2014-05-07: St Johnstone 3-3 Celtic, SP

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

Trivia

• Penultimate league game of the season
• Various fringe players got a start and little covered themselves in glory.
• Celtic on 96pts, won't make 100pts now for the season.
• Incredibly due to scores tonight, both Hibs & Hearts look like definitely being relegated together to the second tier.
• At Celtic players awards (Sunday past), Kris Commons lifted the Player of the Year trophy. The Players’ Player of the Year award, was a close-run contest, with Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk sharing the award after all the players’ votes had been counted up. Goal of the season Kris Commons with his second award of the night for his brilliant strike against Shakhter Karagandy last August in the Champions League.
• Former British tennis number one Elena Baltacha has died of liver cancer at age 30. A popular sportsperson, her father was a former player & manager in the Scottish Premier League. She was raised in Scotland and retained her wonderful Scottish accent. RIP.
• Ex-Celt Paul Caddis makes himself a hero by scoring a dramatic equaliser in last league match of Bham City's season to keep them up in their division.
• Helena Costa, a female former Iberia based scout for Celtic, appointed in charge as manager of Clermont Foot, a crap Ligue 2 club in the shadow of the rugby club. It means she becomes the first female coach to manage a team in the men’s professional game in world football. The Portuguese coach will officially take up her new role at Clermont Foot at the end of the season in France.

Review

(columbo of KDS forum)
Another roller coaster of a game.

Utter pish in the first half , much improved in the second.

Of the fringe players Pukki had a decent night.

Balde tried hard but is poor and will stay poor.

Derk is a disgrace.

On a brighter not the steak and gravy pie at the game was excellent.

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Stats

St Johnstone Celtic
Possession
57% 43%
90mins

Shots
12 12

On target
5 7

Corners
5 8

Fouls
9 13

Articles

St Johnstone 3 Celtic 3: Late rally denies champions their century cherry
Michael Grant
Chief football writer
Thursday 8 May 2014

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/st-johnstone-3-celtic-3-late-rally-denies-champions-their-century-cherry.24171905

ST Johnstone and Celtic played as though all their players were breaking in new boots.

The longer they played, the sharper the finishing was and the more entertaining this game got. After more than 50 minutes there had been only one goal, which gave the home side a deserved lead and looked likely to give Celtic a surprise bloody nose. The champions recovered to avoid only their second defeat of the SPFL Premiership season, but satisfaction eluded them. Having built a 3-1 lead with six minutes left they tossed two points away.

The hard graft is done for Celtic and they will still be able to sleep at night despite failing to reach 100 SPFL Premiership points for the season. If they beat Dundee United on Sunday game they will reach 99. That is also the number of league goals they are on. Their makeshift starting team was sluggish and losing at half-time in Perth but manager Neil Lennon made changes, brought his captain and his top scorer off the bench, and looked to have turned the game around. Saints had enough about them to haul themselves off the canvas.

This was an unusual Saints-Celtic end-of-season game because it was the Perth team which has bigger fish to fry. They rested players, mindful of their first Scottish Cup final coming up in nine days. They did not play like a distracted team, though, nor one whose players were sparing themselves. They gave Celtic a shake in the opening seconds and were gritty and combative throughout. They created a handful of chances and harassed Celtic into giving the ball away.

The game was 30 seconds old when Michael O'Halloran rattled a low, long-range shot off the foot of Lukasz Zaluska's post. The goalkeeper was a deputy and Celtic's entire side had a second string look. Derk Boerrigter, Amido Balde and Teemu Pukki – three Celtic careers with the handbrake on – all started. Kris Commons, Leigh Griffiths and Anthony Stokes had terrorised Aberdeen at the weekend and were all left on the bench. Lennon made six changes and in the first half St Johnstone exploited the reduction of the champions' weaponry. When Lee Croft swung in a corner Steven Anderson nodded it back at the far post and Tim Clancy stuck out a leg to jab the ball into the roof of the net for the opener.

