2022-12-24: Celtic 4-1 St Johnstone, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2022 – 2023

Trivia

KO: 12:30; Saturday; Celtic TV PPV (Not on Sky Sports), Christmas Eve; last home match of the calendar year
Celtic remain 9pts in front of Sevco in league race. +19 GD too.
Ralston out injured. Hatate was right back for this game!
Doubles for Hatate and Kyogo. Red card for Turnbull after a kung fu kick!
Green Brigade display at Celtic Park during today’s St. Johnstone game in support of the “Enough is Enough” & “Solidarity with all Strikers” campaigns.Various union banners on display – such as the RMT, PCS & Unite. Gets standing ovation from the general support.
Banner also for Canadian Hungarian Jozsef Tornyos who was a big fan of the Celtcs at the Montreal Celtic FC.
Celtic and St Johnstone wearing their away colours to support NoHomeKits initiative by raising awareness for the growing number of people who do not have a safe or secure place to call home.
Ukrainian Families Welcomed to Celtic Park for Christmas Event
Ex-Celt Craig Gordon in a horror leg break in match for Hearts v Dundee Utd. Expected to end his playing career. We wish him the best.
Matt O’Riley has admitted he needs to contribute more at Celtic
Celtic release statement that they have signed 18 young players to the Celtic Youth Academy.
Report: Cristiano Ronaldo set to sign a 7-year deal with Saudi Arabia, worth £170m-a-year. The first two-and-a-half years as a player for Al-Nassr and the rest of the contract as an official ambassador for Saudi Arabia and their 2030 World Cup bid.
Nine Scottish clubs showing signs of financial distress, survey warns. There has been a 50 per cent rise in Scottish clubs showing signs of financial distress, according to a new report.
Pele’s cancer has progressed, a statement from the Sao Paulo hospital where the 82-year-old Brazil legend is being treated has confirmed. The three-time World Cup winner has been in hospital for three weeks.
Reports: Southampton monitoring Liel Abada’s situation but Celtic aim to fend off interest by opening talks with the winger over a new contract. Growing interest in Celtic forward Giorgos Giakoumakis. Celtic have placed Japanese midfielder Tomoki Iwata on a list of potential January signings.
Green Brigade: “In recent weeks, there has been an increased police presence in the North Curve concourse. Today, there has been a police appeal for info on fans in the North Curve. We remind all fans never to engage with the police and to resist any attempts to intrude in our area.”

Summary

Manager: “We were determined to deliver a good Christmas present for our supporters Firstly, I’m glad we’re sending our supporters home happy and they can enjoy Christmas Day tomorrow with their families.

JBJ712 of KDS:

Good day out at the football. Good win with the three points in the bag by half time.
Thought the starting eleven were far more direct whereas after the substitutions we were back clogging things up with passes for the sake of passing rather than looking to get in and score goals.
Nice to have such quibbles.
At the game from my seat it looked as though the keeper went in to Turnbull rather than the other way round.
However Clancy is a coward of the first order. About three time in the first half he brought back play and awarded StJ fouls this was never given in our favour. One in particular when Maeda won the ball and tried to play in Kyogo in the first but was blatantly pulled back was shocking.

McStay of KDS:

Great performance. The whole team were excellent but I thought Hatate, Mooy and CCV were the standout players.

I thought the Turnbull one was correct. As soon as he did it I knew he’d walk. Probably would’ve scored if he wasn’t such a shampoobag and went for it with his head.

Haven’t seen it back but my thoughts at the game were that Hart was shocking for their goal. It looked like he could’ve just caught the second shot and instead he palms it right out to their striker. If you’re gonna do that at least palm it wide.

O’Riley much better today. Did VAR even check his penalty shout in the second half? It looked exactly like the type of pen we often get given against us. Most recently at Tynecastle, for example.

Also a nice touch from the GB with their support for the strikers

Twitter:

@agentscotland: Much better balance to Celtic today, Forrest and Maeda are far more direct while also looking to hug the wings too and the middle of the park is just far less congested and it’s allowed the midfield to cut the Saintees open at will. Since the introduction of VAR Celtic have won every game (7) but they’ve only managed to win two of them by more than one goal and one of those was thanks to two injury time goals.Despite the wins it feels like there’s a lot of trepidation in their game, particularly 2nd half.

