2015-03-04: Celtic 0-1 St Johnstone, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2014 – 2015 | 2014-15 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic on top of the league regardless of result; six points ahead of Aberdeen, both with 27 games.
• Timely defeat ahead of the upcoming cup games. All back down to earth.
• A screamer of a goal, one of the best by opposition at Celtic Park in many years.
• Guidetti doesn't even make the bench tonight, Scepovic takes his place. Wakaso is there as well (subbed on to left-back).
• Cup matches for next couple of weeks.
• This is last league game for few weeks frustratingly.
• Ex-Celt John Hartson admits he has now been won over by Deila after having been a major critic of the new manager.
• Media reports of interest in Craig Gordon as back up goalkeeper for Chelsea. We want him to stay very much.
• Boerrigter stories about still recovering from injuries.
• More voices raising concerns about Scepovic future.
• Sevco stories about their forthcoming egm. Tax crook David King to take over it seems. Leave it there….
• Legendary Glasgow lawyer and great Celtic fan Joe Beltrami passed away. RIP.

Review

(flawless of KDS)
St Johnstone excellent.

Celtic appalling, poor first eleven. Real blind spot with that Johansen deep he just doesn't have the passing ability to be anything other than the hassle up front. Brown equally poor technically. No application and just a seep of arrogance that last Sunday finished it as a contest.

Stokes, GMS , Griffiths and Forrest were abysmal.

I'd give pass marks to Armstrong and that would be about it. The crowd were equally pathetic.

(mubo l of kDS)
Disappointing but meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Too much sluggishness and sideways passing, with no one taking responsibility for creating something.

Deila's substitutes; putting on Wakaso at left back ( ) and then Bitton as the final sub with a whole half hour left, rendering Scepovic on the bench and Griffiths on for the whole game; were baffling. Sign of desperation chucking Van Dijk up front as well.

Forrest did nothing when he came on (again), but I felt the ire direct towards him was harsh.

Stokes and Griffiths were hopeless, as was Johansen (as expected whenever he plays in the holding role) and it speaks volumes that I'd say Ambrose was probably our MOTM.

Well deserved Saints, a goal worthy to win any game.

(Remy M of KDS)
Wakaso looked like a one man wrecking ball. An accident waiting to happen and would have been sent off against a decent player.

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Stats

Celtic St Johnstone
Possession
43% 57%
90mins

Shots
13 6

On target
7 3

Corners
7 7

Fouls
10 9

Articles

Celtic 0 – 1 St Johnstone: Saints soar at Parkhead

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/celtic-0-1-st-johnstone-saints-soar-at-parkhead-1-3709465

STEPHEN HALLIDAY at CELTIC PARK
00:03Thursday 05 March 2015 21:39Wednesday 04 March 2015

ST JOHNSTONE made a happy return to the scene of their greatest triumph to claim a victory over Celtic which suggests widespread reports of the end of the title race may just have been premature.

Scorers: St Johnstone – Swanson (54)

A goal of the season contender from Danny Swanson allowed Saints to celebrate again on their first appearance at Celtic Park since lifting the Scottish Cup at the stadium last May. It is a win which takes Tommy Wright’s side into the top six of the Premiership as they brought a run of eight consecutive league wins by Celtic to a shuddering halt.

It leaves Ronny Deila’s team six points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the table with 11 games of the league campaign remaining. The Celtic manager had warned their 4-0 win over the Dons at the weekend provided no guarantee they will go on to win the title and this was a warning to his players that they still have much work to do.

Just as they had on Sunday, Celtic made a less than convincing start to the contest. The relatively sedate atmosphere created by the far from capacity attendance seemed to have an effect on the performance of Deila’s men.

St Johnstone deserved much of the credit for that too as they defended robustly and intelligently, while posing a threat of their own on the counter attack.

Celtic did come close after just three minutes, the recalled Anthony Stokes curling a shot narrowly wide after a Stuart Armstrong effort had been blocked. But there was generally a lack of the intensity which has become their hallmark in recent weeks.

Alan Mannus was forced into action for the first time in the tenth minute, parrying a swerving shot from Gary Mackay-Steven and then gathering the loose ball under pressure from Stokes. St Johnstone then showed they were not content to simply play on the back foot, captain Dave Mackay charging forward from right-back and driving in a low shot which was comfortably held by Craig Gordon.

