Trivia
- League Cup Quarter-finals
- Comes just a few days after losing to Kilmarnock in the league with Celtic now incredibly 1pts behind Sevco and Hearts top of the league.
- Celtic struggle but overcome St Johnstone, Celtic to play Hearts in Semi-finals, Sevco v Aberdeen in other match. Question is as both Celtic & Sevco play on Thursday past how will they allocated the two games in the weekend for TV and location. Update: Both Betfred Cup semi-finals will be played at
- Hampden on the same day.Aberdeen v Rangers will kick off at noon on Sunday 28 October.Hearts v Celtic will then follow at 7.45pm.
- Griffiths the hero again with another goal.
- Rodgers on Boyata: “It is a stupid red card. He has got enough opportunities to not get sent off. He feels as if he should have got a free-kick and didn’t get it,” said Rodgers.
- Ex-Celt Jim Brogan has passed away, 1944-2018. Played in 1970 European Cup final with Celtic. An unsung hero. RIP
- Graeme Morrison (Morrie) who was Captain of the reserves in early 90s and was a top Bhoy, passed away 25 Sep 2018, aged just 41 due to pancreatic cancer, RIP http://www.celticfc.net/news/15018
- Liam Miller (RIP) tribute match played in Cork on Tuesday past between two invitation sides managed by ex-Celts Martin O'Neill & Roy Keane. Funds raised to help support his family and related causes. Match played at a GAA ground.
- Tommy Burns tribute film (documentary by purpleTV for BBC Alba) aired on BBC, very well made and worth digging out.
- "I think about countries with great footballing heritage. I think about Scottish football, about Celtic, about the great Ajax team of the 1970s, Portuguese football too with Benfica. Tremendous countries, tremendous heritage… but slowly dying." Juventus president Andrea Agnelli
- Ex-Sevco player Kris Boyd claiming Celtic team is divided, Rodgers swats the criticisms away
Review
(Jimmy Mac of KDS)
We started the first half trying to play more quickly and direct that fizzled out after about 15 minutes and we regressed back to slow ponderous football. Still we created two clear chances and should have been ahead at half-time. In the second half the football was much better and more like what we want to see. The football was quicker and more direct and we created more than enough chances to win the game comfortably. I thought Forrest made a big difference with his driving runs forward either on the outside or coming into the middle of the park, it really put St Johnstone on the back foot. I liked the look of Morgan. He was taking up good positions and looked willing to take men on and there is one run in particular were thought he was going to get a shot of and score one of the goals from his vid reels. Griffiths could have had a hat-trick but what you can't fault him on is his instinct to be in the right place.Ntchamlooked like he had turned up in the second half and made us more dynamic with his movement and willingness to move the ball forward. The goal had quality written on it. The through ball from Rogic to Tierney was sublime and Tierney's cross found a man and if we haven't scored I would have been looking for a penalty.
On the negative side Edouardhad one good crossin the first half but looked very hesitant for the rest of his time on the park. There is definitely a lack of confidence there but if we can continue improving as a team then I am sure he will come good again but at the moment is adding nothing.Bainat the death nearly dropped us in it with a severe lack of judgement. A rush of blood due to lack of game time?
As for the sending off, Boyatalost it and his behaviour is below what I'd expect from one of our players. The laws of the game are clear and he had plenty of opportunity to shut up and walk away but he continued and I think the ref had no alternative. Just because other incidents in other matches have or have notreceived cards and red cards have been overturned dubiously, should not detract from the fact that he lost it and could have cost us the match. Even more disappointing is that none of our players tried to calm him down.
Teams
St Johnstone
- 1Clark
- 19Foster
- 15Kerr
- 5Shaughnessy
- 3Tanser
- 28Callachan
- 7WrightSubstituted forSwansonat 66'minutes
- 4Alston
- 26CraigSubstituted forMcMillanat 85'minutes
- 10Wotherspoon
- 32WattSubstituted forKaneat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Anderson
- 9Kane
- 11Swanson
- 12Mitchell
- 16McMillan
- 17Nydam
- 33Kennedy
Celtic
- 29Bain
- 23Lustig
- 20BoyataBooked at 90mins; red card
- 35AjerSubstituted forHendryat 33'minutes
- 63TierneyBooked at 86mins
- 8Brown
- 21Ntcham
- 49Forrest
- 22EdouardSubstituted forMorganat 65'minutes
- 42McGregorSubstituted forRogicat 75'minutes
- 9Griffiths
Substitutes
- 1Gordon
- 4Hendry
- 11Sinclair
- 16Morgan
- 17Christie
- 18Rogic
- 27Mulumbu
Goals
Referee:John Beaton
Attendance:5,635
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
Stats
St JohnstoneAway TeamCeltic
Possession
Home37%
Away63%
Shots
Home8
Away21
Shots on Target
Home3
Away7
Corners
Home1
Away13
Fouls
Home3
Away14
Match Report
St Johnstone 0-1 Celtic: Griffiths the hero as Hoops see off Saints
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/st-johnstone-0-1-celtic-griffiths-the-hero-as-hoops-see-off-saints-1-4805896
Andrew Smith
Report
Reports of Celtic’s demise may have proven somewhat exaggerated. For now, at least.