It was a reasonably mild evening until a couple of minutes before half-time, when the temperature in the home stands suddenly plummeted. Stevie May went in for a 50-50 challenge with Efe Ambrose near the centre circle and didn't get back up. A few thousand minds immediately thought of the cup final and panicked. May lay for a few seconds before eventually receiving treatment and hobbling a little as he left the field at half-time. He did not return, with Nigel Hasselbaink coming on. From that challenge when May was hurt the ball had broken to O'Halloran, who wormed his way through Celtic's defence again to confront Zaluska. He ought to have scored but shot over.

May had been as lively and hard-working as usual. Zaluska needed a strong hand to keep out a shot which could have surprised him at his near post. He made room for himself and fizzed a drive just past the post. If he hadn't finished the night with an injury he would have been kicking himself for not reaching his 28th goal of the season when he had a penalty a minute before going off. O'Halloran's dribbling run ended when Beram Kayal brought him down. May's penalty was okay, low and firm to the goalkeeper's left, but Zaluska produced a fine save.

When the clocks ticked past 50 minutes without a further goal there was no reason to suspect the machine-gun delivery of strikes this strange game would yet deliver. Commons levelled from the penalty spot and Celtic then surged ahead.

Mikael Lustig, sound on his first start for four months, crossed and Pukki dived at it but connected with his arm and put it over the bar. Instead of a goal he got a booking, but a few minutes later he redeemed himself with a stylish finish. Goalkeeper Alan Mannus punched a cross away but when Charlie Mulgrew returned it to the box, low and hard, Pukki connected smoothly to score. A Commons shot was then blocked but spun to Virgil van Dijk, whose lovely volley was too good for Mannus.

Celtic looked home and hosed, but St Johnstone would not be put away. Scott Brown whacked a long shot that took a deflection and flashed past the deceived Zaluska. A minute later Saints rallied again and when David Wotherspoon lashed a cross into the box O'Halloran enhanced his fine performance by heading the night's sixth and final goal. If only all end-of-season affairs had this much sparkle.

St Johnstone 3-3 Celtic: Late drama in six-goal thriller in Perth
STV
7 May 2014 22:07 BST
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/st-johnstone/274417-st-johnstone-3-3-celtic-late-drama-in-six-goal-thriller-in-perth/
St Johnstone's Michael O'Halloran (centre) celebrates after making it 3-3 St Johnstone's Michael O'Halloran (centre) celebrates after making it 3-3SNS Group

Celtic surrendered a two-goal lead with minutes remaining to draw 3-3 with St Johnstone in a dramatic Scottish Premiership clash at McDiarmid Park.

Defender Tim Clancy gave the home side the lead in the eighth minute before Saints' top scorer Stevie May had a penalty saved by Hoops stand-in goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska three minutes from interval after Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal had brought down Michael O'Halloran.

Kris Commons, on for Derk Boerrigter for the start of the second half, levelled from the spot in the 53rd minute with his 31st goal of the season after fellow substitute Scott Brown had been tripped by Gary McDonald.

Striker Teemu Pukki and defender Virgil van Dijk added further goals which looked to have the champions on easy street but two goals in two minutes, the first from midfielder Scott Brown in the 83rd minute and O'Halloran two minutes later, gave the William Hill Scottish Cup finalists a share of the spoils.

Saints, playing at home for the last time this season, will be delighted after fielding a much-changed side with one eye on the Cup final against Dundee United a week on Saturday,

Celtic manager Neil Lennon also rang the changes although he would not have been happy with his side's start to the game and in the way they finished.

Zaluska and forwards Pukki, Amido Balde and Boerrigter were handed rare starts for the champions who left several of their big guns on the bench including skipper Brown, Commons and Anthony Stokes.

Within 30 seconds it was O'Halloran who almost put the home side ahead, his drive from distance beating Zaluska but rebounding off the post to safety.

Top scorer May had a hand in the Saints' opener when he had an angled drive saved at the near post by Zaluska.

From the subsequent corner floated in by Lee Croft, McDiarmid Park stopper Steven Anderson's header towards the goal was redirected into the roof of the net by Clancy, standing a couple of yards out for his first goal since scoring against the Hoops for Hibernian in 2012.

Celtic responded and Perth goalkeeper Alan Mannus had to deal with a decent long-distance drive from Pukki but there was little between the teams as the first-half unfolded.

