Match Pictures | Matches: 2020 – 2021
Trivia
- 12pm, Sunday
- Valentines day or happy Rangers admin day
- Double goals from Edouard on a freezing cold day, with a poor performance from both sides.
- Welsh out injured.
- Odsonne Edouard today became the first player to hit the 20 goal mark for a Scottish top flight club in 3 consecutive seasons since Aberdeen’s Adam Rooney.He became the 1st Celtic player to achieve that feat since Gary Hooper, he also equalled Hooper’s tally of 82 Celtic goals.
- Reports that Sevco players caught flouting Covid rules!
- Celtic have posted a loss of £5.9 million for the first six months of the financial year as the sting of the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on the Parkhead club
- SFA review on child abuse at football clubs from 1970s-80s eras released. Covers clubs across Scotland, including Celtic Boys Club (a separate entity to Celtic) but Celtic must address all action points & issues.
- St Johnstone to play in league cup final soon.
- Tokyo Olympics Chief Yoshiro Mori resigns after sexist remarks. He reportedly said women talk too much and have a “strong sense of rivalry” during a board meeting earlier this month. Very out of touch managerial attitude, not helping an Olympics that may get pulled.
- Rugby 6N Scotland lose to Wales after the hard work defeating England last week away!
- Covid
- Vaccinations continue across UK & the globe. Some impact.
- Reports that Sevco players caught flouting Covid rules!
Summary
“It was a good win, a tough game and we had to come here and battle. That’s what we did and I think we deserved the win.”
Jonjoe Kenny
Not a very good performance for large parts, but a couple of quick goals got a win
Double from Eddie, little much more to say. Celtic dire for much of the game with St Johnstone stealing the lead and actually unlucky not be two ahead. Little of value done by Celtic. Knives still out for the manager.
Teams
Celtic:
29Bain
16Kenny
4Duffy
35Ajer
3Taylor
8Brown
42McGregor
18Rogic
Substituted forGriffithsat 76’minutes
17ChristieBooked at 73mins
14TurnbullBooked at 58mins
Substituted forElyounoussiat 76’minutes
22Edouard
Substitutes
1Barkas
9Griffiths
10Ajeti
11Klimala
12Soro
19Johnston
27Elyounoussi
56Ralston
93Laxalt
Goals: Edouard (60′ minutes, 62′ minutes)
Assists:Christie (60′ minutes), Taylor (62′ minutes)
St j
1Clark
5Kerr
Substituted forO’Halloranat 83’minutes
6Gordon
4McCart
19Rooney
18McCann
13Bryson
24Booth
7Conway
Substituted forMiddletonat 70’minutes
10Wotherspoon
9Kane
Substituted forMayat 70’minutes
Substitutes
2Brown
11O’Halloran
12Parish
14May
15Gilmour
16Middleton
17Melamed
26Craig
Goals:
Rooney (50′ minutes)
Assists:Booth (50′ minutes)
Ref: S McLean
Att: None
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior
- Match
- Post
- MoTM
Stats
Home TeamSt JohnstoneAway TeamCeltic
Possession
Home37%
Away63%
Shots
Home6
Away10
Shots on Target
Home1
Away5
Corners
Home3
Away9
Fouls
Home13
Away13
Articles
Verdict: Celtic and Neil Lennon now being judged through title prism – not performances or points-gathering
Everything in Celtic’s world is viewed through previous paltry attempts to mount a title challenge across their obsessed-over 10-in-a-row chasing season.
By Andrew Smith
Sunday, 14th February 2021, 7:30 pm
Odsonne Edouard celebrates after scoring his second to complete a Celtic https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/verdict-celtic-and-neil-lennon-now-being-judged-through-title-prism-not-performances-or-points-gathering-3134538
It is why, despite the classy comeback they initiated to see off St Johnstone in Perth that made for a fourth straight Premiership victory, there were still grumbles from their supporters about the slender nature of the 2-1 success. Neil Lennon stated afterwards that his team are performing well and not “grinding out” results. He was entitled to offer up that summation, which could be read as a nod to the fact that only once over their past eight league games have Rangers won by more than a single goal.
