Celtic moved to within goal difference of securing the Scottish Premier League title by opening up an 18 point lead with six games remaining after a two goal victory over St Johnstone at Celtic Park today. Second half goals from Georgios Samaras and an own goal by Chris Millar settled the game which looked even for long spells.
Samaras has been like a player reborn in recent weeks and continued in the same manner today. From the opening minutes of the game he thundered down the left wing using pace and skill at close quarters to strain the St Johnstone defence.
Gary Hooper could have done better when Anthony Stokes fed him early on but his chip was collected by St Johnstone keeper Allan Mannus. Once play stopped referee Salmond booked Maybury for his foul on Stokes as the Celtic striker played the ball forward for Hooper but despite therefore acknowledging the offence, the ref failed to pull play back after Hooper failed to gain any advantage.
Kris Commons is still looking for his first goal of the season and twice came close today. In the first half Stokes held the ball inside the box until Commons arrives to shoot from 8 yards but he knocked the effort narrowly wide. In the second half a swerving shot was on target for the top right corner of the net before Mannus got a touch.
Liam Craig was St Johnstone’s principle threat and he brought a good save out of Fraser Forster from a free kick midway through the first half. Celtic struggled to create much in the opening period but Michael Lustig crossed from the right wing but found no takers despite running along the six yard line.
Celtic should have taken the lead a minute from the break. Commons sent in a free kick, Samaras missed a header and Mannus blocked but Charlie Mulgrew was on hand the head the rebound, only to see his effort cleared off the line.
Cillian Sheridan and Francisco Sandaza both had good headed efforts to open the scoring early in the second half but neither found the target.
Celtic stepped up the pace just after the hour after Ki and Matthews replaced Stokes and Lustig. Scott Brown saw a shot from inside the D saved.
The opening goal arrived on 66 minutes after Georgios Samaras was involved in a couple of scuffles. The Greek international was grounded inside the box and was then shoved off the ball within seconds of getting back to his feet, again inside the box but the referee didn’t see it. Samaras clearly took exception to this treatment and a moment later shielded the ball using his body until he was dragged to the ground.
It looked like a feisty play by Samaras who was clearly animated. When Kris Commons swung in the resultant free kick Samaras rose and headed back across goal and into the net.
St Johnstone pressed forward looking for an equaliser and might have got one had Adam Matthews not made a last ditch interception to turn the ball behind for a corner. With St Johnstone forward for the set piece Celtic broke quickly. Commons carried the ball forward, and with everyone one else on the field running at full pace, he took a second before sending a 60 yard pass across field to Ki. Ki moved inside before playing the ball out to Samaras on the right. Samaras crossed for Hooper but the ball was turned into the net by Millar.
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I don’t know what is Pawel Brozek’s situation at Celtic but I hear that Trabzonspor striker Burak Yilmaz is for sure going to the better club after this season. Trabzonspor might give another chance to Brozek.
Where were you when Ragers were liquidated?
JFK CSC
The Hooper-Stokes “partnership” did not work at all yesterday.
Lustig was decent but subbed I think for Matthews to provide a little
more energy down the flanks.
Commons got better as the game went on and he looked to be interested.
Brown was good.
Sami scored and made a goal, nuff said.
The crowd was back at times to its, er……. library best, but the Petrov
tribute was immense and joined in wholeheartedly by the Saints fans.
A little comedown after the Glasgow derby disappointment to be expected.
St Johnstone are a good side who troubled our defence a few times
and with better finishing might have grabbed a goal or two.
I’d like Lenny to trim down our squad and bring in a couple of first pick
players. We could use some guile at the minute – too many long balls
to nowhere yesterday.
Happy with the result but we have a way to go yet.
pigalle
Where were you when Hunsrus FC waltzed into theSPL to the sounds of flute and drum?
Lightning can strike twice CSC
I mentioned the submission of audited accounts a couple of weeks ago….. They haven’t submitted them …… THAT fact alone lands them in deep poo…..
Has Billy Dodds come clean about his knowledge of EBTs yet ?
I sense that the RTC guy is growing tired of keeping quiet on all his juicy info.
Squeaky blue bums a gogo !
pigalle
All things considered, the result was the main thing, yesterday.
Does anyone else share my (long-held) dislike for the tactic of getting all our players into our penatly box when defending corners?
I can’t get past the view that it’s needlessly inviting the oposition to camp in and around your box …
FF
Grampian Police@GrampianPolice
A large plastic ornamental ice cream cone was stolen from outside the Inversnecky Cafe at 4.55pm on Fri 30 March. Did you see anything?
The good news for mainland Europe is that the Manchester wrecking crew will not be visiting for a while unless the join a ‘legneds’ league!
bsr: I’ll be having a picnic on a weed-ridden grassy knoll across from Poundland, ice-cream, jelly and a spot of Champers should do the trick.
Morning (just about) Bhoys,
Just a quick question, any info would be very welcome.
I’m up in Ayrshire, only 15 minutes from Kilmarnock, visiting the womans family at the end of the week. As you can guess I wouldn’t atal be happy about being so close to Rugby Park without getting inside for a gander!
Can anyone point me to the best way to get a couple of tickets sorted… Ticket office? Stand outside the stadium?
As I said any help would be appreciated, as I don’t manage to get up as much as I’d like to, and this is one I’d hate to miss.
Cheers bhoys, hail hail.
zbyszek @ 11 34 .
Burak Yilmaz ? —
Looks like a real thing striker .
Italian football media outlets have him signing for –
Arsenal / Ajax/ CSKA/ Rubin Kazan / Inter and Napoli .
Arsenal are said to be the favorite due to it being his preferred destination.
I thought there was going to be a boycott at Kilmarnock ?
If we win the league on Saturday it would be nice if we could open up Celtic Park to let the fans in and welcome the team back from Ayrshire.
i think tickets were all sold,,,before fans started thinking about bhouycott
eirecamper 11.47 ……….nice big cone sits outside cafe next to asda in coatbridge..well it was theire couple of weeks ago,,,,,,maybe its melted away somewhere by now
anybody know what has happened to Rabiu Ibrahim? It would be good to get a look at him before the end of the season. i mean, we gave the bhoy a 3 1/2 year contract!
new article posted.
@Hullbhoy: Did the SFA put back their rule breach hearing to April 27 knowing that Rangers (in Administration) are likely to be liquidated before then?
We had …
… the SPL10 …
… now we’ve got …
… the EBT50.
It just gets better and better and better and…
shady she is indeed an inspiration.
i apologise about the age thing but from where I was standing you did not look 10 years younger than me. Maybe my old eyesight and glasses need tested again.
LOL. Yer a good mhan.
HH
No laughing at the back