Leaving the game and some folk are actually trying to disagree with the Turnbull red card, I’ve got no doubt there wasn’t any intention at all to kick the keeper in the face but Jean-Claude Van Damme would’ve been proud of that, red all day long unless you’re on Christmas Spice

Teams

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

1Hart
41Hatate
20Carter-Vickers Booked at 33mins
4Starfelt
3Taylor
33O’Riley Substituted for Haksabanovic at 63′minutes
42McGregor
13MooyBooked at 13mins Substituted for Turnbull at 79′minutes; straight red at 90mins; (Dismissed at 90’+6 minutes)
9Forrest Substituted for Abada at 63′minutes
8Furuhashi Substituted for Giakoumakis at 68′minutes
38Maeda Substituted for Neves Filipe at 63′minutes

Substitutes

6Jenz
7Giakoumakis
9Haksabanovic
11Abada
14Turnbull
17Neves Filipe
25Bernabei
31Siegrist
50Lawal

Goals:

Hatate (14′ minutes, 52′ minutes),
Furuhashi (17′ minutes, 40′ minutes),

Assists:

Mooy (14′ minutes),
O’Riley (17′ minutes),
Forrest (40′ minutes),
McGregor (52′ minutes)

St Johnstone

Formation 5-3-2

1Matthews
14Wright
13McGowan
6Gordon
4Considine
2Brown
22Hallberg Substituted for Mitchell at 62′minutes
34PhillipsBooked at 16mins Substituted for MacPherson at 62′minutes
23Carey Substituted for Crawford at 79′minutes
37Clark Substituted for McLennan at 62′minutes
7May Substituted for Bair at 87′minutes

Substitutes

5Mitchell
10Wotherspoon
11O’Halloran
12Parish
17Bair
18MacPherson
21Crawford
26McLennan
29Murphy

Goals:

Wright (67′ minutes)

Assists:

Ref:Kevin Clancy
Att:58,635

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Celtic
St Johnstone

Possession: Home76%; Away24%

Shots: Home20; Away7

Shots on Target: Home10; Away3

Corners: Home9; Away1

Fouls: Home12; Away4

Articles

Celtic brush aside St Johnstone to restore nine-point lead at top of Scottish Premiership

Story by Sports Staff
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/celtic-brush-aside-st-johnstone-to-restore-nine-point-lead-at-top-of-scottish-premiership/ar-AA15Dwjc

Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi both bagged braces as Celtic restored their nine-point advantage at the top of the Premiership with a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone.

Hatate put Celtic ahead after 14 minutes before Furuhashi got in on the act, doubling the Hoops’ lead soon after and then grabbing his second just before the break when he tapped home from James Forrest’s square ball.

Celtic went four up shortly after half-time when makeshift right-back Hatate slotted into the far corner following a VAR check but St Johnstone pulled a goal back courtesy of Drey Wright’s rebound effort.

Some of the shine was taken away from Celtic’s performance in stoppage time when substitute David Turnbull was shown a red card for his challenge on goalkeeper Remi Matthews after another VAR check.

The win saw Celtic once again move nine points clear of second-placed Rangers, who beat Ross County 1-0 on Friday night thanks to John Lundstram’s first-half effort.

Also on Saturday, St Mirren came from behind to pick up their first win in five with a 3-1 victory over 10-man Aberdeen – despite the hosts missing two of their three penalties.

The Dons made a positive start when Matty Kennedy edged them in front after nine minutes but things turned sour when captain Anthony Stewart saw red in the 35th minute.
The challenge brought the first of St Mirren’s three spot-kicks, but Mark O’Hara saw his effort strike the woodwork. Fortunately for St Mirren though, the ball then bounced off goalkeeper Kelle Roos for an own goal to bring the scores level.

O’Hara made no mistake from the spot a second time as he gave his side a 53rd-minute lead but Jonah Ayunga spurned the chance to extend their advantage when he too failed to convert a penalty.

However, it did not cost the hosts in the end as Greg Kiltie sealed all three points when he rolled into an empty net following a counter attack after Aberdeen had sent keeper Roos up for a late corner.

