2017-01-25: Celtic 1-0 St Johnstone, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2016 – 2017 | 2016-17 Pictures

Trivia

• First league game of calendar year.
• Celtic on top on 61pts! Next is Sevco on 39pts.
• Tonight's win equals the Lisbon Lions' start to the 1966/67 season, when they went 26 domestic games unbeaten. Fantastic achievement!
• Boyata's regeneration continues and scores tonight and gave a fine performance.
• Scott Brown's 400th game, presented with a Celtic shirt by Brendan Rodgers at start with 400 on it as a gift. In talks for a testimonial.
• Transfer: Ryan Christie sent on loan to Aberdeen.
• According to reports, Craig Gordon has been included on a three-man shortlist by Chelsea as they search for a new goalkeeper.

Review

(BMHair of KDS)
Some good stuff tonight and some unlucky moments all peppered with a couple of 'should have done much better' moments

Thought Armstrong was great – a really mature performance (if he keeps that form up one day he might be worth as much as MCKay) his running was excellent and snapped away at the heels of a team of dirty effers

Brown was good, great to see KT back and Sinclair had a very goood first half – fell out of the picture second half a bit but prob cause he got kicked about 50 times and Dembele just had a bit of an off night – off balance and off target but he's young and learning so I'm not calling for him to be sold just yet!

Boyata did very well – all game pretty much and deserved his goal – prob MOTM it as it's Broonies 400th game – fair doos

I think we missed Lustig and Rogic at times and Forrest was better when being direct but Roberts certainly lifted things

Bring on the hertz

Oh and Dallas? He's incomepetent as hell but the incident with Brown and Gordon was disgraceful – he's a terrible ref

Teams

Celtic

1 Gordon Booked at 81mins
12Gamboa Substituted for Sviatchenkoat 83'minutes
5Simunovic
20Boyata
63Tierney
8Brown
6Bitton
49Forrest Substituted for Roberts at 64'minutes
14Armstrong
11Sinclair
10Dembele Substituted for Griffiths at 75'minutes

Substitutes
3Izaguirre
9Griffiths
16Mackay-Steven
24de Vries
27Roberts
28Sviatchenko
42McGregor
Goals

• Boyata 72'

St Johnstone

12Clark
22Watson
14Shaughnessy
6Anderson
3Scobbie
10Wotherspoon Substituted for Alston at 58'minutes
7Millar
18PatonBooked at 76mins
26CraigBooked at 17mins
11Swanson Substituted for Cummins at 79'minutes
25Kane Substituted for MacLean at 79'minutes
Substitutes
1Mannus
4Alston
8Davidson
9MacLean
24B Easton
27Thomson
29Cummins

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 51,057

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/11016781/

MOTM

• Voting Thread http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/11016783/
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

Celtic
St Johnstone

Possession
Home65%
Away35%

Shots
Home25
Away4

Shots on Target
Home9
Away1

Corners
Home7
Away8

Fouls
Home9
Away12

Articles

Celtic 1-0 St Johnstone: Match Report
Press Association

25 January 2017 10:34

Celtic match Lisbon Lions' record with 1-0 win over St Johnstone

Celtic matched the Lisbon Lions' unbeaten domestic record as Dedryck Boyata scored the only goal of the game against St Johnstone at Parkhead.

Jock Stein's all-conquering Hoops side of 1967 went 26 games without defeat in Scotland at the start of the season which saw them win which every competition they played in including the European Cup.

With skipper Scott Brown making his 400th appearance for the club, Celtic struggled to break down an organised Saints side until the 73rd minute when defender Boyata, just back in the side against Albion Rovers at the weekend and making only his third appearance of the season, headed in a Stuart Armstrong corner.

Celtic moved 22 points clear of Rangers at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

And while any comparisons with Stein's side has to be put in context of a much-changed Scottish football landscape, nevertheless the achievement in Brendan Rodgers' first season is commendable and points the way to a possible domestic treble, the Betfred Cup already in the Parkhead trophy room.

Rodgers made only one change from the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round win over Rovers with defender Jozo Simunovic replacing injured Mikael Lustig.

The visitors, with Tam Scobbie, Paul Paton, Chris Kane and Liam Craig back in the side, had no intention of simply sitting back for the evening.

