Celtic 3-1 St Johnstone

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland

Celtic began the process of healing the wounds inflicted by Malmo with a professionally executed victory over St Johnstone.

The day threatened to go badly for Ronny Deila's team as they fell behind to an early Dedryck Boyata own goal.

But Leigh Griffiths soon had them level and Tom Rogic put them in front before the break.

Charlie Mulgrew replaced injured Celtic captain Scott Brown and wrapped up the points with the third goal.

The victory lifts the reigning champions a point above Hearts in the Scottish Premiership table after the Edinburgh side lost their 100% record with a defeat away to Hamilton Academical.

This was a test of Celtic's character, with the midweek Champions League exit fresh in the memory.

A supporters' banner pre-match read: "Gutless in Malmo, clueless in boardroom", so an air of dissatisfaction was certainly evident.

Questions had been raised about the strength of the team's mettle and that came into sharp focus as St Johnstone sent a shudder round the stadium with the opening goal.

Michael O'Halloran raced down the right and fired in a cross Emilio Izaguirre was unable to block.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon allowed the ball to slip past him and off the unsuspecting Boyata before trundling into the net.

Celtic captain Scott Brown went off injured and will be a worry for Scotland

As Celtic passes again went astray, rumblings of discontent could be heard, but only until Griffiths got in on the act.

Moments after watching Tam Scobbie volley his header off the line, the striker fired a ferocious shot from the edge of the box that deflected off Scobbie and was too powerful for Alan Mannus to keep out.

The game was a good, even contest, but Celtic edged in front just before the break, with Rogic robbing Murray Davidson of possession on the goal-line and easily skipping past Dave Mackay before rifling past the goalkeeper.

Celtic lost captain Brown to injury midway through the second half - a concern for Scotland manager Gordon Strachan before next weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier - but his replacement Mulgrew extended Celtic's advantage.

Mannus saved superbly from an outstanding Kris Commons effort with the outside of his left foot, but from the resultant corner, Virgil van Dijk headed down and Mulgrew nodded over the line.

St Johnstone were always competitive but barely threatened Gordon's goal in the second half, save for a close-range shot off the top of the bar by substitute John Sutton.

However, in the closing moments, the keeper showed his brilliance, first pushing away a free kick from Liam Craig and then producing a phenomenal double-save from O'Halloran and Sutton to ensure no late concerns for the home support.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Celtic

01 Gordon
22 Janko
20 Boyata
05 van Dijk
03 Izaguirre
06 Bitton (McGregor - 87' )
08 Brown (Mulgrew - 59' )
15 Commons (Allan - 77' )
18 Rogic
16 Mackay-Steven
09 Griffiths

Substitutes

04 Ambrose
10 Stokes
19 Allan
21 Mulgrew
26 Bailly
42 McGregor
49 Forrest

St Johnstone

01 Mannus
14 Shaughnessy
02 Mackay
03 Scobbie
24 B Easton
10 Wotherspoon
07 Millar
08 Davidson (Craig - 45' )
29 O'Halloran
18 Cummins (Kane - 81' )
09 MacLean (Sutton - 68' )

Substitutes

04 Lappin
11 Sutton
12 Clark
15 McKay
16 Caddis
25 Kane
26 Craig

Ref: John Beaton

Att: 42,507

Match Stats

Possession62 38

Shots

23 6

On target

8 3

Corners

8 9

Fouls

16 9

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 1.

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 1.

90:00 +3:48

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Mackay.

90:00 +3:26

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Craig Gordon.

90:00 +3:16

Attempt saved. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

90:00 +2:57

Attempt saved. Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

90:00 +2:29

Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).

90:00 +2:29

Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +2:00

Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Craig Gordon.

90:00 +1:47

Attempt saved. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

90:00 +1:02

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).

90:00 +1:02

Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +0:30

Attempt missed. Scott Allan (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

90:00 +0:15

Attempt missed. Scott Allan (Celtic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left.

88:08

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

88:08

Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.

86:39

Attempt blocked. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

86:04 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces Nir Bitton.

85:38

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

85:38

Foul by David Mackay (St. Johnstone).

80:11 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, St. Johnstone. Christopher Kane replaces Graham Cummins.

79:01

Attempt missed. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

78:40

Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).

78:40

Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

77:59

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

76:40 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Kris Commons.