When Kayal brought down O'Halloran to stop the midfielder's mazy run just inside the box, it gave May the perfect opportunity to grab his 28th of the season but Zaluska dived low to his left to save the spot-kick.

There was still time for O'Halloran to blaze a shot over the bar after he burst through on goal.

For the start of the second half, Brown replaced Adam Matthews and Commons came on for Boerrigter, as Nigel Hasselbaink replaced May.

The Perth side started sharply again with Van Dijk moving smartly to block a shot from Lee Croft, with Saints stand-in captain Frazer Wright heading the corner past the post.

But both Celtic's interval substitutes were involved for the visitors' equaliser, Brown being tripped by McDonald in the box as he turned inside the midfielder with Commons blasting the penalty high past Mannus.

Celtic looked more energised than they had in the first period.

Worryingly for Saints with the cup final in mind Gary Miller limped off to be replaced by David Wotherspoon, but Celtic kept coming.

Their second goal came when Mannus pushed a Mikael Lustig cross the ball wide but only to left-back Charlie Mulgrew who steered the ball back into Pukki who drove it first time past the helpless Saints keeper.

Four minutes later Van Dijk rifled in number three from the edge of the box after Commons' shot had been blocked by Paddy Cregg.

It looked all over for Saints but Brown pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute with a deflected drive before O'Halloran levelled with a header two minutes later from a Wotherspoon cross to give the McDiarmid Park men a late point.

Copyright of Press Association 2014.

BBC
By Cheri Burns BBC Scotland

A late goal meant St Johnstone and Celtic shared the spoils at McDiarmid Park after a tense Premiership battle.

It was first blood to the home side when Tim Clancy found the net following a corner.

But Celtic looked to be coasting to victory after goals from Kris Commons, Teemu Pukki and Virgil van Dijk.

However, the home side pulled off a magnificent comeback as Scott Brown and Michael O'Halloran both finished well to rescue a point for the Saints.

The draw means Neil Lennon's men now cannot hit the 100 points mark.

Tommy Wright's team got out of the starting blocks with gusto, and Michael O'Halloran almost gave them an early lead with a volley that rattled the post of Lukasz Zaluska.

It was all Saints in the early exchanges, and they made their pressure count by taking the lead courtesy of a set-piece finish from Clancy.

After an inviting corner, the Irishman reacted quickest to Steven Anderson's knockdown and stabbed home past Zaluska.

Celtic's first real chance fell for Pukki, who stung the palms of Alan Mannus with a venomous long range shot.

Despite the best efforts of the visitors to break down the St Johnstone rear-guard, the Scottish Cup finalists stood strong.

They could have doubled their advantage when the in-form Stevie May – who has scored against every Premiership side except Celtic this season – picked up possession and had a go from distance, only to see his effort curl narrowly wide of the post.

With the clock ticking towards half-time, the Glasgow side almost found themselves going into the dressing room with a bigger hill to climb, as the Saints were given the chance to convert from the penalty spot after the busy O'Halloran was brought down in the box by Beram Kayal.
Teemu Pukki celebration

Teemu Pukki celebrates after making it 2-1

But Zaluska was the hero of the hour as he was equal to May's poor spot-kick, making an easy save down to his left.

Soon after, the hosts let another golden opportunity pass by when O'Halloran, after bursting through, skied a shot over the bar.

St Johnstone began the second period in the same bright fashion as they played the first.

But that work was undone when Celtic were awarded a penalty of their own, after captain Scott Brown was fouled by Gary McDonald.

Kris Commons made the task of levelling the match look easy, as he hammered his kick straight down the middle, giving Mannus no chance.

The champions had the bit between their teeth and began to come into the ascendancy, with Pukki and Commons leading the charge for a second goal.

And it was Pukki who made it 2-1 after a precise assist from Charlie Mulgrew allowed the Finnish international to calmly slot home.

Wright's charges barely had time to draw breath before they conceded again.

It was the tenacious Brown who was at the heart of things, as he stormed down the line to fire in a delivery that eventually found its way to van Dijk, who converted with ease.

But Saints refused to roll over, and gave themselves a glimmer of hope when youngster Scott Brown scored his first goal in senior football with a strike that took a wicked deflection before evading Zaluska.

