2014-02-16: Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures

Trivia

• Back to the league the only competition we were now involved in.
• Out of all Cup competitions after Scottish Cup defeat last weekend.
• Celtic have played 1125 minutes without conceding a goal in the league. Fraser Forster equals Bobby Clark's 12 consecutive league shutout record for Scotland.
• Stokes third hat trick for Celtic.
• Griffiths scores on home debut in for goal to be ruled off side (wrongly).
• Green Brigade seem to have made a comeback. Lennon happy: "I don't know if they were official Green Brigade but I can't thank them enough – they made a hell of a difference to the atmosphere."
• Lennon statements in papers reported questioning his own belief if close to end for him as Celtic manager, done as much as he can.
• Joe Ledley in papers saying he was planning to take up the offer of a new contract at Celtic before learning he'd been sold. You can choose whichever side to believe here, but regardless he has gone, and we do hope him the best.
• Liverpool are readying a summer move for Tony Watt for £6m, paper talk. Other story says he wants to stay in Belgium.
• "Roll of Honour" song (an Irish republican song) has shot to Number 24 in the pop charts due to a campaign by some Celtic groups who are opposed to the Scottish government’s Offensive
• Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 being enforced. Reached no.33 in the 'Pop Charts'.
• Lennon received the Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month Award for January.
• Belfast Celtic great Jimmy Jones passes away at age of 91. English legend Tom Finney also passes away. RIP.
• Movie star (and Oscar legend) Tom Hanks is the latest superstar to fall in love with Celtic all due to Ross McCall (a budding Celtic supporting actor). See link
• Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho "I’ve thought a few times over the years about Celtic — and Rangers, before they died — moving down to England"

Review

(davedarave of KDS forum)
A much improved performance, helped by the fact that the team were set out in a solid formation.

Credit to Lenny for changing things from last weeks shambles.

Biton was played in the right position and showed that he is a far better option than Charlie as the deep midfielder.

Right midfield is where we'll get the best from Brown, and Griffiths really helped create a bit of movement up front. A poor mans Kenny Miler (sic), yet to be seen. His workrate at least should have him in the team ahead of Sammy, Balde and Pukki. I thought Mathews should have moved to left back when Fisher came on. Izzy is a big miss on the left hand side, so hopefully he's not out for too long.

Johanson looks like a great addition, but would be even better if he put some weight on. Sorry, not better, but more able to out muscle goons who will come after him. With Biton, always looking to get the ball forward instead of sideways, and it makes us a much better team to watch. It gets the team on the front foot more often than a Mulgrew, Brown, Kayal type midfield.

Stokes is an enigma. Looked like he thrived on Griffiths's runs, and they looked more like a front two than we've had all season.

Enjoy Virgil while you can, because he is by a long way, our most valuable playing asset. I can see him stepping up to EPL, and getting better. Forster has got better and better the longer he has been here. We will find it very difficult to replace him.

Lenny gets stick for some strange team selections, and poor tactics, but he got it right today. Keep doing it that way.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
• Audio Report: Paradise Report

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –
• 2013-14 Winners

Stats

Celtic St Johnstone
Possession
34% 66%
90mins

Shots
19 3

On target
7 0
Corners
6 2

Fouls
6 9

Articles

Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone: Three and easy for Stokes

The Scotsman
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/celtic-3-0-st-johnstone-three-and-easy-for-stokes-1-3308424

Published on the 16 February
2014

Anthony Stokes’ third Celtic hat-trick earned Celtic a comfortable 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone at Parkhead.

Scorers: Celtic – Stokes (16, 64, 66)

The Irishman had netted just twice in the 18 games before Leigh Griffiths’ £1million arrival from Wolves but made it four in two games as he was partnered alongside the former Hibernian man from the start for the first time.

He opened the scoring after 16 minutes before adding a quick-fire double after the break to take his tally for the campaign to 11 and reaffirm the league leaders’ 21-point lead over nearest challengers Aberdeen.

