Saints miss out on double
Perth men run low on the Wright stuff as Bhoys hold on
THE praise Tommy Wright f eels hi s St Johnstone side have been denied would have flowed freely had they secured a second win over Celtic in 2015.
Quite how that failed to be the outcome stands as a source of puzzlement after a barnstorming performance by the Perth club in a rather extraordinary encounter.
Saints are the only side to defeat the champions in the Premiership this calendar year. They had enough chances last night to do it again. And again. And probably again.
Somehow, though, a combination of wayward finishing, the woodwork and excellent goalkeeping from Celtic stand- in Lukasz Zaluska left them frustrated. A much- changed Parkhead line-up had good opportunities of their own — not least when James Forrest produced an eye-watering miss — but the greater volume of traffic unquestionably headed towards Zaluska.
The fact the scoreline finished blank qualified as a minor miracle. What it means is that St Johnstone have edged one point clear of Dundee United in the chase for fourth place, which will provide Europa League football if Inverness Caley Thistle win the Scottish Cup.
Whether or not they make it, Wright’s work at McDiarmid Park remains mightily impressive. He may have a point when he claims that doesn’t bring enough credit in terms of publicity, but the achievements of his tenure can speak for themselves.
For Celtic, this was simply a case of another game ticked off. They now have a 15-point lead over Aberdeen, with just next Sunday’s title presentation party against Inverness to come.
There was plenty of action to entertain those who turned out at Mc Diarmid Park. For Saints, there will still competitive significance at play. Perhaps, then, it was no surprise that they were the more dynamic.
Celtic have done their hard work. But Deila’s side were hardly passive despite the radical revamp to their team. They, too, could be a little bemused at ending the opening period on a zero.
No fewer than six changes were made to the side which completed a clean sweep over Aberdeen last Sunday. Craig Gordon, Virgil van Dijk, Emilio Izaguirre, Nir Bitton and Stefan Johansen all dropped out, along with Darnell Fisher.
In came Lukasz Zaluska, Adam Matthews, Efe Ambrose, Gary Mackay-Steven, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney. The latter — a left-back who turns 18 next month — was making his first start for the club after appearing as a substitute against Dundee a few weeks ago.
Saints were also missing one of their most experienced figures as captain Dave Mackay will undergo a hip operation today and faces a recovery time of at least three months. Fellow veteran Frazer Wright dropped to the bench, with Gary Miller and Brian Easton promoted.
The home side started with a burst of energy but it was Celtic who had the first clear chance with 10 minutes elapsed.
A James Forrest strike was blocked by Steven Anderson, winning a corner that was smartly delivered by Stuart Armstrong. When Efe Ambrose rose to head down into the six-yard area, it looked certain that Leigh Griffiths would extend a boot to poke over the line. Yet he was denied by Alan Mannus, who sprawled low to smuggle the ball to safety. That was not indicative of what would follow. Despite flashes of pretty build-up play from the champions, they found themselves stretched in defence.
And a little blizzard of opportunities should have seen Saints in front by the half-hour mark. Murray Davidson began the assault with a curling attempt of the outside of his right boot, which drew an equally audacious tip-away from Zaluska. A Danny Swanson corner then brought Wright’s men even closer to a breakthrough. Miller peeled i nto space to head goalwards, only for Ambrose to hack off the line. Michael O’Halloran horribly miscued a header when set up by Anderson, who had provided an unexpected cameo as an auxiliary winger, before then being presented with another crack.
It was a move started by David Wotherspoon, whose challenge caught Armstrong unaware and saw O’Halloran fed through the middle. A little swivel prompted Ambrose to t opple Jerome Boateng, but the former Bolton man’s strike was saved by Zaluska.
The Polish keeper was getting plenty of exercise on what might be one of his final appearances for Celtic. His pre-break highlight was a hugely impressive double save that left both Wotherspoon and Davidson with hands despairing placed on their head. The former also cut in from the right to fade an effort beyond the far post.
Glimpses of goal were l ess frequent for the visitors, but Miller was required to clear from inside a post to stop a Brown header in its tracks.
Celtic made a switch at the interval to allow Charlie Mulgrew his f i rst taste of competitive football since early December.
Fit again after a knee injury, the Scotland international replaced Denayer in central defence.
Pretty much his first task was to try and cope with a corner. Wotherspoon delivered from the right and Anderson found sufficient room to head off-target. But for the lack of a finishing touch, Saints could have been out of sight.
Next, i t was a Chris Millar free-kick doing the set-up work. Tam Scobbie got his head to it but — once more — Zaluska provided the barrier.
Celtic were left hoping they had ridden an extended storm. Scott Brown scooped a shot too high at the opposite end, before Kris Commons j ust couldn’t quite stretch far enough to convert a Griffiths header.
Then, with 20 minutes remaining, a deep free-kick from Armstrong picked out Mulgrew. His downward header was decent, but Mannus was well positioned.
Remarkably, the chance rate increased in the final eight minutes. James McFadden, on for MacLean, struck a post before Anderson’s effort on the follow-up was blocked.
Celtic promptly broke downfield, releasing Forrest to skip around Mannus. The goal gaped wide but, bewilderingly, he could only find the side-netting with an angled shot. Replays showed that there was a sizeable bobble just before the point of connection.
The home fans hollered in amusement before returning to a more familiar groan when Davidson was thwarted by the woodwork to close a remarkably open affair.