Lawrence Shankland scored a last-gasp penalty to earn a point for Hearts in a 2-2 draw with Dundee United.

Steven Fletcher put the hosts in front after 20 minutes but Michael Smith’s effort from inside the area equalised for Hearts shortly before the break.

United regained their advantage through Dylan Levitt two minutes after half-time and thought they had all three points but, deep into stoppage time, Ross Graham brought Shankland down inside the area, and he picked himself up to dispatch the penalty and share the points.

Hibernian ended a run of four successive league defeats with a 4-0 thrashing of 10-man Livingston.

Livi’s nightmare started when Jason Holt was given his marching orders after just 15 minutes and Hibs went on to score three goals in just eight first-half minutes courtesy of Kevin Nisbet, Chris Cadden and Kyle Magennis.

Magennis added his second of the match five minutes after the break to end their losing streak in style, with Livi’s misery completed when they missed two late penalties through Esmael Goncalves and Jack Fitzwater.

Celtic reaction: Remarkable 91% stat, immature use of VAR, what makes this team abnormal

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-reaction-remarkable-91-stat-immature-use-of-var-what-makes-this-team-abnormal-3965986
Celtic were returned to their devastating selves with their 4-1 flogging of St Johnstone and we pick out three talking points from the match at Celtic Park.
Andrew Smith
By Andrew Smith
37 minutes ago
Celtic’s Callum McGregor takes the acclaim of the fans at full time.
Celtic’s Callum McGregor takes the acclaim of the fans at full time.
Postecoglou salvo had desired effect with incredible pass accuracy

Any manager who calls out his players for lack of “discipline” in getting on the end of crosses in the box, wants a reaction. Celtic’s Ange Postecolgou got one big-time with his team’s thumping win over the Perth club, that followed his dislike of so many forward aspects in their 2-1 win over Livingston at the same venue four days later. James Forrest and Daizen Maeda provided them the forward thrust in wide areas for the success that the players they replaced – more Jota than Liel Abada in this context – did not. Celtic swarmed over Callum Davidson’s men from the off. And even before Reo Hatate – his auxiliary right-back in the injury absence of Anthony Ralston – opened the scoring only 18 minutes in, it was a stick-on they would overwhelm their visitors. Forrest’s pristine use of the ball was central to that. No showboating, no over-cooking of attempts to fashion chances, he appeared to lose it only once during his 62 minutes on the field following a rare start. The upshot was Celtic converting a fifth of their 20 goal attempts – up from the mere eight per cent return across their previous five top flight outings. Most eye-catching in the difference Forrest made was that Celtic’s successful pass complexion rate was a remarkable 91%. Rarely will you see that figure bettered in senior football.
Immature use of VAR

It is offered with a heavy heart that Scottish officialdom’s deployment of VAR appears akin to a child given a complicated toy at Christmas that they plunge into using without reading the hefty instruction booklet. The desire of the arbiters of the rules not to end up guilty of missing anything feels as if it is leading to them getting involved unnecessarily. Rewatching the incident that led to David Turnbull’s 96th-minute red card, there was no sense he was guilty of ‘serious foul play’. Referee Kevin Clancy initially took this view, in showing the midfielder a yellow card for connecting with the face of keeper Remi Matthews with his boot as he leapt off the ground to meet a cross with eyes firmly on the ball. No-one, even of a St Johnstone disposition, would have felt ill-served by that outcome. Instead, the VAR operative considered Clancy required to the pitchside monitor in the belief that the ultimate sanction was demanded. Which he duly delivered to a ruefully scoffing Turnbull.
Astonishing consistency from Celtic

It is possible to become blase over how Postecoglou’s men are ploughing their way through their top-flight commitments. It ought to be recognised how abnormal it is for a top flight team to win 17 of their opening 18 league fixtures, though. Across the entire span of league football being contested in Scotland – which dates back to 1890-91 – it has only happened five times previously. Rangers had a perfect record in winning all 18 league games in the 10-team set-up of 1898-99. They then won all but one of their opening 18 league encounters in 1920-21. More recently, Celtic only dropped points in a solitary match of their first 18 top flight outings of 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2016-17. These, then, are heady times for the Parkhead club.