There was nothing particularly commanding about the display that sent them through to the Betfred Cup semi-final, but in rediscovering their forcing and foraging qualities during a chancefest of a second period they got the job done. In doing so they relieve the pressure that had been building on them and their manager Brendan Rodgers.
A third goal in as many games for Leigh Griffiths – the only scorer for Celtic across their past three encounters – six minutes from normal time was enough to see off opponents who clung on and no more as the tie wore on.
Nothing runs entirely smoothly for the double treble winners these days, it would appear. And on the night of Rodgers’ 20th straight domestic cup win that extended to the loss of Dedryck Boyata to a straight red-card in the 90th minute for what appeared to be his transgression of giving a mouthful to referee John Beaton.
Rodgers’ has experienced a buffeting in recent times over an “indifferent” start to the season but a pre-match radio interview in which he revealed he turned down an offer to coach in China, believed to be worth a staggering sum, appeared to be a means to illustrate an unbending commitment to his position.
Celtic’s inability to rouse themselves from the rut of repetitively meandering performances certainly couldn’t be considered the consequence of being all-too-committed to keeping certain player in their positions. As he had for the loss against Kilmarnock at the weekend, the Irishman made six changes to his team for last night’s trip to Perth.
He tweaked the system in departing from his orthodoxy of a central striker in essentially field two forwards. Odsonne Edouard playing wide on the left with Leigh Griffiths through the middle. Pivotal performers from the previous two seasons such as Callum McGregor and James Forrest were also reinstated after the weekend. Yet all these alterations made not one whit of difference in the early stages. Celtic were ponderous with their shuttling of the ball passive rather than penetrating.
Rodgers may have given Kris Boyd a flea in his ear for effectively suggesting that teams now know how to play Celtic, and that the Scottish champions are not playing for each other with divides in their camp. The Kilmarnock striker maintained teams believe they can sit deep in the knowledge that Celtic will not be able to play through them. His criticisms seemed valid again in the opening stages last night. A Perth side entitled to be feeling vulnerable after their 5-1 loss away to Rangers on Sunday, were content to stay compact and let Celtic play the ball in front of them.
The upshot was a first half hour that lacked the fizz expected of a to-the-death cup tie. It had all the effervescence of a bottle of milk, indeed, as St |Johnstone demonstrated little interest in creating openings as their visitors were gripped by an inability to do so.
The pattern began to change in the 30th minute. An Edouard diagonal ball in from left flank found Griffiths right on top of Zander Clark inside the six yard box. However, as the Scotland international tried to glance a header downwards, his proximity to the keeper resulted in him directing it straight into the body of the St Johnstone no.1.
Shortly afterwards Celtic lost Kristoffer Ajer when he was left clutching his hamstring following a collision. As he limped off, the travelling support stopped singing about the IRA and groaned at the appearance of his replacement Jack Hendry, who they have come to consider a symptom of all their team’s ills.
The period ended with what should have been an opening goal for Rodgers men, McGregor sent through by a perfectly-weighted ball from Ntcham. The midfielder had time to set himself at the left-hand edge of the area but, with only Clark to beat, he inexplicably tugged a low shot wide of the far post.
As Celtic suddenly discovered an energy and thrust following the break, it was only their inability to beat the St Johnstone keeper that kept the home side in the tie. Three times in the opening minutes of the period Clark was required to extend himself to deny opponents who had thrown off their self-imposed shackles. He smartly pushed a low drive from McGregor round the post, and was then quickly flying to his left again to claw away an arcing effort from Ntcham, before repeating the acrobatics to thwart Griffiths.
Celtic’s encampment in the St Johnstone final third thereafter seemed as if it couldn’t fail to produce a goal. Yet, as the final minutes approached, this had eluded them, with another one-on-one crafted by a Griffiths run in behind the defence inspiring another superb Clark block, on this occasion with his outstretched foot.
The Perth club could not continue to survive, though, and in the 84th minute their defences were finally breached when a Tierney cross scooped in from left led to a Forrest header being blocked on line by Scott Tanser. Amid appeals for penalty, Griffiths rammed the ball in from eight yards for his third goal in as many games.
St Johnstone: Foster, Kerr, Shaughnessy, Tanser; Craig; Wotherspoon, Callachan, Alston, Wright (Swanson 66) ; Watt (Kane 46). Subs: Mitchell, Anderson, McMillan, Nydam, Kennedy.
Celtic: Bain; Lustig, Boyata, Ajer (Hendry 34), Tierney; Brown; Forrest, Ntcham, McGregor (Rogic 75); Griffiths, Edouard (Morgan 66). Subs: Gordon, Mulumbu, Christie, Sinclair.
Referee: John Beaton
Attendance: 5635
BBC
Holders Celtic edged into the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup as Leigh Griffiths' 83rd-minute goal earned a nervy win over St Johnstone.
Brendan Rodgers' side are enduring their worst start to a term since 1998 and toiled for chunks of this match.
However, Griffiths was their saviour for the second time in six days when he turned in from six yards.
