Celtic v St Johnstone as it happened

1. Danny Swanson's goal gives Saints victory
2. Leaders Celtic remain six points clear
3. St Johnstone move above Dundee into sixth
4. Celtic miss out on ninth straight league win

Thanks for your company tonight when St Johnstone not only improved their own chances of finishing in the top six of the Scottish Premiership but kept the title race alive for Aberdeen as they try to hang on to Celtic. Join us on Friday when Queen of the South host Falkirk in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.

BBC Radio Scotland pundit Murdo MacLeod

"Celtic have been so good recently and weren't quite there tonight, but you can't put that down to the European game last week. You've got to give so much credit to St Johnstone for a wonderful performance."

Celtic manager Ronny Deila on BBC Radio Scotland

"It was a big setback. It is disappointing, but it's happened now and we have to learn from this and it's four days before we can make it good again.

"We didn't create anything in the wide areas and it was so crowded in the centre it caused problems.

"Nothing is finished and we make it difficult for ourselves. This is not good enough.

"There were some tired players out there, but we should be better as a unit."

BBC Radio Scotland pundit Peter Houston

"We can't say tonight and say St Johnstone had a smash and grab. They came here, played Celtic and deserved their win."

That has brought to an end Celtic's 11-game unbeaten run in domestic football.

Celtic were looking for a ninth straight league win. Instead, they suffered their first home Premiership defeat in nine games since Hamilton left with a 1-0 win on 5 October.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright on BBC Radio Scotland

"The goal was worthy of winning any game. It was a tremendous strike.

"Danny phoned this morning and said he didn't think he was going to make it and we're glad he did.

"We asked them to be brave in possession and I thought we were.

"We controlled and passed the ball really well and that gave us the platform to go on and win the game.

"It shows a lot of character and belief in one another."

Celtic have used up their game in hand over second-top Aberdeen. That just about keeps the title race alive despite the leaders' 4-0 win over the Dons on Sunday as there are still only six points separating the top two sides.

St Johnstone just about deserved that surprise victory because of their second-half performance and a superb winner from Danny Swanson. It moves the Perth side back above Dundee into sixth spot and they are now equal on points with fifth-top Hamilton Academical.

FULL-TIME

Celtic are trying desperately to equalise, but St Johnstone are holding on bravely as we have two minutes of stoppage time to play.

Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong is fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card as he shoves Lee Croft to the ground.

BBC Radio Scotland pundit Peter Houston

"If they win tonight, they go back into the top six. On their performance tonight, St Johnstone are definitely a top-six side."

Virgil van Dijk rises above the St Johnstone defenders to meet a corner kick, but the defender heads wide.

Steven MacLean tees up Chris Miller 20 yards from the Celtic goal, but the midfielder lashes his shot wastefully over the crossbar.

It is Stuart Armstrong's turn to get a shot on target, but St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus again holds.

Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton gets a shot on target, but goalkeeper Alan Mannus shows strong hands to save.

Celtic's players are becoming frustrated and Stuart Armstrong is booked for a foul on Lee Croft before Michael O'Halloran comes off and Gary Miller replaces him as St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright definitely looks to hold on what he has - a midfielder for a striker.

Celtic fans are beginning to get frustrated, but their side are beginning to turn up the pressure on the visitors with a series of corners.

Actually, it is goalscorer Danny Swanson who has come off for St Johnstone. Manager Tommy Wright is maybe trying to tighten up, although Swanson's stamina has always been his Achilles heel.

Lee Croft is about to come on for St Johnstone, with St Johnstone striker Michael O'Halloran looking injured.

SNS

Danny Swanson let fly from 25 yards to put St Johnstone ahead at Celtic Park

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Tom and 20 others: "Well that's put a weasel amongst the woodpeckers." The woodpecker won that won, so maybe the underdog might come out on top here too.

Celtic have made two changes, with Gary Mackay-Steven and Anthony Stokes being replaced with James Forrest and Nir Bitton.

BBC Radio Scotland pundit Peter Houston

"Two goalkeepers would not have saved that one. Celtic are looking a bit weary and St Johnstone are full of energy and smelling blood. They are high energy and most of the game is being played in the Celtic half."