Celtic’s response was a stinging left-foot shot from all of 25 yards from Leigh Griffiths which fizzed just wide of the post.

Much of the play was scrappy with Celtic’s passing lacking sharpness. The visitors grew in confidence and ambition and there was an anxious moment for Gordon when he misjudged a free-kick into the penalty area from Tam Scobbie. Fortunately for the Celtic ‘keeper, Jason Denayer was on hand to scramble the loose ball to safety.

The young Belgian defender made another crucial contribution for Celtic in the 22nd minute, reacting smartly to knock the ball behind for a corner as it dropped in the six-yard box from Steven MacLean’s attempt to get on the end of a Mackay cross.

Swanson collected the first caution of the evening when he cynically chopped down Griffiths on the half-way line as the striker was set to sprint clear towards the Saints penalty area.

Celtic finished the first half on top with the visitors suddenly required to produce some defending of the desperate variety to keep the scoreline blank.

Mannus dived to his right to turn a rising 20-yard shot from Armstrong behind for a corner which was whipped in from the left by Stokes. The ball broke to Virgil van Dijk whose shot was blocked by Steven Anderson. Celtic appealed furiously that the defender had used his arm to do so but referee Calum Murray was unmoved. Celtic made a change at the start of the second half with Mubarak Wakaso replacing Adam Matthews. The on-loan Ghana winger, making his first appearance since mid-December, was deployed at left-back with Efe Ambrose shuttled across to fill in at right-back.

Wakaso had clearly been handed licence to get forward and his first involvement saw him engineer time and space to deliver a good cross which Mackay-Steven miscued from close range to send a shot over.

It was St Johnstone who suddenly began to look more menacing, however, and they almost capitalised on some poor Celtic defending at a David Wotherspoon corner as Murray Davidson got in a header which deflected just over off Ambrose.

The visitors clearly sensed a vulnerability in Celtic’s play and they took advantage of it in spectacular fashion as they made their 54th minute breakthrough.

Another Wotherspoon corner, this time from the right, was again weakly dealt with by Celtic as their attempt to clear saw the ball drop invitingly in the path of Swanson around 25 yards out. The on-loan Coventry man met it with a thunderous right-foot half volley which flew high beyond the helpless Gordon into the roof of the net.

Stokes tried to hit back immediately for Celtic, his low shot well saved by Mannus, but it was Saints who should have scored again in the 59th minute from yet another Wotherspoon corner. This time the ball found its way to the unmarked Anderson but the big defender slashed his shot wide from close range.

Celtic came close in the 76th minute when Mannus made a fine save to keep out Ambrose’s close range header from a Stefan Johansen corner. The home side foraged desperately for a late leveller but St Johnstone held out with relative comfort.

Celtic: Gordon, Matthews (Wakaso 46), Denayer, Van Dijk, Ambrose; Brown, Johansen; Mackay-Steven (Forrest 59), Armstrong, Stokes (Bitton 59); Griffiths. Subs not used: Zaluska, Scepovic, Fisher, Henderson.

St Johnstone: Mannus, Mackay, Scobbie, Anderson, Easton; Swanson (Croft 71), Millar, Davidson, Wotherspoon; O’Halloran (Miller 78), MacLean. Subs not used: Banks, Graham, McFadden, Brown, Kane.

BBC
By Richard Wilson BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Danny Swanson strike wins game for St Johnstone
Tommy Wright's men move above Dundee into top six
Defeat ends Celtic's 11-game unbeaten domestic run
Lead at top of Scottish Premiership remains at six points

Celtic's seemingly inexorable march towards the Scottish Premiership title suffered a setback thanks to a stunning Danny Swanson volley.

It inflicted a first league defeat in nine games on Celtic, although they are still six points clear of Aberdeen.

Swanson's sweet 25-yard strike in the second half moved St Johnstone back into the top six.

The visitors are now level on points with Hamilton having leapfrogged Dundee with this rare victory at Celtic Park.

Celtic started quickly, with a slickness to their play that was illustrated by a sweeping crossfield pass over the St Johnstone defence that set Gary Mackay-Steven free.

The winger's cross reached Scott Brown, who shaped to shoot but instead slipped the ball infield to Stuart Armstrong, whose shot was blocked by the St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus.

Moments later, Anthony Stokes curled a shot across the face of goal that went wide.

