Celtic 1-1 Saints
First Team

Celtic 1-1 Saints

6th December 2020

Celtic 1-1 Saints

Chris Kane was on target for Saints this afternoon as Callum Davidson’s side got a deserved point against Celtic to extend their unbeaten run to eleven games.

After a goalless first half Saints took the lead with 11 minutes remaining as Chris Kane slid in to convert a Stevie May cross at the back post.

However, Celtic rescued a point 4 minutes later as substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi headed home a Ryan Christie cross.

Today’s point sees Saints move on to 17 points, level on points with seventh place Kilmarnock.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Livingston next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints returned to league action this afternoon as they headed to the east end of Glasgow for a Scottish Premiership match against the Champions Celtic at Celtic Park. Saints progressed to the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup last weekend with a 2-1 win at Motherwell and Callum Davidson made three changes to the side that started at Fir Park last weekend for today’s match. Craig Bryson, Scott Tanser and Danny McNamara came in to replace Liam Craig, Callum Booth and Callum Hendry. Celtic lost 4-2 to AC Milan in the San Siro on Thursday evening in the Europa League and manager Neil Lennon made one change to his starting eleven as Christopher Jullien came in to replace Hatem Elhamed.

Celtic got the match underway and they created the first chance of the game after 7 minutes. Tom Rogic linked up well with Odsonne Édouard and the Frenchman had a strike at goal which deflected off Shaun Rooney and into the arms of Zander Clark.

Saints were awarded a free kick in an inviting position after 10 minutes following a foul on Craig Bryson by Kristoffer Ajer. David Wotherspoon whipped the free kick in to the Celtic box and Rooney headed the ball back across to Stevie May whose effort at goal was cleared off the line by Nir Bitton.

The hosts got a free kick of their own 3 minutes later and it was taken by Ryan Christie who ball into the box picked out Christopher Jullien. The defender headed the ball back across the box for Rogic but the Australian midfielder put his header wide.

On 22 minutes Callum McGregor played a great ball through to Édouard, who did well to beat the offside trap, however, Clark was out quick and saved the Frenchman’s effort and then Diego Laxalt’s effort on the rebound went wide.

Saints were forced into a change on 26 minutes as Chris Kane came on to replace Michael O’Halloran who had picked up an injury.

Saints were defending deep limiting the Bhoys to opportunities in front of goal as the first half progressed. With 10 minutes of the first half remaining the hosts created a half chance as a left footed effort by Christie from 30 yards went well wide of the target.

Then as the match entered one minute of additional time Ali McCann did well to win the ball in the Celtic half. The midfielder then broke forward before cutting the ball back to Stevie May but the forward couldn’t get his effort on target.

Before the second half got underway the Bhoys made a change as Greg Taylor came on to replace Diego Laxalt.

Wotherspoon got the second half underway for Saints and within the first minute of the half he setup May but his effort went well over.

Celtic were showing more intensity during the early stages of the second half and they came close to taking the lead on 53 minutes. Christie’s corner from the left was headed on by Jullien and before Édouard then got a flick on the ball however, Bitton couldn’t make a clear connection with the ball which allowed Clark to save. Rooney then cleared the danger before Scott Brown could react to the loose ball.

Just before the hour mark the Champions made a change as Leigh Griffiths came on to replace Scott Brown as they looked to try and make the breakthrough.

On 65 minutes Celtic were awarded a free kick just outside the box after Édouard had been fouled by Wotherspoon and the Saints midfielder was subsequently booked for the foul. Édouard took the free kick himself however, his tame effort hit the Saints wall before being cleared.

After defending resolutely against the early Celtic pressure during the second half Saints created a chance of their own on 73 minutes as McCann had a shot from 25 yards but it didn’t trouble Vasilis Barkas in the home goal.

Up the other end 3 minutes later Clark made a crucial save to deny Celtic substitute David Turnbull as the Saints number one got down well to block the effort from the midfielder.

The deadlock was finally broken with 11 minutes remaining as Saints took the lead. A ball down the left by Scott Tanser played in May and he advanced forward before sending an inviting cross into the box and Chris Kane slid in to knock the ball home from close range at the back post.

Celtic almost got an immediate response on 81 minutes but Clark was again alert to the danger as he saved Édouard’s strike.

The Bhoys then made another change as Mohamed Elyounoussi came on to replace Kristoffer Ajer. The Norweigan would have an immediate impact on the match with his first touch of the game 2 minutes later to level the match for the hosts. Christie’s cross from the right into the Saints box picked out Elyounoussi whose backward header looped over Clark and into the net to rescue a point for the Champions.

Celtic: Barkas, Bitton, Jullien, Ajer (Elyounoussi 81), Frimpong, Christie, Brown (Griffiths 59), McGregor, Laxalt (Taylor 45), Rogic (Turnbull 68), Édouard

Unused Substitutes: Bain (GK), Klimala, Soro, Ntcham, Elhamed

Booked: McGregor

Scorer: Elyounoussi (83)

Saints: Clark, Rooney, McCart, Gordon, Tanser, McNamara, Bryson (Craig 86), McCann, May, Wotherspoon, O’Halloran (Kane 26)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Hendry, Melamed, Ferguson, McFarlane, Denham

Booked: Bryson, Wotherspoon, Kane, McNamara, Craig

Scorer:Kane (79)

Referee: David Munro

Attendance: BCD

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Chris Kane and Christopher Jullien challenge for the ball

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