Such form is seen as a sign of strength in Steven Gerrard’s men; in contrast any close outcomes involving their Parkhead rivals are merely considered indicators of the weaknesses that have left them a distant 18 points behind the Ibrox champions-elect. This gap colours all considerations of the relative capabilities, as is the footballing way.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports
Yet, however much disaffected Celtic followers may refuse to countenance the fact, whatever was ailing Lennon’s men across October and November, and again in January, it largely has been overcome. Far too late to mean anything, no question, but Celtic’s players deserve some recognition for not simply chucking it in this crisisfest of a Covid-impacted campaign.
A familiar story seemed as if it might play out come the 50th minute at McDiarmid Park. It was then that a contest in which Celtic had been the ascendant side and yielded very little to hosts with only one loss in their previous eight games, seemed transformed. The product of a left-wing cross from Callum Booth that found Shaun Rooney springing between Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor to send a thumping header wide of Scott Bain.
In countless occasions this season, Celtic have turned such setbacks into sorry tales. It appeared their latest Perth visit would join the litany of these when the visitors won a corner seven minutes later. A chance to hit back, instead, in mortifying fashion, Ryan Christie slipped as he struck the corner and sent it straight out of the pitch. It seemed such a symbolic moment for a season that veered so wildly off target months ago.
Yet, quality and character ensured that was not to be the case again, and the buzzing Christie – restored to the starting line-up after a couple of games benched – was central to that. In the 60th minute David Turnbull picked him out bounding into the box down the left channel. The angles seemed against him, but he reached the byline and was able to twist his body to whip over a cross that Odsonne Edouard superbly stabbed in at the near post with aplomb.
Three minutes later, a delightful dummy from Christie allowed Greg Taylor to turn provider down the left, his driven in cross seized on by Edouard. The Frenchman works to his own pace. And, just as he had over-elaborated too often as Celtic moved the ball into dangerous areas over the closing quarter of the opening period, it seemed he might do so again when he didn’t seek to get a shot off immediately. Edouard-time meant him spinning round like a top. However, once he had done so, he was still able to top off his pirouetting by tucking the ball in at the back post.
Edouard isn’t quite restored to the unplayable attacker of the second half of last season. Equally, though, he is far removed from the disengaged performer of the early part of this season. It may be just coincidence that he seems more receptive to the fray, evident in the enjoyment showing on his face duing games, since his huffy pal Olivier Ntcham engineered the escape he had long sought in moving to Marseille on loan. Or maybe it is just the case that Edouard wants to ensure his numbers will attract the sort of suitors he hoped for last summer when the end of this season rolls around.
For all his uneven displays, there is now every possibility Edouard will match his 28-goal total achieved in the three-quarter campaign that the gobal pandemic allowed the 2019-20 term to be. The Frenchman’s Perth double was his first fashioned entirely from open play since his hat-trick against Hamilton on the opening weekend of the season. He has now netted 11 times in his past 11 outings. When you have a striker accruing goals in those quantities, you tend to achieve the desired outcomes. And in only one of those games – the 2-1 collective brain-freeze loss at home to St Mirren a fortnight ago – has Edouard swelling his tally not given Lennon’s men the platform to succeed.
It wasn’t as hairy as some of their closing stages, but Celtic held on to their 2-1 advantage against Callum Davidson’s men with a couple of jumpy moments. That would have been considered a personal triumph for the magnet for misfortune on-loan Brighton centre-back Shane Duffy has been across his ill-fated stay in Glasgow. The Republic of Ireland captain, taking the place of the injured Stephen Welsh, wasn’t faultless, but neither was he seriously at fault. As a result, his temporary club closed out what represents only the second win in the past six games he has started. Wonders may never cease.