Then Mackay-Steven sent a dipping, curling shot on target that Mannus had to claw out of the air before repelling Stokes' unorthodox effort from an awkward height and angle.

The antidote to Celtic's endeavour was doughtiness by St Johnstone, who have the third best defensive record in the Premiership and organised themselves superbly.

Individual cameos from visiting players included Chris Millar's endless industry and shrewd passing while Brian Easton often intercepted the ball in dangerous areas and was adept at carrying it upfield.

Steven MacLean was always strong up front, Murray Davidson covered the pitch with his rangy stride, while David Wotherspoon's set-pieces were delivered with menacing intent.
Ronny Deila had led his team to 11 domestic games unbeaten before the St Johnstone game.

Ronny Deila had led his team to 11 domestic games unbeaten before the St Johnstone game

Following a period of sustained pressure in the Celtic half, Wotherspoon struck an effort from the edge of the area, but it was straight at Craig Gordon.

The zest of Celtic's play was dampened by St Johnstone's sturdiness and the home side were restricted to long-range efforts, with Stuart Armstrong twice having efforts draw good saves from Mannus.

Celtic found a higher gear in the second half of their previous two league games – scoring four against Hamilton and three against Aberdeen after the break – but St Johnstone remained solid.

They survived Mackay-Steven mis-hitting a volley from Wakaso Mubarak's cross and then they set about imposing themselves.

There was almost a breakthrough when Davidson stretched to head the ball on target from a corner, but it was deflected over.

Celtic did not heed the warning, though, and moments later Swanson lashed a glorious volley high into the top corner.

If Steven Anderson had been similarly adept, he would have increased the advantage when he was left unmarked at the back post at a corner, but his half-volley skewed wide into the side-netting.

Urgency returned to Celtic's play and even before Virgil van Dijk moved up to centre-forward, Nir Bitton and Armstrong both hit the target from long range but could not beat Mannus.

Jackie McNamara, watching from the main stand, would have seen plenty to dwell on as he prepares his Dundee United side to meet Celtic in three consecutive games – the Scottish Cup, the League Cup final and then in the Premiership.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 1.
90:00 +2:16 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 1.
89:44

Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
89:44

Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86:22

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
86:22

Lee Croft (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84:47

Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic).
84:47

Lee Croft (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
83:11

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from very close range misses to the left.
82:56

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.
82:48

Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
80:33

Attempt missed. Chris Millar (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
79:25

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
76:58 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St. Johnstone. Gary Miller replaces Michael O'Halloran.
76:45 Booking

Booking Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
76:38

Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
76:38

Lee Croft (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75:05

Attempt saved. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
74:50

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brian Easton.
74:15

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
74:15

Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
73:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.
72:35

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Mackay.
70:36

Hand ball by Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic).
69:47 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St. Johnstone. Lee Croft replaces Danny Swanson.
68:57

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
67:35

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Murray Davidson.
67:15

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
62:07

Attempt missed. Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is high and wide to the right.
60:19 Booking

Booking Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
60:12

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60:12

Foul by Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone).
59:18

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
59:18

Tam Scobbie (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
58:45 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Nir Bitton replaces Anthony Stokes.
58:31 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Gary Mackay-Steven.
58:16

Attempt missed. Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the left.
57:53

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Jason Denayer.
56:33

Attempt saved. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
53:21 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 1. Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.
52:54

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
51:54

Attempt saved. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal.
48:58

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
48:31

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
45:51

Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:51

Foul by Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone).
45:00

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

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Mubarak Wakaso replaces Adam Matthews because of an injury.
45:00 +0:54 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 0.
45:00 +0:34

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00 +0:34

Foul by Chris Millar (St. Johnstone).
42:39

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42:39

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
40:41

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alan Mannus.
40:33

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
38:41

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Brown.
38:11

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
38:11

Brian Easton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32:42

Attempt saved. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
29:00

Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28:58

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).
25:08

Attempt missed. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
24:00

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
24:00

Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
22:21 Booking

Booking Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
22:17

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
22:17

Foul by Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone).
21:21

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Jason Denayer.
17:40

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
17:40

Foul by Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone).
16:39

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
16:39

Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
16:23

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
15:41

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
15:18

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
15:18

Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
11:34

Attempt saved. David Mackay (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
10:04

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
8:19

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
8:19

Foul by Chris Millar (St. Johnstone).
4:35

Attempt missed. Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
2:41

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the right.
0:00