Hoops midfielder Nir Bitton sent a free kick from 25 yards just wide of the post in the third minute but Saints raced up the park moments later and won a corner, with skipper Steven Anderson heading Liam Craig's deep cross just past the post.

Winger Scott Sinclair had the ball in the net with a header in the 10th minute but the assistant linesman ruled that the ball had crossed the bye-line before James Forrest had floated it to the back post.

The close calls kept coming.

St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark tipped a thunderous drive from Armstrong past and from the corner Boyata's header was cleared off the line by David Wotherspoon.

In the 20th minute, following another Saints corner, Danny Swanson fired in a shot from 16 yards which rebounded off the post with the Celtic defence scrambling the ball clear.

The champions' grip on the match tightened as the interval approached.

But top scorer Moussa Dembele looked off the pace and twice turned Sinclair's cut-back wide of the target before Clark pushed a Forrest drive away from danger.

St Johnstone remained dogged as Celtic pressed with increased tempo at the start of the second half.

Clark made saves from Brown and Armstrong, the second less comfortable than the first, before Patrick Roberts replaced Forrest to give some added zip to the home side.

The winger, on loan from Manchester City, immediately set up a chance with a great piece of trickery inside the box but Sinclair failed to convert.

Celtic were more or less camped inside Sat Johnstone's half and the breakthrough eventually and perhaps inevitably arrived.

The home side got another corner when Clark parried a Boyata header and when Armstrong crossed into the box again this time the Belgian stopper bulleted a header past the helpless McDiarmid Park number one.

Saints came out their shell in the latter stages – there was a penalty claim when Brown appeared to push Anderson in the box – but there was no real drama and the Hoops skipper blazed over the bar in added time which denied him a perfect ending to a landmark occasion.
Read more at http://www.football.co.uk/celtic/celtic-10-st-johnstone-match-report/8284912/#pyVXXA6Y55eYZudk.99
Press Association

BBC

By Richard Wilson

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

25 January 2017
From the section Football

Scott Brown (left) and Dedryck Boyata

Scott Brown (left) celebrates with Dedryck Boyata after the Belgian defender scored with a header

Celtic equalled the Lisbon Lions' run of 26 domestic games unbeaten with a slender win over St Johnstone to move 22 points clear in the Premiership.

Saints threatened with Danny Swanson hitting a post and Craig Gordon having to deny Steven Anderson's looping shot.

Celtic took a firm grip on the game, only for Scott Sinclair to miss one of several chances as Saints held firm.

But their resistance was finally broken when Dedryck Boyata headed past Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark.

Boyata had previously lacked confidence and assurance and his displays were often hapless. But he has become a player reborn.

There was little pressure on him defensively, since flurries of attacking intent from St Johnstone in the first half petered out after the break. But he was calm at the back and passed the ball in assured form.

This game, though, called for a decisive figure and while Celtic players cursed missed opportunities, it was Boyata who eventually provided the clinical touch.

He had already seen a first-half header cleared off the goalline by David Wotherspoon, before then racing back into his own penalty area to execute a perfect sliding tackle on St Johnstone striker Chris Kane.

There was less demand to be swashbuckling after the break, but he saw another header pushed away before rising to bullet a header past the St Johnstone goalkeeper Clark.

Brown steady at 400

Dedryck Boyata (right) heads Celtic in front

Boyata (right) heads Celtic in front

Celtic captain Scott Brown has delivered more eye-catching displays in previous games, but perhaps a strong-willed, unbending performance was fitting in his 400th match.

He was everywhere on the pitch and cleared from a St Johnstone corner kick in the second half. He barely flinched.

He watched in frustration as Stuart Armstrong saw several curling shots saved or fly wide. Moussa Dembele, too, was off the pace, and failed to convert two Sinclair crosses.

In the midst of Celtic's dominant second-half possession, there were two moments of typical Brown play. One was a driving run into the penalty area that carried him past three St Johnstone players and earned a corner. Minutes later, he clipped a shot from the edge of the area that Clark saved.

If there was an emblematic moment, it was Brown's dogged clearing from his own penalty area late on, defiant and strong.

Combative spirit from both sides

There is never any doubt that a fixture against St Johnstone will be combative. They are well-drilled and organised. It was not unusual to see Chris Millar bravely stand up to Dembele and rob the striker of the ball.

