Celtic got the job done against St Johnstone but the match wasn’t without drama before the three points were secured.
After last week’s draw at home to Motherwell there was justifiable concerns going into the match, when Celtic don’t start on the front foot the match can often turn into a hard watch with points dropped this season against Hibs and Motherwell as well as against Sunday’s opponents.
Despite a decent move that finished with a shot from Kyogo going over the bar in the first minute there was an ominous looks about the way Celtic were playing.
For half an hour St Johnstone were happy to sit back, there was some movement and options from Luis Palma on the left but very little on the other flank from Yang Hyun-Jun.
Celtic were increasingly bogged down in the centre of the park, St Johnstone began to pose a threat then took the lead through Diallang Jaiyesimi in the 40th minute with VAR deciding to overlook a shirt pull and handball in the lead up to the ball crossing the line.
What followed at half-time in the away dressing room seemed to work, after his angriest ever address and the introduction of Mikey Johnston for Yang there was a purpose to how the visitors played in the second half.
It wasn’t until midway through the second half that the equaliser arrived but after Johnston broke into the penalty box the ball fell to Callum McGregor who found the net with a fierce half volley from 16 yards out. The joy matched the relief.
Twelve minutes later the hoops were in front with a stunning shot from Matt O’Riley that did justice to some brilliant build up play that left the St Johnstone players chasing shadows.
Even at 2-1 in front the points were far from secure, in stoppage time Joe Hart pulled off a great save that denied St Johnstone an equaliser.
Thirty seconds later James Forrest was finding the target at the other end after good build up play from fellow substitutes from Oh Hyeon-gyu and Tomoki Iwata.
Hopefully a corner was turned in Perth, against Hibs and Kilmarnock this week it is unlikely that the champions will get away with a 45 minute performance.