Steven Anderson misses a great chance to put St Johnstone two ahead. Everyone else fails to get a touch on a corner into the penalty box and the defender volleys wide when he should have hit the target.

GREAT SAVE!

St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus is unsighted but manages to get down to turn wide a low drive from Anthony Stokes as Celtic look to hit back immediately.

GOAL

On-loan Coventry City midfielder Danny Swanson lets fly with a 25 yard drive that hits the top corner of the net to give St Johnstone a lead they have been threatening in the early stages of the second half.

Efe Ambrose fires a powerful drive at goal, but St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus holds at the second attempt.

Celtic made a change at the break, with Wakaso Mubarak coming on to replace Adam Matthews. The Ghana international has slotted into the left-back spot, with Efe Ambrose moving across to right-back.

A header from Murray Davidson takes a deflection and over the Celtic crossbar as St Johnstone win a couple of corners.

Gary Mackay-Steven fires wide as the Celtic midfielder does not get enough on his shot.

KICK-OFF

A dangerous pass back from Jason Denayer straight after the restart almost hands Steven MacLean a chance to open the scoring for St Johnstone, but Celtic clear.

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Paul Black: "Interesting to see Johansen in a deeper role tonight. Attacking line-up for Celtic. Could see some goals tonight." Sorry for the delay in posting this Paul. You posted this on kick-off and hopefully your prediction is right in the second half!

Richard Wilson

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

"Some St Johnstone players have impressed in individual cameos - Brian Easton, David Wotherspoon, Steven MacLean and Steven Anderson - and the team spent a spell pressurising the Celtic defence. The champions have not been making the most of being stronger on the flanks and are being restricted to lone-range efforts, so the game has become more even."

Dundee United fans might be interested to know that it was 28 years ago tonight that their side beat Barcelona 1-0 at Tannadice in the Uefa Cup quarter final.

Richard Wilson

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

"Celtic have been typical bright and incisive, with Stefan Johansen still as influential in an attacking sense despite playing in a deeper role in the absence of Nir Bitton. Leigh Griffiths has been sharp, too, in his movement and shooting. At times, St Johnstone are having to defend in desperation."

HALF-TIME

St Johnstone make it to the break without conceding and have had occasional moments of threat at the other end. Much for Celtic manager Ronny Deila to ponder at half-time.

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk heads across the face of the St Johnstone goal, but Murray Davidson nods clear for the visitors.

Shots from Virgil van Dijk and Gary Mackay-Steven are blocked in front of the St Johnstone goal amid penalty claims from the home fans.

GREAT SAVE!

A super strike from Stuart Armstrong, who gathers himself 25 yards out as St Johnstone hesitated expecting the game to be stopped for a foul, is met by an equally good flying save from Alan Mannus, the goalkeeper turning the ball wide for a corner.

SNS

Celtic survived a nervous moment when goalkeeper Craig Gordon failed to gather a cross into the box

David Wotherspoon fires in a shot, but the St Johnstone midfielder's effort is straight at goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Moments earlier, Celtic defender Jason Denayer did well to clear as striker Steven MacLean lurked menacingly at the back post.

St Johnstone have weathered that traditional early Celtic storm and, with half an hour gone, are looking more and more comfortable.

BBC Radio Scotland pundit Peter Houston

"Celtic are too deliberate in the last third. St Johnstone have everybody behind the ball and Celtic have to be quicker and deliver the ball before they are set."

SNS

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara and Celtic midfielder Kris Commons shared a joke as well as a place in the stand

BBC Radio Scotland pundit Murdo MacLeod

"Saints are comfortable. They have kept the ball and put a couple of dangerous balls into the box."

A moment of hesitation by Craig Gordon almost hands a chance to St Johnstone, but the Celtic goalkeeper's blushes are saved by the boot of defender Jason Denayer, who clears after that bit of untypical mishandling.

Gary Mackay-Steven is the next Celtic man to try his luck from range and this time St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus flops down to save.

Leigh Griffiths pulls the trigger from 30 yards, but the Celtic striker's shot flies just wide.

St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay strides forward and sends a long-range effort but straight at goalkeeper Craig Gordon. At least that is a shot on target for the visitors, who are growing in confidence.