Paul Paton, too, was relentless. Challenges tended to be physical, uncompromising, and no quarter was given. Runs were blocked, tackles were fierce, there were occasional tussles, and in Kane there was a willing runner up front.

St Johnstone were entirely subdued after the break, but in the first-half there were moments of attacking hope, mostly at set-pieces. Anderson saw one header drift wide and then the centre-back's lob was pushed over the bar by Celtic goalkeeper Gordon.

When Celtic failed to clear a corner, the ball bounced in front of Swanson and his carefully executed volley sent the ball off the upright.

The visitors were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty just after Boyata's goal, when Brown appeared to push Anderson over inside the area. Referee Andrew Dallas was unmoved, though.

For all their effort and resistance, St Johnstone could not hold Brendan Rodgers' side at bay.
Posted at

Match ends, Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 0.
Full Time
Posted at
90'+4'
Second Half ends, Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 0.
Posted at
90'+3'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at
90'+3'
Tam Scobbie (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at
90'+1'
Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at
89'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.
Posted at
88'
Attempt blocked. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at
87'
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
87'
Foul by Patrick Roberts (Celtic).
Posted at
87'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at
87'
Chris Millar (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Posted at
83'
Substitution, Celtic. Erik Sviatchenko replaces Cristian Gamboa.
Posted at
83'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Cristian Gamboa.
Posted at
81'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at
81'
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
Booking
Posted at
81'
Craig Gordon (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at
80'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Brown.
Posted at
80'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Brown.
Substitution
Posted at
79'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Steven MacLean replaces Christopher Kane.
Substitution
Posted at
79'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Graham Cummins replaces Danny Swanson.
Posted at
79'
Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Booking
Posted at
76'
Paul Paton (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at
75'
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
75'
Foul by Paul Paton (St. Johnstone).
Substitution
Posted at
75'
Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Moussa Dembele.
Posted at
74'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at
74'
Blair Alston (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Posted at
72'
Goal! Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 0. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross.
Posted at
72'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at
72'
Attempt saved. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at
72'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
Posted at
71'
Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at
71'
Scott Sinclair (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
71'
Foul by Keith Watson (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
70'
Attempt saved. Cristian Gamboa (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at
69'
Attempt blocked. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at
66'
Attempt missed. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution
Posted at
64'
Substitution, Celtic. Patrick Roberts replaces James Forrest.
Posted at
63'
Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at
61'
Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at
60'
Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
60'
Foul by Paul Paton (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
59'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Keith Watson.
Substitution
Posted at
58'
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Blair Alston replaces David Wotherspoon.
Posted at
58'
Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Posted at
56'
Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at
48'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Scott Brown.
Posted at
47'
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
47'
Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
Second Half
Posted at

Second Half begins Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 0.
Half Time
Posted at
45'+1'
First Half ends, Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 0.
Posted at
45'+1'
Attempt blocked. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Posted at
45'
Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
Posted at
45'
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at
44'
Attempt missed. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at
42'
Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
Posted at
42'
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
42'
James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
42'
Foul by Keith Watson (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
40'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at
40'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at
38'
Attempt missed. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Posted at
37'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul Paton.
Posted at
37'
Attempt blocked. Scott Sinclair (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at
36'
Moussa Dembele (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
36'
Foul by Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
36'
Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at
35'
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at
34'
Foul by Paul Paton (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
34'
Scott Sinclair (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
31'
Attempt missed. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Posted at
24'
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at
24'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at
23'
Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at
20'
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Posted at
20'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Dedryck Boyata.
Posted at
19'
Attempt blocked. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at
19'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
Posted at
19'
Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Booking
Posted at
17'
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at
17'
Foul by Liam Craig (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
17'
James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at
17'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
Posted at
17'
Attempt saved. Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Posted at
16'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Dedryck Boyata.
Posted at
13'
Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
13'
Foul by Chris Millar (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
11'
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
11'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Posted at
8'
Moussa Dembele (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
8'
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
8'
Scott Sinclair (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
8'
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Posted at
5'
Attempt missed. Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Posted at
4'
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Cristian Gamboa.
Posted at
4'
Attempt blocked. Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Posted at
3'
Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Posted at
2'
Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at
2'
Foul by Paul Paton (St. Johnstone).
Kick Off
Posted at

First Half begins.