 Celtic did just enough to see off a spirited St Johnstone side in a pulsating Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter Final at a wet McDiarmid Park last night. Despite finding themselves three goals behind before they had time to draw breath, the Perth men battled hard to bring themselves back into the game and can consider themselves slightly unfortunate not to have taken the tie into extra time.Neil Lennon's team selection served notice of how seriously he views this particular competition, making just the one enforced change from Sunday's Old Firm encounter, with Niall McGinn replacing the injured Shaun Maloney. Similarly Derek McIness's only alteration to the side that defeated Hamilton Accies was the return of Steven Anderson, with Andy Jackson dropping out. The visitors opened the scoring in 9 minutes through Anthony Stokes, whose low shot gave Graeme Smith no chance after Saints had failed to clear their lines. The Hoops doubled their lead four minutes later when Niall McGinn was first to react after keeper Smith could only parry a Ki free-kick. Things got even worse for the home side a minute later with goalscorer McGinn turning provider with a perfect delivery finding Stokes arriving unmarked to put Celtic three ahead with only 13 minutes on the clock. Game over? Don't you believe it. Somehow St Johnstone, drawing on all their reserves dragged themselves back into the proceedings, pulling a goal back after just over half an hour through Sam Parkin's low drive. With the game now a much more even contest in terms of possession, the same player nearly grabbed a second right on half-time but found his effort blocked from close range. Half-Time: St Johnstone 1 Celtic 3 The second period continued in the same vein as before with both sides creating chances, but it was men in blue who found the net again in 54 minutes, taking advantage of some poor defending. Grainger's corner-kick found Murray Davidson in splendid isolation, his header beating Forster all ends up. The game continued to ebb and flow as the heavens opened. Gary Hooper blasted over for Celtic while at the other end Parkin produced a diving save from Forster. Hooper scorned another chance when clean through on goal, only to be denied by Graeme Smith's timely intervention. Saints threw caution to the wind, committing men forward and forcing a series of corners with Celtic content to hit them on the break. Then, as we entered the final minute, the Perth men were denied what looked like a certain equaliser by a stupendous save from Forster. Jennison Myrie-Williams, who had flattered to deceive since his introduction to the game after half-time, cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled a low shot which the big keeper could not have seen until the last second, yet somehow managed to turn the ball past the post. The game was up; Celtic were through to the Semi-Finals. Full-Time: St Johnstone 2 Celtic 3 St Johnstone: Smith, Maybury, Anderson (Myrie-Williams), Mackay, Grainger, Duberry, Millar, Davidson, Craig (MacDonald), Parkin, Samuel (Haber) Subs Not Used: Rutkiewicz, Enckelmen Celtic: Forster, Izaguirre (Mulgrew), Majstorovic, Samaras, Stokes, Cha, McGinn, Ledley, Ki, Loovens, Hooper Subs Not Used: Juarez, Crosas, McCourt, Zaluska Attendance: 5,151 Referee: Craig Thomson |
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