Celtic face Hearts in the last four as Rodgers aims for his seventh trophy in seven attempts since taking charge.
The Scottish champions finished with 10 men after Dedryck Boyata was shown a red card for foul and abusive language, while fellow centre-back Kristoffer Ajer limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Rodgers has spoken at length about confidence in the past few weeks – he knows it has been in short supply for a group of players who had endless amounts of the stuff over the past couple of years.
He mentioned it again before this game and once again it was in short supply at key times.
The first half was worryingly familiar for the Celtic fans huddled into both stands behind the goals – lots of side-to-side football and a head-scratching inability to break down a very organised St Johnstone.
It took a full half an hour for the visitors to create a chance and Griffiths should have scored from it. He rose to meet an excellent Odsonne Edouard cross but could only head into the feet of Zander Clark.
Another player usually bursting with confidence squandered an even better chance at the end of the first half. Callum McGregor skipped through on goal from an Olivier Ntcham through ball but the usually dependable midfielder could only fire wide.
After the break, Clark tipped a McGregor toe poke around a post before pulling off an acrobatic save from a fierce Ntcham shot moments later. Suddenly the away support started to make some noise as their side started to turn the screw.
The tempo was up and the swagger was back as Clark was once again forced to save, this time from a long range McGregor strike that was looked destined for the top corner.
Saints remain focused though and they had to. Griffiths broke free and once again should have scored, Clark again saved with his feet.
But he was not to be denied. Just like against Rosenborg in the Europa League last Thursday. James Forrest's header was deflected inside the box but when it dropped to Griffiths, he fired low into the net. It was well deserved.
Celtic have so often in recent weeks stumbled against well drilled, determined sides. St Johnstone certainly fall into that category but eventually succumbed to the pressure. What might that do psychologically for the holders?
The second-half swagger witnessed in Perth must be taken into the rest of the season, but battling through when extra time was looming may just provide the platform to do just that.
Rodgers says hard work and belief will see them through their mini slump. The trophy that has kick-started two trebles was at stake against St Johnstone and his side fought for it.
Now they must regroup and fight for the rest. Relief all round for Celtic and something to smile about at last.
Posted at
Match ends, St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 1.
Full Time
Posted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 1.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt missed. Joe Shaughnessy (St. Johnstone) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Dismissal
Posted at 90'
Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) is shown the red card.
Posted at 90'
Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Blair Alston (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Posted at 89'
Attempt saved. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 87'
Richard Foster (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Posted at 86'
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Posted at 86'
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 86'
Attempt saved. David McMillan (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Posted at 85'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. David McMillan replaces Liam Craig.
Goal!
Posted at 83'
Goal! St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Posted at 80'
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 80'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Jack Hendry (Celtic).
Posted at 78'
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 77'
Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Posted at 75'
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Callum McGregor.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a fast break.
Posted at 73'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 72'
Attempt missed. Lewis Morgan (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Jack Hendry (Celtic) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Posted at 70'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Wotherspoon.
Posted at 68'
Ross Callachan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 67'
Attempt missed. Lewis Morgan (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Posted at 66'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Danny Swanson replaces Drey Wright.
Substitution
Posted at 65'
Substitution, Celtic. Lewis Morgan replaces Odsonne Edouard.
Posted at 64'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Tanser.
Posted at 62'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Callachan.
Posted at 61'
Attempt missed. Blair Alston (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 60'
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 60'
Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Posted at 60'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Drey Wright.
Posted at 54'
Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 53'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at 53'
Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 53'
Attempt saved. Blair Alston (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 52'
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 51'
Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) hits the bar with a header from very close range following a corner.
Posted at 51'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Tanser.
Posted at 49'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at 49'
Attempt saved. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 48'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at 48'
Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Posted at 45'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Christopher Kane replaces Tony Watt.
Second Half
Posted at
Second Half begins St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 0.
Half Time
Posted at 45'+3'
First Half ends, St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 0.
Posted at 45'+2'
Callum McGregor (Celtic) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box.
Posted at 45'
Attempt missed. Blair Alston (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Posted at 43'
Tony Watt (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 43'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 41'
Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Posted at 41'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Blair Alston.
Posted at 41'
Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 40'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Drey Wright.
Posted at 37'
Tony Watt (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 37'
Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
Posted at 35'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Brown.
Substitution
Posted at 33'
Substitution, Celtic. Jack Hendry replaces Kristoffer Ajer because of an injury.
Posted at 31'
Delay in match Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) because of an injury.
Posted at 30'
Foul by Tony Watt (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 30'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 30'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 28'
Jason Kerr (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 28'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 26'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Richard Foster.
Posted at 19'
Richard Foster (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 19'
Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Posted at 18'
Attempt saved. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 17'
Drey Wright (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 17'
Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
Posted at 15'
Tony Watt (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 15'
Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
Posted at 9'
Attempt missed. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Posted at 8'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
Posted at 8'
Attempt blocked. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 8'
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Posted at 8'
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 7'
Hand ball by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).
Posted at 4'
Ross Callachan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 4'
Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).
Posted at 2'
Richard Foster (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 2'
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Kick Off
Posted at
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.