Ange Postecoglou explains jumper and tie gesture and has say on David Turnbull red card after 4-1 win over St Johnstone

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/ange-postecoglou-explains-jumper-and-tie-gesture-and-has-say-on-david-turnbull-red-card-after-4-1-win-over-st-johnstone-3965961
There was nothing for Ange Postecoglou to get shirty over as Celtic’s 4-1 slaying of St Johnstone proved adorned by all manner of final third finery.
Andrew Smith
By Andrew Smith
16 hours ago
1 Comment

And there was no way the Australian had any intentions of losing his white-pressed chemise as he turned a bearded man bearing the gifts of his outer-garments on Christmas Eve – following a success shorn of the penalty-box shortcomings that led him to castigate his players in the wake of their midweek victory over Livingston.

A pounding of the Perth men that restored the Scottish champions’ nine-point league lead was underpinned by two-goal Reo Hatate excelling in an unfamiliar right-back role. His fellow countryman Kyogo Furuhashi also bagged a double on an afternoon when Postecoglou’s grumbles were reserved for a 95th minute red card shown to David Turnbull. That resulted from referee Kevin Clancy being asked to consult the pitchside VAR monitor after Turnbull initially being shown a yellow for catching keeper Remi Matthews on the face with a high boot as the pair challenged for a high ball.

The dismissal had Posteocoglou furiously shaking his head in front of his technical area but he returned to being full of seasonal generosity on the subsequent lap round the stadium. Making the day of two supporters by giving away his famous black jumper and club tie. At which point, he joked, he could not traumatise any of the faithful by further disrobing.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou gives a young fan his jumper after the 4-1 win over St Johnstone. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou gives a young fan his jumper after the 4-1 win over St Johnstone. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

“There were a few with signs,” said the Celtic manager. “Obviously they want something from the players and the players had already gone past so I thought I would spread some goodwill and cheer with my jumper and tie. And I was stopping there because I wouldn’t have done anyone any favours after that. It’s an important time of the year. A lot of people in society have it tough at this time of the year but I’m sure our supporters, whatever troubles they may have, will be sitting around the Christmas table with smiles on their faces, and for us that’s really important.”

Celtic were sunnyside up from the early stages of a comprehensive win. James Forrest and Daizen Maeda in the wide roles – in place of Jota and Liel Adada – set the tone with forcing runs. Hatate claimed the opener, though, with an 18th minute drive that skiffed off Drey Wright on its way in. No.2 was the product of Matt O’Riley crossing from Kyogo Furuhashi to deftly touch in at the near post and it was 3-0 at the interval from a similar move: Aaron Mooy picking out Forrest on right, for the winger to sweep over and Furuhashi to first-time over the line.

A one-touch passing move involving Callum McGregor and Forrest, ended with the on-rushing Hatate being set up to rifle in his second just after the break – VAR effectively gave it after a lengthy check for a possible offside – and Postecoglou was effusive in his commendations for his emergency right-back. The 25-year-old filling in there as a result to an injury to Anthony Ralston while Josip Juranovic has yet to return following his exploits with smei-finalist Croatia in the World Cup.

“He was great. I had to get creative. To be fair, if it didn’t work, it would have been John Kennedy’s idea. I thought with the way we set up, you can disrupt the whole team and I thought the easiest thing for us was to put a player there who maybe wasn’t familiar with the position,” he said. “Reo has played left-back earlier in his career, which I knew from Japan, but he’s not a full-back, that’s for sure.

BBC
By Amy CanavanBBC Scotland

Last updated on

24 December 202224 December 2022.From the section Scottish Premiership
Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate claimed a brace by scoring either side of a Kyogo Furuhashi double

Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi scored two goals each as Celtic easily beat St Johnstone to regain a nine-point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

Kyogo’s close-range double followed Hatate’s opener after a defensive calamity from St Johnstone.

The makeshift full-back bagged his second after the break, before Drey Wright netted a consolation.

Celtic substitute David Turnbull was then sent off late on.

However, the midfielder’s high challenge on Remi Matthews came way too late to make any difference to the outcome as St Johnstone remain fifth.

