Saints 1-4 Celtic

The league leaders got the breakthrough on 13 minutes as Andy Considine turned the ball into his own net from a Kyogo Furuhashi cross.

Furuhashi then doubled Celtic’s lead 9 minutes later as he turned the ball home following a Jota cross into the Saints box.

However, Saints pulled a goal back on 25 minutes thanks to a fine strike from Drey Wright.

The Bhoys though regained their two-goal advantage with 7 minutes of the first half remaining as Aaron Mooy chipped the ball over Remi Matthews.

David Turnbull then scored a fourth for The Bhoys in stoppage time after Considine had been sent off for hauling down Hyeon-Gyu Oh on the edge of the box.

Saints are back in action in a fortnight when they take on Dundee United at Tannadice, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Celtic were the visitors to McDiarmid Park this lunchtime as Saints looked to build on Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Motherwell at Fir Park. There were four changes to the Saints side which started against The Steelmen as James Brown, Tony Gallacher, Graham Carey and Connor McLennan came in to replace Liam Gordon, Melker Hallberg and Nicky Clark, whilst Adam Montgomery missed out as he couldn’t play against his parent club. Three first half goals saw Celtic run out 3-0 winners at home to Livingston on Wednesday evening and manager Ange Postecoglou made one change to his staring eleven as Matt O’Riley dropped to the bench and he was replaced by Aaron Mooy.

Connor McLennan got the match underway for Saints and Callum Davidson’s side made a positive start to the match as they showed good organisation and intent as they looked to ask questions of the league leaders in the opening exchanges.

Celtic got their first sight of goal on 10 minutes as Aaron Mooy’s corner from the left was met by Carl Starfelt however, his effort was deflected behind for another corner by James Brown.

Then 3 minutes later Celtic took the lead. A good passing move by The Bhoys saw Mooy gather the ball on the edge of the box and he then slipped it into the advancing Kyogo Furuhashi who then tried to pick out Reo Hatate with his low cross across the box however, it took a wicked deflection off the left foot of Andy Considine to divert the ball into the net.

The visitors then doubled their lead on 22 minutes. Mooy’s long ball forward picked out Jota and the Portuguese winger did well to beat the offside trap and he broke down the right channel, dribbling the ball into a crossing position, which was met by Furuhashi who got to the ball before Alex Mitchell. The Japanese forward took a touch before firing a clinical finish high into the net.

PHOTO: Callum McGregor holds off Daniel Phillips

However, Saints pulled a goal back 3 minutes later. Great play by James Brown and Daniel Phillips saw them win possession from Hatate out wide on the right. Brown then carried the ball down the right channel before playing it into Graham Carey and he then slipped the ball into the feet of Drey Wright who caught it sweetly as he unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards into the far corner of the net.

Just after the half an hour mark Saints were awarded a free kick following a foul on Carey by Cameron Carter-Vickers. The free kick was taken by Carey as he crossed the ball into the box which was only partially cleared by the Celtic defence. Saints continued to apply pressure and the ball was eventually turned behind for a corner which was comfortably dealt with by the visitors.

Celtic though regained their two-goal lead on 38 minutes. Furuhashi played a good pass to Jota who fed the ball to Mooy and the Australian midfielder did well to beat the offside trap as he chipped the ball over the advancing Matthews and into the net.  

PHOTO: Drey Wright scores his goal

The Hoops came close to making it four deep into the 3 minutes of first half stoppage time however, Furuhashi’s effort from the centre of the box didn’t trouble Matthews as it went high over the crossbar.

Into the second half and Celtic were inches away from a fourth goal on 54 minutes as Jota’s strike from 20 yards clipped the crossbar following good build-up play by the visitors.

Play quickly switched to the other end as 2 minutes later no one could get on the end of Wright’s cross into the danger area. McLennan then picked up the loose ball out on the left and he then played it into Phillips however, the midfielder’s strike from the edge of the area lacked power as Joe Hart comfortably gathered.

Saints kept at it and on 64 minutes good build up play by the Perth side saw Carey deliver an inviting ball into the box which McLennan was inches away from making a connection with.

Saints made their first change of the game on 69 minutes as David Wotherspoon came on to replace the injured Drey Wright.

PHOTO: Drey Wright crosses the ball into the Celtic box

Callum Davidson’s side continued to search for a way back into the game and on 72 minutes they were awarded a free kick following a foul on Cammy MacPherson by Greg Taylor, who was booked by referee David Dickinson. Both Carey and MacPherson stood over the free kick and it was taken by the later who saw his effort hit the Celtic wall before being cleared.

With 12 minutes remaining McLennan was booked for a foul on Jota out wide on the right. Saints then made a double change as Stevie May and Daniel Phillips were replaced by Zak Rudden, who was making his Saints debut after joining on-loan from Dundee on Tuesday, and Melker Hallberg.

The Hoops continued to look dangerous going forward and on 83 minutes substitute Matt O’Riley saw his effort deflected for a corner by Mitchell.

Saints made their final changes of the game with 6 minutes remaining as Graham Carey and Connor McLennan were replaced by Theo Bair and Jamie Murphy.

Murphy was quickly involved in the action as on 86 minutes his ball into the box was pushed away by Hart. Then shortly after Brown picked out Wotherspoon in the box and the Canadian midfielder rolled the ball onto his left foot before unleashing his effort which wide of the far post.

Saints afternoon then got even tough in the first of 3 minutes of stoppage time as Considine was sent off as he brought down Celtic substitute Hyeon-Gyu Oh on the edge of the box after the South Korean had turned the Saints defender. O’Riley played the resulting free kick short as he rolled the ball to substitute David Turnbull who fired a strike under the advancing wall and into the box corner of the net to seal the points for the visitors.

PHOTO: Andrew Considine is sent off for a last man challenge

Saints: Matthews, Brown, Mitchell, Considine, Gallacher, MacPherson, Phillips (Hallberg 79), Carey (Bair 84), Wright (Wotherspoon 69), May (Rudden 79), McLennan (Murphy 84)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Gordon, Crawford, O’Halloran

Booked: McLennan, Brown

Sent Off: Considine

Scorer: Wright (25)

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Taylor, Starfelt, Furuhashi (Oh 79), Mooy (Turnbull 79), Jota (Hakšabanović 87), Carter-Vickers, Maeda (O’Riley 69), Hatate (Abada 69), McGregor

Unused Substitutes: Bain (GK), Kobayashi, Iwata, Forrest

Booked: Jota, Taylor

Scorers: Considine (13 og), Furuhashi (22), Mooy (38), Turnbull (90+3)

Referee: David Dickinson

VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 7,758

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Tony Gallacher gets away from Daizen Maeda