The clean sheet saw keeper Fraser Forster equal former Aberdeen goalkeeper Bobby Clark’s 43-year-old record of 12 games without conceding a league goal.

But the shut-out had little to do with the Englishman’s talent and more about Saints’ lack of menace in attack.

When he did have a save to make with eight minutes left, it was a result of a deflection off team-mate Virgil van Dijk.

The moments before kick-off were marked by the re-appearance of the Green Brigade. The controversial ultras group was banned and its base in section 111 of Celtic Park was closed by Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell at the start of December following several warnings about behaviour.

But with just five minutes to go before the match started, a 250-strong group holding a Green Brigade banner marched into section 118 of the Lisbon Lions Stand to the sound of cheers from the rest of the Parkhead support.

The group’s repertoire was restricted to songs about the team rather than the political numbers which have landed it in trouble in the past, but it certainly helped to lift the atmosphere on a day when the Glasgow giants ran out in front of another sparse crowd.

There was a flatness to Celtic’s play in the opening moments and they were almost undone after seven minutes as David Wotherspoon flashed a decent strike just over the bar after Emilio Izaguirre gifted him possession.

Griffiths made his first Hoops start two weeks after completing his move from Molineux but he wasted his first chance as he wandered offside before heading wide from a Kris Commons cross.

But the Scotland striker soon helped engineer the opener.

He combined with Van Dijk after the Dutchman’s driving run and then played in Stokes, who wriggled past a couple of half-hearted challenges on the edge of the box before planting a shot beyond Alan Mannus’ reach.

Izaguirre limped off to be replaced by Darnell Fisher after 21 minutes but that did not deter Neil Lennon’s side now they had the lead.

Commons crashed a thunderous left-foot shot off the bar from 30 yards out as the hosts cantered towards half-time without giving Saints a sniff.

Lennon’s men had cruised through the first period but returned for the second with an increased tempo and threatened twice in the opening stages as first skipper Scott Brown shot straight at Mannus before Stokes went high and wide with a wild swipe.

Stokes then sent a free-kick over the bar while there were some moments of scrambled defending from the visitors as the Hoops stepped it up again.

But the pressure told as Brown went over the heads of the Perth defence with a scooped cross to Stokes, who took a touch before smashing the ball into the bottom corner at the back post.

The Irishman completed his hat-trick two minutes later as Stefan Johansen and Commons worked together before feeding Stokes, who drilled a low drive past Mannus at his near post.

The keeper was making his first appearance since breaking a thumb a fortnight ago but it was his reactions that looked fragile as he got down slowly to the shot.

He looked beaten again soon after as Brown hammered a low shot off the base of the post, while substitute Derk Boerrigter fire wide after Griffiths’ back heel put him through.

Forster had been a virtual spectator for 82 minutes when he had to produce an instinctive block with his foot after Nigel Hasselbaink’s shot sprang up off Van Dijk to earn his record-equalling shut-out, while Griffiths was denied his first Hoops goal by another offside flag in the final five minutes.

BBC

By Andy Campbell BBC Sport Scotland

A hat-trick of fine finishes from Anthony Stokes gave Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic a comfortable victory over St Johnstone.

The striker fired home from outside the penalty area to give Neil Lennon's side the lead following a pass from Leigh Griffiths.

Captain Scott Brown's inventive chip was the catalyst for Stokes' second, the 25-year-old volleying into the net.

And a low drive completed an impressive day's work for Stokes and his team.
Play media

Kris Commons and Brown both hit the post in what was a dominant display from Lennon's men, who remain unbeaten in the league and re-establish a 21-point lead.

However, the visit of Saints came off the back of a Scottish Cup defeat by Aberdeen while the Perth side had been buoyed by their progress to that tournament's quarter-finals.

Indeed Saints enjoyed a positive opening spell and it was not until Griffiths headed wide from an offside position that Celtic began to impose themselves.