St Johnstone: Clark, Rooney, Kerr (O’Halloran 83), Gordon, McCart, Booth, Bryson, McCann, Wotherspoon, Conway (Middleton 71), Kane (May 71). Subs: Parish, Brown, Craig, Melamed, Gilmour.
Celtic: Bain, Kenny, Ajer, Duffy, Taylor, Brown, Turnbull (Elyounoussi 76), McGregor, Rogic (Griffiths 76), Christie, Edouard. Subs: Barkas, Ajeti, Klimala, Soro, Johnston, Ralston, Laxalt.
BBC
Being “settled” has helped Odsonne Edouard return to form, says Neil Lennon after the Frenchman scored twice in two minutes as Celtic fought back from behind to beat St Johnstone.
Shaun Rooney gave Saints a shock lead, putting the hosts on course for their first win over Celtic since 2016.
Edouard’s intervention 10 minutes later saved Celtic, who are 18 points behind leaders Rangers with a game in hand.
“He makes us better, there’s no doubt about that,” Lennon told BBC Scotland.
The win makes it four league wins in a row for Celtic, whose game in hand is against Aberdeen on Wednesday.
“They seem in a good place at the minute,” Lennon said. “The body language and the confidence is better, and Odsonne is in free flowing form. Even with the two goals I thought his all round play was superb.
“He’s just a good player, you can’t keep a good player down for long. He was maybe disappointed that things didn’t materialise the way he wanted to in the first half of the season. But he’s settled now. His all round game is top class at the moment. He makes us better, there’s no doubt about that.”
It is only St Johnstone’s second defeat in 10 games, both against the Old Firm.
Reaction & as it happened
Kristoffer Ajer and Shane Duffy put efforts over the bar in what was a slow start from Celtic, but they began to move through the gears the more the first half progressed.
Rooney got in sharply to deny Edouard, then the Frenchman’s low cross met Tom Rogic at the back post and Callum Booth had to clear off the line.
Celtic kept coming as St Johnstone struggled to get out of their own half. David Turnbull and Ryan Christie had efforts from outside the box, but goalkeeper Zander Clark remained largely untroubled. Celtic were dominating in every department, but couldn’t break the deadlock before half time.
St Johnstone had not scored at home against Celtic since February 2017 – a Dedryk Boyata own goal. When Duffy misjudged a cross, Craig Conway had a golden chance to end that barren run but the shot was poor and Scott Bain easily collected it.
However, they made no mistake when another opportunity arrived a minute later. Booth’s cross was perfect for Rooney, who outmuscled the Celtic defence and bulleted a header past the goalkeeper.
The home side were checking the history books as they eyed a first win over Celtic in nearly five years. But just 10 minutes later Christie skipped past Jason Kerr on the right-hand side and laid the ball on a plate for Edouard, who put Celtic back on level terms.
Within two minutes they led, Edouard collecting Greg Taylor’s ball, spinning the defender and goalkeeper, then slotting home.
After that, Celtic were the ones being pushed back. Chris Kane had a shot blocked and Glenn Middleton had a left-foot curler deflected wide.
Celtic freshened things up with the introduction of Leigh Griffiths and Mohamed Elyounoussi, but they could not add to their lead.
Man of the match – Ryan Christie
Ryan Christie and Callum Booth
Ryan Christie was pivotal in both goals as Celtic finally found a way to unlock the St Johnstone defence
What did we learn?
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson didn’t do a lot wrong. His side defended well in a first 45 minutes where Celtic tried everything to break them. And after weathering that storm they attacked with vigour in the second half.
But two moments of class from Celtic showed what they still have in their locker.
What did they say?
St Johnstone ‘disappointed’ not to claim something – Callum Davidson
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: “It’s a difficult one to take. What I will give my players credit for is they kept working. I’m really disappointed we didn’t take anything from the game.
“We’ve got some big games coming up. In the last eight weeks we’ve only lost to Rangers and Celtic, so we’ll take that positive mindset into them.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “The manner of the performance was very good. The reaction was top class and we scored two beautiful goals.