Celtic were unbeaten in their last 24 meetings with St Johnstone and had the festive fever oozing out in search of a timely 25th.

The surprise parcel in Ange Postecoglou’s starting line-up saw Hatate filling in at right-back due to Anthony Ralston’s injury and Josip Juranovic’s recent World Cup exploits, but he made his presence known promptly.

In much more familiar territory on the edge of the box, he scooped up a slack clearance from Wright and steered it beyond Matthews, with help again from a Wright deflection.

Kyogo believed he nabbed the opener with a nearby nod but Kevin Clancy said Matthews palmed the effort away before it crossed the line. There were no doubts, however, with his first-half, close-range double.

Matt O’Riley’s flashed cross into the front post was flicked in before he placed the finishing touch on a frantically fantastic move. Aaron Mooy’s defence-splitting pass into James Forrest was then put on a plate for the Japanese striker to tie the move off with a bow.

Hatate made it four when he latched on to a threaded through pass before sneaking the ball by Matthews. The wait for confirmation, though, was lengthy but an incorrect offside flag was overturned.

Against the grain, Saints pulled one back in impressive fashion. Stevie May’s shot after brilliantly bringing down a lob called Joe Hart into action, with the Celtic goalkeeper allowing Wright a go before gifting him a second bite at the cherry where he made no mistake.

Celtic called in the attacking cavalry on an afternoon wrapped up by Turnbull’s red card for a high boot on Matthews in stoppage time.
Player of the match – Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate, tasked with playing out of position, still managed to bag a brace and get in and about the action in the attacking end for Celtic. Despite being pushed back, he was influential as ever.
Celtic pulled a Christmas cracker while St Johnstone snapped – Analysis

Postecoglou noted in midweek that he was not too happy with the performance against Livingston and was in search of a reaction… his side delivered.

Celtic have so many strings to their bow. When required, they can be patient in their play, bide their time in stretching and exhausting their opposition before pouncing – as was the case against Aberdeen last week.

This showing was much more of what the Australian will want to see, as will the fans. There was a zip, a swagger and a confidence among the Celtic ranks. When they’re in that kind of mood, they have total control of the affair.

St Johnstone were up against it from the off. The qualities the hosts decided to dip into would have had many sides battling.

At times, their defending was resolute, and Callum Davidson will surely find comfort that it took for cutely crafted manoeuvres to break them down.

The six-game unbeaten run may have ended, but the Saints’ season certainly won’t be judged on trips to Celtic Park.
What did they say?
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou reacts after his side’s Premiership win over St Johnstone

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “Our role is to try and keep improving our players and point out areas we can be better and today we just looked a lot hungrier with a real intent and purpose to score goals and put pressure on the opposition.

“Never at any stage have I felt like complacency is creeping in or they feel like they don’t need to do more, they are almost demanding it from us, that we continually push them to be better.”

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: “I didn’t want to sit in for the whole game. We were trying to get the right balance between pressing and dropping off. I thought at times we done it well and at others, not so well. When it becomes 3-0 and Celtic have hurt you a bit you think, what do we do?

“I am really proud of the lads character in the second half. It would have been easy to put the heads down but we kept battling, trying to do the right things and I am really pleased we got a goal – I thought we deserved it.”

Match ends, Celtic 4, St. Johnstone 1.
90’+10′

Full Time

Second Half ends, Celtic 4, St. Johnstone 1.

90’+9′

Post update

Attempt missed. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Reo Hatate.
90’+7′

Post update

Offside, St. Johnstone. Remi Matthews tries a through ball, but Connor McLennan is caught offside.
90’+6′

Dismissal

David Turnbull (Celtic) is shown the red card.
90’+5′

Post update

VAR Decision: Card upgraded David Turnbull (Celtic).
90’+4′

Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90’+2′

Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Remi Matthews (St. Johnstone).
90’+2′

Post update

Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).
90’+2′

Post update

Remi Matthews (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+1′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Drey Wright.
90′

Post update

Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′

Post update

Foul by Andrew Considine (St. Johnstone).
89′

Post update

Attempt missed. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by David Turnbull.
89′

Post update

Attempt missed. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Liel Abada.
88′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
87′

Post update

Attempt missed. Carl Starfelt (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.
87′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Johnstone. Theo Bair replaces Stevie May.
87′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Remi Matthews.
87′

Post update

Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Liel Abada with a through ball.