Griffiths was making his first start since joining from Wolves and played his part in the opening goal, laying on for Stokes to work the space and release a shot past Alan Mannus from 20 yards.
Anthony Stokes scores for Celtic against St Johnstone

Stokes took his tally of goals to 11 for the season

Commons was also in the mood for a goal and his superb 30-yard strike rattled the post.

Saints were restricted to long-range efforts as they toiled at the start of the second half with neither David Wotherspoon nor Brian Easton able to trouble Fraser Forster, who has not conceded a league goal since November.

Stokes may have been awarded a penalty following a challenge by Steven Anderson right on the edge of the box but referee Steven McLean awarded a free-kick that the striker fired off target.

However, he did not have to wait long for his second goal with Brown dinking the ball across the six-yard line for Stokes to control and blast home on the turn.

And Stokes netted again by beating Mannus at his near post from near the 18-yard line.
Play media

There was little respite for St Johnstone and Brown's low shot at the end of a driving run fizzed along the turf and came back off the post.

Forster then used his foot to secure a record-equalling clean sheet and spared the blushes of a team-mate in the process.

The goalkeeper, who matches former Aberdeen stopper Bobby Clark's run of 12 league shut-outs, blocked after Efe Ambrose had turned Nigel Hasselbaink's low cross towards goal.

With time running down, Griffiths found the net with a clipped shot past Mannus but the offside flag ensured a further wait for the Scotland international's first Celtic goal.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 3, St Johnstone 0.
90:00 +2:18 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 3, St Johnstone 0.
90:00 +1:45

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Darnell Fisher.
88:11 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Teemu Pukki replaces Anthony Stokes.
87:46

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
87:21

Attempt saved. Darnell Fisher (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
81:42 Booking

Booking Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
81:29

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:29

Foul by Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone).
80:40

Attempt missed. Nir Biton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
78:29

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Mackay.
77:59 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St Johnstone. Patrick Cregg replaces James Dunne.
77:36

Darnell Fisher (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77:36

Foul by Gary McDonald (St Johnstone).
75:50

Darnell Fisher (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
75:50

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone).
74:58

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
73:47

Attempt missed. Derk Boerrigter (Celtic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the right.
72:29

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).
72:29

Michael O'Halloran (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
71:36 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Derk Boerrigter replaces Scott Brown.
71:10

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
71:10

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone).
70:22

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
70:22

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone).
69:03

Scott Brown (Celtic) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
67:19

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
66:51

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
66:51

Foul by James Dunne (St Johnstone).
66:34 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St Johnstone. Michael O'Halloran replaces Lee Croft.
65:57 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 3, St Johnstone 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kris Commons.
63:33 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, St Johnstone 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott Brown.
60:39

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
60:05 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St Johnstone. Nigel Hasselbaink replaces Chris Millar.
59:44

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
59:00

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
58:49

Foul by Steven Anderson (St Johnstone).
57:13

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
56:06

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Wotherspoon.
55:40

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Mackay.
55:04

Attempt missed. Gary McDonald (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
54:21

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
54:01

Attempt blocked. David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
53:25

Foul by Darnell Fisher (Celtic).
53:25

Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
49:48

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
48:30

Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 1, St Johnstone 0.
45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 1, St Johnstone 0.
41:07

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
33:12

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Thomas Scobbie.
29:55

Nir Biton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
29:55

Foul by Chris Millar (St Johnstone).
28:40

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Thomas Scobbie.
28:14

Attempt blocked. Nir Biton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
25:33

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
24:59

Kris Commons (Celtic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box.
24:01

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brian Easton.
23:24

Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:24

Foul by Chris Millar (St Johnstone).
20:32 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Darnell Fisher replaces Emilio Izaguirre because of an injury.
15:20 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, St Johnstone 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
14:07

Foul by Nir Biton (Celtic).
14:07

James Dunne (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
6:33

Attempt missed. David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
4:39

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
4:39

James Dunne (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:01

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
4:01

Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
3:08

Foul by Nir Biton (Celtic).
3:08

Gary McDonald (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Live data and text provided by our data suppliers