“On a really sticky pitch they looked like a real good football team today.”
Match ends, St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 2.
90’+4′
Full Time
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 2.
90’+3′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+3′
Post update
Foul by Callum Booth (St. Johnstone).
90’+1′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Gordon.
90′
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Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90′
Post update
Foul by Glenn Middleton (St. Johnstone).
89′
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Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89′
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Foul by Craig Bryson (St. Johnstone).
88′
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Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Kristoffer Ajer.
85′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie McCart.
83′
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Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83′
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Foul by Glenn Middleton (St. Johnstone).
83′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Michael O’Halloran replaces Jason Kerr.
79′
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Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79′
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Foul by Alistair McCann (St. Johnstone).
79′
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Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
79′
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Jamie McCart (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77′
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Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).
77′
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Jamie McCart (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces David Turnbull.
76′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Tomas Rogic.
75′
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Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).
75′
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Jason Kerr (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74′
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Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
73′
Booking
Ryan Christie (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
73′
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Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
73′
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Jason Kerr (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
72′
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Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72′
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Foul by Jason Kerr (St. Johnstone).
71′
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Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Brown.
71′
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Attempt blocked. Glenn Middleton (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
70′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Stevie May replaces Christopher Kane.
70′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Glenn Middleton replaces Craig Conway.
68′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Booth with a cross.
66′
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Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
66′
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Alistair McCann (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
65′
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Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
65′
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Callum Booth (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
63′
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Hand ball by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
Y
62′
Goal!
Goal! St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 2. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.
62′
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Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
62′
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Foul by Shaun Rooney (St. Johnstone).
60′
Goal!
Goal! St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.
58′
Booking
David Turnbull (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
58′
Post update
David Turnbull (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
58′
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Foul by Jason Kerr (St. Johnstone).
57′
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Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57′
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Foul by Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone).
56′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Christopher Kane.
50′
Goal!
Goal! St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 0. Shaun Rooney (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Booth with a cross.
48′
Post update
Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
48′
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Craig Bryson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
48′
Post update
Attempt missed. Craig Conway (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Shaun Rooney with a cross.
46′
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Attempt missed. Alistair McCann (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
46′
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Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
46′
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Craig Conway (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half
Second Half begins St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 0.
45’+1′
Half Time
First Half ends, St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 0.
45′
Post update
Offside, St. Johnstone. Alistair McCann tries a through ball, but Craig Bryson is caught offside.
43′
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Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).
43′
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Alistair McCann (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny.
38′
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Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
38′
Post update
Foul by Craig Bryson (St. Johnstone).
36′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny.
35′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Callum Booth.
34′
Post update
Attempt missed. David Turnbull (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tomas Rogic following a fast break.
32′
Post update
Attempt missed. Greg Taylor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Scott Brown with a headed pass.
31′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
25′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Shaun Rooney.
24′
Post update
Offside, St. Johnstone. Craig Bryson tries a through ball, but David Wotherspoon is caught offside.
24′
Post update
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
24′
Post update
Craig Conway (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
21′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jason Kerr.
21′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
19′
Post update
Attempt missed. Shane Duffy (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a set piece situation.
18′
Post update
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
18′
Post update
Foul by Callum Booth (St. Johnstone).
17′
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Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).
17′
Post update
Craig Conway (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
16′
Post update
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
16′
Post update
Foul by Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone).
15′
Post update
Offside, St. Johnstone. Jamie McCart tries a through ball, but Liam Gordon is caught offside.
14′
Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
14′
Post update
Craig Bryson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
11′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Bryson.
10′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alistair McCann.
8′
Post update
Attempt missed. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Shaun Rooney.
7′
Post update
Attempt missed. Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Shane Duffy following a corner.
7′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Gordon.
1′
Post update
Foul by Craig Conway (St. Johnstone).
1′
Post update
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Posted at 11:24 14 Feb11:24 14 Feb
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
…