Match ends, Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 1.
CelticCeltic0St JohnstoneSt Johnstone1
- Danny Swanson strike wins game for St Johnstone
- Tommy Wright's men move above Dundee into top six
- Defeat ends Celtic's 11-game unbeaten domestic run
- Lead at top of Scottish Premiership remains at six points
Celtic's seemingly inexorable march towards the Scottish Premiership title suffered a setback thanks to a stunning Danny Swanson volley.
It inflicted a first league defeat in nine games on Celtic, although they are still six points clear of Aberdeen.
Swanson's sweet 25-yard strike in the second half moved St Johnstone back into the top six.
The visitors are now level on points with Hamilton having leapfrogged Dundee with this rare victory at Celtic Park.
Celtic started quickly, with a slickness to their play that was illustrated by a sweeping crossfield pass over the St Johnstone defence that set Gary Mackay-Steven free.
The winger's cross reached Scott Brown, who shaped to shoot but instead slipped the ball infield to Stuart Armstrong, whose shot was blocked by the St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus.
Moments later, Anthony Stokes curled a shot across the face of goal that went wide.
Then Mackay-Steven sent a dipping, curling shot on target that Mannus had to claw out of the air before repelling Stokes' unorthodox effort from an awkward height and angle.
The antidote to Celtic's endeavour was doughtiness by St Johnstone, who have the third best defensive record in the Premiership and organised themselves superbly.
Individual cameos from visiting players included Chris Millar's endless industry and shrewd passing while Brian Easton often intercepted the ball in dangerous areas and was adept at carrying it upfield.
Steven MacLean was always strong up front, Murray Davidson covered the pitch with his rangy stride, while David Wotherspoon's set-pieces were delivered with menacing intent.
Following a period of sustained pressure in the Celtic half, Wotherspoon struck an effort from the edge of the area, but it was straight at Craig Gordon.
The zest of Celtic's play was dampened by St Johnstone's sturdiness and the home side were restricted to long-range efforts, with Stuart Armstrong twice having efforts draw good saves from Mannus.
Celtic found a higher gear in the second half of their previous two league games - scoring four against Hamilton and three against Aberdeen after the break - but St Johnstone remained solid.
They survived Mackay-Steven mis-hitting a volley from Wakaso Mubarak's cross and then they set about imposing themselves.
There was almost a breakthrough when Davidson stretched to head the ball on target from a corner, but it was deflected over.
Celtic did not heed the warning, though, and moments later Swanson lashed a glorious volley high into the top corner.
If Steven Anderson had been similarly adept, he would have increased the advantage when he was left unmarked at the back post at a corner, but his half-volley skewed wide into the side-netting.
Urgency returned to Celtic's play and even before Virgil van Dijk moved up to centre-forward, Nir Bitton and Armstrong both hit the target from long range but could not beat Mannus.
Jackie McNamara, watching from the main stand, would have seen plenty to dwell on as he prepares his Dundee United side to meet Celtic in three consecutive games - the Scottish Cup, the League Cup final and then in the Premiership.
Line-ups
Celtic
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26Gordon
- 2MatthewsSubstituted forWakasoat 45'minutes
- 22Denayer
- 5van Dijk
- 4Ambrose
- 14S ArmstrongBooked at 77mins
- 8Brown
- 16Mackay-StevenSubstituted forForrestat 59'minutes
- 25Johansen
- 10StokesSubstituted forBittonat 59'minutes
- 28Griffiths
Substitutes
- 6Bitton
- 12Scepovic
- 24Zaluska
- 32Wakaso
- 41Fisher
- 49Forrest
- 53Henderson
St Johnstone
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mannus
- 2Mackay
- 24Easton
- 6AndersonBooked at 61mins
- 3Scobbie
- 7Millar
- 10Wotherspoon
- 18Davidson
- 29O'HalloranSubstituted forMillerat 77'minutes
- 11SwansonBooked at 23minsSubstituted forCroftat 70'minutes
- 9MacLean
Substitutes
- 14Graham
- 15Banks
- 17McFadden
- 19Miller
- 20Brown
- 22Croft
- 25Kane
- Referee:
- Calum Murray
- Attendance:
- 41,849
Match Stats
Home TeamCelticAway TeamSt Johnstone
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 1.
Post update
Foul by Jason Denayer (Celtic).
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Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
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Lee Croft (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic).
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Lee Croft (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) header from very close range misses to the left.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tam Scobbie.
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Attempt blocked. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Chris Millar (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
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Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Gary Miller replaces Michael O'Halloran.
Booking
Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
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Lee Croft (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Brian Easton.
Post update
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
