Saints put in a battling performance this evening as they suffered a narrow defeat to Celtic at McDiarmid Park.
The first half was a tight affair and it was Saints who created the best chance of the half when Joel Cotterill got on the end of an Enes Alić cross, but his first-time effort from eight yards was brilliantly tipped over for a corner by Sam Johnstone.
The visitors took the lead on 52 minutes when Mika Naur turned home a low Haissem Hassan cross from close range.
Hassan thought he had doubled The Hoops lead on 66 minutes when he slotted the ball into the Saints net however, the goal was chalked off as the ball was judged to have gone out of play prior to it being headed down to the Egyptian winger by Kasper Høgh.
Toby Steward then made a couple of excellent saves to keep Saints in the game as the second half progressed, whilst up the other end Alić went close with an effort from 20 yards. Then in stoppage time Ruari Paton fired an effort straight at Johnstone.
Saints are back in action a week on Saturday as they welcome Falkirk to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Celtic to McDiarmid Park this evening for a William Hill Premiership match which was live on Sky Sports. A double from Josh Fowler saw Saints defeat Hibs 2-1 on Sunday and there were four changes to the side which started at McDiarmid Park three days ago. Liam Smith and Sam Stanton dropped to the bench, whilst Zach Mitchell and Jamie Gullan missed out due to injury. They were replaced by Matty Todd, Daniel Finlayson, Joel Cotterill and Josh Campbell, who was making his Saints debut. Celtic came from behind to defeat St Mirren 2-1 in Paisley on Saturday evening and manager Martin O’Neill made five changes to his starting eleven. Sam Johnstone replaced Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks as the Finnish keeper dropped to the bench. Kasper Høgh, Sebastian Tounekti, Oliver Sørensen and Dane Murray also came into the starting eleven to replace Benjamin Nygren and Camilo Durán who both dropped to the bench, whilst Cameron Carter-Vickers and Yang Hyun-jun missed out completely, with the later absent due to representing South Korea at the 2026 Asian Games.
Kasper Høgh got the match underway for the visitors and the Danish forward helped to create the first chance of the match after 5 minutes as he played the ball to the feet of Haissem Hassan who unleashed a strike from the edge of the box but Toby Steward produced a smart save to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Celtic were playing a high pressing game as they had Saints pinned in their own half for large spells of the opening period. However, on 19 minutes good play by Saints saw the ball worked to Enes Alić on the left who picked out Joel Cotterill in the centre of the box. The midfielder looked certain to score however, Sam Johnstone produced a good save to touch the ball over for a corner.
PHOTO: Joel Cotterill reacts as his shot is saved
Celtic captain Callum McGregor got a sigh of goal on 32 minutes however, his close-range effort was deflected behind for a corner by Cheick Diabate. Then shortly after good defending from Diabate saw the defender win a foot race with Hassan as he used his strength to clear the danger and prevent the winger from racing in on goal.
As the match progressed towards half time Saints got a couple of sights of goal. On 37 minutes Taylor Steven saw his effort from the edge of the box blocked. Then 5 minutes later Josh Fowler played in Alić down the left who unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which went wide of the far post.
PHOTO: Taylor Steven’s shot is blocked
Saints made a quick start to the second half as on 47 minutes Reece McAlear released Taylor Steven on the left of the box however, his shot was straight at Johnstone who saved with his chest before the visitors cleared the danger.
Celtic though soon clicked into gear and they took the lead on 52 minutes. The Hoops applied pressure to the Saints box, and the ball was worked to Hassan on the right. The Egyptian winger drove to the bye-line away from Diabate before sending a low delivery across the face of the Saints goal which was tapped home from close range by Mika Baur.
Saints tried to get back into the game and just after the hour mark brilliant play down the left saw Alić skipped past his man before delivering a good ball into the box however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as Johnstone gathered.
PHOTO: Enes Alić and Haissem Hassan
Saints then made a double change as Sam Stanton and Ruari Paton were introduced into the action, replacing Jason Holt and Josh Fowler.
The Champions thought they had doubled their lead on 66 minutes through Hassan. Sebastian Tounekti sent over a cross from the left which was headed down at the bye-line by Høgh to the winger who converted. However, the goal was ruled out as it was deemed the ball had gone out of play before it was headed down by Høgh.
With 19 minutes remaining Høgh worked the ball to Hassan who unleashed a curling effort which Steward palmed around his post for a corner.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear holds off Mika Baur
Simo Valakari then made further changes as Josh Campbell and Taylor Steven were replaced by Danny Schmidt and Kai Fotheringham.
Celtic continued to create chances to extend their lead and on 83 minutes Steward made a superb save to deny Høgh. The Saints number one was called into action again a minute later as he got down well to save a Benjamin Nygren header after the substitute had got up well to meet a cross into the box from the left by fellow substitute James Forrest.
Saints then made their final change of the game as Macaulay Tait replaced Joe Cotterill.
PHOTO: Matty Todd and Sebastian Tounekti
4 minutes of stoppage time was added on and in the first minute of added on time Matty Todd picked out Paton however, his strike from deep inside the box was straight at Johnstone.
The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and deep into stoppage time Shumaira Mheuka was played in by Nygren, but Steward produced another good save as the Champions departed Perth with all three points.
Saints: Steward, Alić, Diabate, Steven (Fotheringham 74’), Holt (Stanton 63’), Fowler (Paton 63’), Finlayson, Todd, Cotterill (Tait 87’), Campbell (Schmidt 74’) McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Boyes, Foulds, Smith
Booked: Campbell, McAlear
Celtic: Johnstone, Scales (Tierney 87’), Trusty, Høgh (Mheuka 86’), Tounekti (Forrest 73’), Sørensen (Nygren 67’), Baur, Hassan (Durán 73’), McGregor, Murray, Donovan
Unused Substitutes: Sinisalo (GK), Lotomba, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van den Berg
Booked: Scales, Baur
Scorer: Baur (52’)
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
VAR: Grant Irvine
Attendance: 9,879
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Taylor Steven battles with Oliver Sørensen