Gary Mackay-Steven tries to curl a shot into the top corner, goalkeeper Alan Mannus palms the ball away and Anthony Stokes is unable to do anything with the rebound.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila explained ahead of kick-off that the missing Kris Commons had still not recovered from a knock picked up on Sunday. However, he expects the midfielder to be available for this coming Sunday's trip to face Dundee United.

Stuart Armstrong has a shot blocked from 15 yards out and Anthony Stokes bends a drive just wide as St Johnstone are put under pressure.

KICK-OFF

We are off at Celtic Park and the home side are immediately on the attack.

Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen has scored in the last five league games. However, he needs to score in another two games to match Dundee striker David Clarkson, who managed seven league games in a row earlier in the season and eight overall in all competitions.

Although Celtic have only conceded one goal in their last 11 games, that was scored by St Johnstone in a 2-1 defeat by Celtic at McDiarmid Park last month, when only a fine double save by goalkeeper Craig Gordon prevented the Perth side coming from two goals behind to secure an unlikely point. Although Saints have suffered three straight defeats at Celtic Park, they did draw there in November 2012 and last left the Glasgow ground with a win in August the previous year.

St Johnstone have made two changes after the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock at the weekend. Tam Scobbie comes into defence and Danny Swanson is in midfield, Frazer Wright missing out after suffering concussion and young striker Chris Kane dropping on to the bench.

Rangers update

News just in about Rangers and the suspension of shares on the AIM stock market. Shareholder Dave King, who hopes to oust the present board at Friday's extraordinary meeting, has accused the club's nominated advisor, WH Ireland, of reneging on an agreement to remain in place until there was a proper handover to a new nomad.

LINE-UPS

Celtic: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer, van Dijk, Ambrose, Armstrong, Brown, Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Stokes, Griffiths. Subs: Biton, Scepovic, Zaluska, Wakaso, Fisher, Forrest, Henderson.

St Johnstone: Mannus, Mackay, Easton, Anderson, Scobbie, Millar, Wotherspoon, Davidson, O'Halloran, Swanson, MacLean. Subs: Graham, Banks, McFadden, Miller, Brown, Croft, Kane.

Referee: Calum Murray

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright on BBC Radio Scotland

"It is a game in which there is no pressure on us and we have nothing to lose.

"Celtic will be looking for a quick start as they didn't start too well on Sunday.

"You know what football's like. We are capable of getting a result, but we know we have to play very well.

"We don't want to be defending for 90 minutes."

BBC Radio Scotland 810MW coverage of tonight's game has just resumed should you wish to listen to the pre-match build-up and the live commentary.

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The big news in Scottish football today was the suspension of trading in Rangers' shares on the AIM stock market. What does that mean for Friday's extraordinary meeting, at which shareholder Dave King hopes to replace the current board? If there are any financial experts out there, you can pass us your words of wisdom.

Nicky Law, meanwhile, thinks his former manager at Motherwell, Stuart McCall, would be a good team boss at Ibrox. You can give us your thoughts on that too.

Meanwhile, the Scottish FA has joined its Welsh counterparts by opposing suggestions from the FA in England that it would like to field a GB team at next year's Rio Olympics. But what do Scottish fans think?

Of course, you might simply want to comment on tonight's game as it unfolds.

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Celtic have made two changes following Sunday's victory over Aberdeen, with striker Anthony Stokes and midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who has recovered from injury, replacing Kris Commons and Nir Bitton.

St Johnstone know they face an uphill task to claim that victory in Glasgow as their hosts are chasing a ninth straight Premiership victory. Celtic have won 4-0 in their last three home league games, have only lost one goal in their last 11 domestic matches and have already defeated Tommy Wright's side twice this season, both times in Perth.

St Johnstone have slipped to seventh in the Premiership but can move back above Dundee should they win at Celtic Park.

Celtic will move nine points clear of Aberdeen, who they defeated 4-0 at the weekend, should they overcome St Johnstone.

Technical problems at Celtic Park - a power outage apparently - has interrupted BBC Radio Scotland 810MW coverage of tonight's game. If you are listening, enjoy the music on Get It On until we can find a new plug!

Welcome to our live text coverage of tonight's Scottish Premiership meeting between leaders Celtic and seventh-placed St Johnstone.