On song to reel off an encore
Brendan Rodgers’ side mimic their Hapoel heroics with goals galore at McDiarmid Park, reports Graeme Macpherson
THIS must have made for very familiar viewing for Hapoel Be’er Sheva. With a three-goal deficit to overcome in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday, the Israelis will have tuned in to Celtic’s lunchtime match against St Johnstone looking to latch on to something, anything, that might give them even a glimmer of hope.
What they would have seen was a virtual carbon copy of their contest at Parkhead in midweek; Celtic coasting at 3-0 up, conceding two soft goals to create a brief flurry of anxiety, before going back on to the front foot to confirm the victory. The only difference on this occasion was that they managed to add just one more to their tally, rather than the two they had secured late on against the Israelis. Given Celtic have now scored 14 goals in their last three competitive games, there is certainly never any shortage of entertainment whenever they take to the field.
The late St Johnstone fightback may give the impression this was a close contest, but for the first 80odd minutes it was anything but. Celtic were impressive in another high-octane performance, creating plenty of chances and hogging possession. Most significantly they also appeared to suffer no fresh injuries to key figures ahead of their trip to the Israeli desert, where they will look to rubberstamp their place in the Champions League group stage for the first time in three years.
They also demonstrated no sign of tiredness following their midweek European exertions. There was no drop-off in Celtic’s intensity or work-rate as they poured forward at pace and in numbers whenever they had the ball, and pressed St Johnstone high up the park when they didn’t.
“I thought for 99.9 per cent of that game we were outstanding,” said Rodgers. “To put that energy and attitude into the game, and the quality of our football in particular in the first half, was excellent. As was the speed of our game.”
Leigh Griffiths blew out 26 candles on his birthday cake yesterday and helped himself to a goal and two assists to celebrate during his 55 minutes on the pitch. His strike opened the scoring after 29 minutes. Not for the last time in the match, the goal stemmed from St Johnstone sloppily conceding possession and Celtic showed no mercy in taking advantage. Kieran Tierney’s cross arrived at Griffiths via a deflection and his left-foot shot ricocheted against Murray Davidson and the underside of the crossbar before nestling in Alan Mannus’ net.
It was a well-merited advantage but Celtic clearly had no desire to ease off the gas. By half-time they had two more goals. Mannus did brilliantly to keep out James Forrest’s shot and then Griffiths’ follow-up but was helpless to prevent Scott Sinclair poking the loose ball into his net. The keeper would have had every right to look around and wonder where the reinforcements were as Celtic strolled unfettered around his penalty box. Griffiths created the third, getting away too easily from Brad McKay to play in Forrest who scampered into the box before finishing with the outside of his right boot. It was another sterling performance from Griffiths, the only blight was a yellow card for a dive in the box.
“Leigh felt there was contact and he goes down,” said Rodgers. “I haven’t seen anything in training to show that [he’s] like a lot of players who like to simulate to provoke the ref into giving a penalty. But he’s got a booking, so we have to accept it.”
Forrest’s goal seemed to have ensured the victory but for the second time in a week Celtic made it hard for themselves. Danny Swanson rolled in a penalty with seven minutes remaining after the winger had been bundled over by Liam Henderson. With Henderson then off the pitch getting treated, St Johnstone scored again, with Steven MacLean bundling in Swanson’s cross at the back post.
Out of nowhere there was belatedly a competitive edge to the game but Celtic quickly atoned. Sinclair’s shot was blocked but Ryan Christie followed up to thud in his side’s fourth goal. Celtic could relax once again.
“Yeah it’s poor,” admitted Rodgers on the concession of two more goals. “But you have to understand that three out of our back four are 20 years of age or 19. That’s what happens with young players. You want to put them in but they don’t have the experience to know the game is never done until the final whistle.”
His opposite number Tommy Wright had little complaint about the result. “I’ve had better days,” sighed the St Johnstone manager. “Celtic were magnificent but from my point of view the goals are poor we’ve conceded.”