Celtic 0 St Johnstone 0: Hoops go top but are BOOED off as draw builds pressure on Rodgers

May 07, 2024

CELTIC went top of the table - but were booed off as bottom-of-the-table St Johnstone took a deserved point home from Parkhead.

Perth boss Steven MacLean scored when Saints last beat Celtic – a 2-1 win in May 2016 before Brendan Rodgers’ first term in charge had even started.

But even though they’d won 23 of the 26 meetings since, Celtic never looked like opening up a strong-willed Saints side – and Celtic had Joe Hart to thank for two second-half saves to avoid a humiliating defeat.

The veteran keeper thwarted Dara Costelloe and Stevie May as Saints hit the home side on the break during a second period that saw the home support grow increasingly angry at their side’s feeble attacks.

The result was Celtic’s first home goalless draw since October 2021 and was greeted with furious jeers from the home support – the ones who’d hung around till the end, that is.

Credit to St Johnstone though.

The result would’ve busted coupons up and down the land – but they deserved their point for a fine defensive performance.

After the Viaplay Cup exit at Kilmarnock, home boss Rodgers made four changes, Tony Ralston, Maik Nawrocki, Odin Holm and Liel Abada all dropping out.

Full-back Alistair Johnston returned for his first game since playing for Canada against the U.S.A in Las Vegas in June, while Liam Scales was in for his first Celtic appearance since the Europa Conference loss to Bodo Glimt 17 months ago.

David Turnbull came into the side, as did Hyunjun Yang, who made his first start after three sub appearances.

As he’d hinted he might, Saints boss MacLean also rung the changes following the limp loss at Ross County two weeks ago.

Midfielders Costelloe and Jay Turner-Cooke as well as left-back Luke Robinson all came in for their St Johnstone debuts, with Luke Jephcott also recalled.

Liam Gordon, Ryan McGowan, Cammy Ballantyne and Stevie May made way.

But as anticipated, Celtic started the stronger. Kyogo sent an effort over from Johnston’s cross, Saints skipper Phillips blocked Turnbull’s effort, then keeper Dimitar Mitov did well to send Matt O’Riley’s drive into the air, with the keeper completing the save at the second attempt.

The Danish under-21 star – targeted by Serie A Bologna – came closer after 26 minutes when skipper Callum McGregor rolled a teasing ball into his path.

It seemed certain the net would bulge, but he fired the ball too close to Mitov and the Bulgarian keeper saved with his legs.

Turnbull and Daizen Maeda both ballooned efforts miles off target as Celtic struggled to get through a packed and resolute St Johnstone defence.

Sam McClelland’s challenge on Turnbull led to a Celtic corner, and when it was cleared back to Turnbull his cross went harmlessly into the arms of Mitov, to the frustration of the home support.

Just as irritating to an increasingly-restless home support was the way Mitov fell to the ground every time he clutched the ball, in an obvious effort to waste a few seconds.

But the truth was that Celtic had looked slack and sluggish throughout a first-half they’d dominated but failed to show anything in the way of a cutting edge.

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Fortune smiled on the home side when Oludare Olufunwa’s clearance cannoned off Phillips for a home corner – just the kind of wretched misfortune which can happen to sides struggling the way Saints are.

But like so much of Celtic’s tepid first-half display, it came to nothing.

Celtic had failed to score in the first half of a domestic fixture at home only twice in all of last season so the fact St Johnstone’s industrious display had restricted them in the opening 45 must have been satisfying to the manager of the side at the bottom of the Premiership table.

The second-half began in a familiar pattern – Celtic carving an opening which O’Riley missed. Once again Johnston’s athleticism created room on the Celtic right, once again it was the midfielder he picked out – and once again the midfielder patted a weak finish against Mitov.

Saints would say it was a goalkeeper making himself big to deny the Celt – but it looked a negligent finish by the Dane.

Stevie MacLean, perhaps sensing a disciplined performance could get even better, sent on Stevie May as well as James Brown, with Jephcott and Olufunwa making way.

Rodgers also made a trio of changes, with Abada, Haksabanovic and Ralston all coming on.

The Montenegrin was immediately involved, finding room on the Saints right and sending a tempting cross over to the far post – but O’Riley blazed it over the top.

Haksabanovic looked like a player with a point to prove and he tested his fellow Balkan in the Saints goal with a low drive which Mitov did well to touch around the post.

Saints hadn’t registered a shot at goal but after 72 minutes they did – and the home side were grateful to Joe Hart’s instinctive reactions.

Costelloe got the better of Scales, flicking the ball over the defender and manoeuvring himself into position to fire in a shot which the former England keeper deflected wide with a strong hand.

Kyogo Furuhashi had seldom been sighted but he got on the end of a cross from sub James Forrest – but could do more than screw it wide of the post.

However St Johnstone had the whiff of glory in their nostrils and eight minutes from the end they again tested Hart.

Graham Carey sent May clear and the home keeper blocked his left-foot drive – then Carey’s chip from the rebound sailed harmlessly wide.

Celtic surged back into attack and Ralston’s cross picked out Forrest – but his header sailed over the top, as did defender Gustaf Lagerbielke’s as the 90 minutes drew to a close.

Fourth official Chris Fordyce signalled eight minutes of added time but Celtic continued to look ponderous.

Only an Abada drive, easily saved by Mitov, threatened to break the deadlock and Saints fully merited their unexpected point.

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