The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Saints boss refuses to apologise to fan following spat after humiliating defeat.
ST JOHNSTONE 0 CELTIC 6: Boss hits out after comments
Tommy Wright has refused to apologise to a St Johnstone supporter after the pair exchanged words during the 6-0 loss to Celtic yesterday.
The Saints boss was suffering as much as any fan as his team fell to the heaviest defeat of his managerial reign. They were 5-0 down at the break and it was six by full-time.
So he did not take too kindly when some verbals came his way and felt he was within his rights to fire back.
Wright said: “I am not apologising for it. “If he wants to have a go then I’m prepared to have a go back.
“I think I’ve done enough here and the players have done enough.
“I always thought the definition of supporter is to support the team and get behind the team, not shout drunken comments.”
“Listen, I’m not apologising. Not a chance.”
The goals rained down on Saints yesterday, with James Forrest grabbing four for himself, and Odsonne Edouard and Callum McGregor also on target.
Celtic actually showed some mercy by easing off in the second half.
Wright added: “Believe it or not, we started the game OK.
“Then we just kept giving the ball away and didn’t make a tackle. We couldn’t cope with Forrest and were totally torn apart. The biggest disappointment is that a lot of the time we gave the ball away when we shouldn’t have done.
“Celtic countered on us with pace, power and ruthlessness.
“In the second half, to be fair to them (the Saints players), we knuckled down in the second half and made sure it didn’t reach double figures, which it could have done.”
The hosts played nearly all of the second period with 10 men after Danny Swanson was shown a straight red for a foul on Forrest.
Wright added: “It’s the wrong type of passion but it was only bit of passion we had shown up until that stage.
“In fact, the only tackle we made was when Steven Anderson came on.
“Danny is wrong and has apologised. At half-time, he was a bit annoyed and I think he’s taken that onto the pitch. It was the wrong thing to do and he knows that.”
Forrest admits scoring four goals was the best domestic antidote to European pain.
The winger was sent off in the 3-1 Europa League defeat by Salzburg but made amends with a sparkling display.
He said: “After Thursday night it was disappointing for everyone and me personally.
“I have been thinking the last couple of days that there is nothing better than a game to come so quick that you can try to get over it.
“There is nothing better today than helping the boys out. It was the first time I scored four goals for Celtic.
“The manager has been wanting us to be more clinical and ruthless in front of goal and we couldn’t have been much better.
“We scored early and I was feeling good and we were hungry and pressing and gave the forward players a chance.
“Everybody hears about the goals and there is nothing better, it really lifts your game.
“Sometimes you can play well and not score and it is maybe not remembered so it is definitely good to contribute and score those goals.”
Boss Brendan Rodgers praised the former Celtic youth player.
He said: “James has had an eventful week, that’s for sure but it shows you his mentality.
“Something I’ve noticed in the last couple of years, that desire and will to want to score goals is important.
“His job is to create and score and he has done that exceptionally well today.