' Dave Mackay.
Celtic started with nine of the players who started at the San Siro in their 2-0 Champions League defeat by AC Milan.
Perhaps it was with that match in mind that St Johnstone took to the field resplendent in their AC Milan-style red and black change kit.
Lennon has made public his desire for his players to pick up maximum points in domestic league games after matches in Europe and there was little sign of any early Champions League hangover.
Play media
Pukki opened the scoring in his first start, the Finnish striker firing a shot through the legs of St Johnstone keeper Alan Mannus.
The Northern Irish goalie did well to parry Adam Matthews's powerful shot after he broke into the St Johnstone box.
In the 26th minute Celtic doubled their lead. Mulgrew picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and lashed an unstoppable drive low into the bottom corner of the net.
Soon after Mulgrew almost got a second but his curling effort went wide.
St Johnstone's only chance of the first half came from a back-pass header from Celtic left winger Derk Boerrigter which almost caught Forster out.
Boerrigter should have scored minutes later but his header from Anthony Stokes's perfect cross failed to hit the target.
The second half started with Celtic again on the attack, with Stokes hitting a shot just wide of the post.
Play media
After showing nothing in the first half St Johnstone became a little more enterprising and substitute Stevie May flashed a header over and midfielder Chris Millar forced a save from Forster.
But it would get better for Saints when sub Caddis got on the end of a cross and Forster could not keep the ball from crossing the line.
And the visitors thought they might have had a penalty near the end when Steven MacLean went down in the box under a challenge from Stokes but the referee waved play-on.
Saints upped the pressure and a late strike from Mackay forced a save from Forster in injury time as Celtic endured some nervous closing moments.
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +6:54 Full time
Full Time The match has reached full-time.
90:00 +0:12
Stevie May takes the chance to get an effort at goal and hits the post.
89:40
Free kick taken by Nigel Hasselbaink.
89:26
Nigel Hasselbaink fouled by Anthony Stokes, the ref awards a free kick.
89:12
Alan Mannus takes the free kick.
88:43
The assistant referee flags for offside against Anthony Stokes.
86:13 Substitution
Substitution Teemu Pukki leaves the field to be replaced by Amido Balde.
86:03 Substitution
Substitution Nigel Hasselbaink comes on in place of Patrick Cregg.
84:43
Charlie Mulgrew manages to make a clearance.
84:36
Corner taken by Liam Caddis.
84:11
Clearance by Frazer Wright.
84:03
Corner taken by Liam Caddis from the right by-line.
82:01
Booking for Liam Caddis.
82:01 Booking
Booking
81:45
The referee books Fraser Forster for unsporting behaviour.
81:45 Booking
Booking
81:23
Unfair challenge on Liam Caddis by Fraser Forster results in a free kick.
80:08
The assist for the goal came from Chris Millar.
80:08 Goal scored
Goal! – Liam Caddis – Celtic 2 – 1 St J'stone Liam Caddis scores a goal. Celtic 2-1 St Johnstone.
78:10
Clearance made by Frazer Wright.
78:07
Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
77:59
Booking for Steven Anderson.
77:59 Booking
Booking
77:52
Steven Anderson concedes a free kick for a foul on Teemu Pukki.
77:35
Corner taken by Liam Caddis from the right by-line.
76:44
Chris Millar takes the chance to get an effort at goal.
76:25
Clearance made by Frazer Wright.
76:20
The ball is crossed by Charlie Mulgrew.
76:04
Frazer Wright makes a clearance.
75:45
Corner from the right by-line taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
68:58
Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
68:44
The referee books Patrick Cregg for unsporting behaviour.
68:44 Booking
Booking
68:34
Patrick Cregg concedes a free kick for a foul on Georgios Samaras.
67:24 Substitution
Substitution Liam Caddis comes on in place of David Wotherspoon.
65:17
Header at goal by Stevie May goes right of the post.
65:04
The ball is crossed by David Wotherspoon.
60:12 Substitution
Substitution Stevie May on for Murray Davidson.
59:00
Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the left by-line.
58:52 Substitution
Substitution Georgios Samaras replaces Kris Commons.
57:26
Corner taken by Anthony Stokes.
52:02
Clearance by Efe Ambrose.
51:54
Corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line.
47:46
Virgil van Dijk restarts play with the free kick.
47:33
Unfair challenge on Derk Boerrigter by Patrick Cregg results in a free kick.
47:00
Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
46:54
Steven MacLean is ruled offside.
45:50
Anthony Stokes takes a fantastic shot and missed to the right of the goal.
45:01
The referee gets the second half started.
45:01 Substitution
Substitution Nir Biton comes on in place of Adam Matthews.
45:00 +0:08 Half time
Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.
40:57
Steven Anderson makes a clearance.
40:42
Corner taken by Kris Commons.
39:11
Patrick Cregg takes the free kick.
38:57
Patrick Cregg fouled by Charlie Mulgrew, the ref awards a free kick.
37:12
Efe Ambrose makes a clearance.
37:07
Free kick taken by David Wotherspoon.
36:56
Steven MacLean fouled by Virgil van Dijk, the ref awards a free kick.
36:26
Header by Derk Boerrigter goes over the bar.
36:20
The ball is delivered by Anthony Stokes.
34:12
Clearance by Adam Matthews.
33:57
Brian Easton restarts play with the free kick.
33:50
Anthony Stokes challenges Brian Easton unfairly and gives away a free kick.
32:47
Shot by Charlie Mulgrew missed to the left of the target.
29:32
Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
29:23
Gary McDonald concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Brown.
26:34
Adam Matthews takes the free kick.
26:26
Scott Brown fouled by Murray Davidson, the ref awards a free kick.
25:26 Goal scored
Goal! – Charlie Mulgrew – Celtic 2 – 0 St J'stone Charlie Mulgrew slots the ball left footed into the goal. Celtic 2-0 St Johnstone.
24:17
Charlie Mulgrew crosses the ball in from the free kick.
24:07
Unfair challenge on Derk Boerrigter by Gary McDonald results in a free kick.
22:47
Clearance by Efe Ambrose.
22:42
Corner taken by David Wotherspoon from the left by-line.
18:58
Virgil van Dijk takes the free kick.
18:07
Unfair challenge on Anthony Stokes by Gary McDonald results in a free kick.
17:56
Virgil van Dijk restarts play with the free kick.
17:38
Foul by Steven MacLean on Charlie Mulgrew, free kick awarded.
14:14
Clearance made by David Mackay.
14:10
The ball is delivered by Adam Matthews.
11:44
Scott Brown has an effort at goal.
10:21
Assist on the goal came from Anthony Stokes.
10:21 Goal scored
Goal! – Teemu Pukki – Celtic 1 – 0 St J'stone Teemu Pukki scores with their right foot. Celtic 1-0 St Johnstone.
8:45
Scott Brown crosses the ball.
4:17
Frazer Wright makes a clearance.
4:10
Corner taken by Kris Commons from the left by-line.
0:00
The match has kicked off.
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