And the hosts bagged a leveller when the lively O'Halloran met David Wotherspoon's cross with a pin-point diving header and sent the home support wild.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

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

Full Time Second Half ends, St Johnstone 3, Celtic 3.
90:00 +2:45

Foul by Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone).
90:00 +2:45

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +1:01

Attempt saved. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
87:13 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Anthony Stokes replaces Amido Baldé.
86:01

Foul by Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone).
86:01

Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85:06 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! St Johnstone 3, Celtic 3. Michael O'Halloran (St Johnstone) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Wotherspoon with a cross.
83:45 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! St Johnstone 2, Celtic 3. Scott Brown (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gary McDonald.
82:18

Foul by Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone).
82:18

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80:32

Gary McDonald (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80:32

Foul by Beram Kayal (Celtic).
79:55

Attempt missed. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
77:39 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St Johnstone. Chris Iwelumo replaces Lee Croft.
76:42 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! St Johnstone 1, Celtic 3. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
75:25

Foul by Steven Anderson (St Johnstone).
75:25

Amido Baldé (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
74:00

Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
73:58

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
73:00 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! St Johnstone 1, Celtic 2. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Charlie Mulgrew with a cross.
72:13

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
71:47

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Frazer Wright.
70:12

Attempt missed. Amido Baldé (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
68:34 Booking

Booking Teemu Pukki (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
68:31

Hand ball by Teemu Pukki (Celtic).
65:58

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
65:30

Gary McDonald (St Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
65:30

Foul by Amido Baldé (Celtic).
64:26

Attempt missed. David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
64:08

Gary McDonald (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
64:08

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
63:20

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
58:09 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St Johnstone. David Wotherspoon replaces Gary Miller because of an injury.
56:17

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
52:52 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! St Johnstone 1, Celtic 1. Kris Commons (Celtic) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
52:21

Penalty conceded by Steven Anderson (St Johnstone) after a foul in the penalty area.
52:21

Penalty Celtic. Scott Brown draws a foul in the penalty area.
51:12

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gary McDonald.
50:38

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Frazer Wright.
46:14

Attempt missed. Frazer Wright (St Johnstone) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
45:53

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
45:29

Attempt blocked. Lee Croft (St Johnstone) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
45:00

Second Half begins St Johnstone 1, Celtic 0.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St Johnstone. Nigel Hasselbaink replaces Steve May.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Brown replaces Adam Matthews.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Kris Commons replaces Derk Boerrigter.
45:00 +0:49 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, St Johnstone 1, Celtic 0.
44:42

Attempt missed. Michael O'Halloran (St Johnstone) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
43:40

Foul by Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone).
43:40

Beram Kayal (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
42:34

Penalty saved! Steve May (St Johnstone) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
42:12

Penalty St Johnstone. Michael O'Halloran draws a foul in the penalty area.
42:12

Penalty conceded by Beram Kayal (Celtic) after a foul in the penalty area.
41:53

Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41:53

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
39:35

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gary Miller.
37:17

Attempt missed. Steve May (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
36:16

Foul by Steve May (St Johnstone).
36:16

Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
33:24

Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33:24

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
32:56

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Croft.
30:04

Gary Miller (St Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
30:04

Foul by Derk Boerrigter (Celtic).
29:29

Attempt missed. Amido Baldé (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
27:07

Michael O'Halloran (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
27:07

Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
26:24

Foul by Gary McDonald (St Johnstone).
26:24

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
25:52

Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
25:06

Foul by Gary Miller (St Johnstone).
25:06

Derk Boerrigter (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24:00

Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:55

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
21:25

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
20:32

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Charlie Mulgrew.
17:25

Attempt saved. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
14:52

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Frazer Wright.
13:56

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Charlie Mulgrew.
11:52

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from very close range misses to the right following a corner.
11:29

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Croft.
10:12

Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:06

Foul by Derk Boerrigter (Celtic).
8:19 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! St Johnstone 1, Celtic 0. Tim Clancy (St Johnstone) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Steven Anderson following a corner.
7:54

Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Lukasz Zaluska.
7:38

Attempt saved. Steve May (St Johnstone) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
2:00

Patrick Cregg (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
1:58

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
0:42

Michael O'Halloran (St Johnstone) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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