83′

Post update

Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jota with a cross.
81′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by James Brown.

80′

Post update

Foul by Sead Haksabanovic (Celtic).
80′

Post update

Cameron MacPherson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Johnstone. Alister Crawford replaces Graham Carey.
79′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. David Turnbull replaces Aaron Mooy.
78′

Post update

Attempt missed. Cameron MacPherson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan McGowan following a corner.
78′

Post update

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
72′

Post update

Reo Hatate (Celtic) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Liel Abada following a fast break.
70′

Post update

Reo Hatate (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
70′

Post update

Foul by Graham Carey (St. Johnstone).
69′

Post update

Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.
69′

Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
68′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Giorgos Giakoumakis replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.
68′

Post update

VAR Decision: Goal Celtic 4-1 St. Johnstone (Drey Wright).
67′
Goal!

Goal! Celtic 4, St. Johnstone 1. Drey Wright (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
66′

Post update

Attempt saved. Drey Wright (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
66′

Post update

Attempt saved. Stevie May (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Mitchell.
64′

Post update

Foul by Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic).
64′

Post update

Connor McLennan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

63′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Sead Haksabanovic replaces Matt O’Riley.
63′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Jota replaces Daizen Maeda.

63′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Liel Abada replaces James Forrest.
62′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Johnstone. Alex Mitchell replaces Melker Hallberg.
62′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Johnstone. Connor McLennan replaces Nicky Clark.
62′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Johnstone. Cameron MacPherson replaces Daniel Phillips.
60′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Gordon.
59′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Melker Hallberg.
57′

Post update

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daizen Maeda.
56′

Post update

Offside, Celtic. James Forrest tries a through ball, but Greg Taylor is caught offside.
55′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Gordon.
54′

Post update

VAR Decision: Goal Celtic 4-0 St. Johnstone (Reo Hatate).
52′
Goal!

Goal! Celtic 4, St. Johnstone 0. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum McGregor.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
49′

Post update

Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
49′

Post update

Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half

Second Half begins Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 0.
45’+2′

Half Time

First Half ends, Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 0.
43′

Post update

Offside, Celtic. Greg Taylor tries a through ball, but Daizen Maeda is caught offside.
40′
Goal!

Goal! Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 0. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Forrest.
38′

Post update

Attempt saved. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Forrest.

38′

Post update

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
36′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Aaron Mooy (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Carl Starfelt.

34′

Post update

Foul by Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic).
34′

Post update

Daniel Phillips (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33′

Booking

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
33′

Post update

Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
33′

Post update

Stevie May (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Stevie May.
32′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Stevie May (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
27′

Post update

Matt O’Riley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
27′

Post update

Foul by Andrew Considine (St. Johnstone).
25′

Post update

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
23′

Post update

Foul by Reo Hatate (Celtic).
23′

Post update

Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20′

Post update

Offside, St. Johnstone. Drey Wright tries a through ball, but Nicky Clark is caught offside.
17′
Goal!

Goal! Celtic 2, St. Johnstone 0. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
16′

Booking

Daniel Phillips (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
16′

Post update

Daizen Maeda (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
16′

Post update

Foul by Daniel Phillips (St. Johnstone).
14′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 0. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.

13′

Booking

Aaron Mooy (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
13′

Post update

Foul by Aaron Mooy (Celtic).

13′

Post update

Ryan McGowan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12′

Post update

Foul by James Forrest (Celtic).
12′

Post update

James Brown (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10′

Post update

Attempt missed. Stevie May (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Graham Carey with a cross following a set piece situation.
9′

Post update

Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
9′

Post update

Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
7′

Post update

Attempt missed. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum McGregor with a cross.
5′

Post update

Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
5′

Post update

James Brown (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5′

Post update

Attempt saved. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aaron Mooy with a cross.
5′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Drey Wright.
4′

Post update

Foul by Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic).
4′

Post update

James Brown (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
3′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Melker Hallberg.
2′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Gordon.
Kick Off

First Half begins.
Posted at 12:57 24 Dec

Post update

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.