After a dismal first half, it was hoped that Celtic would spark into life following the break. However, less than five minutes after the restart, Rooney gave St Johnstone the lead. Poor defending allowed the attacker to nod home from inside the box as Celtic conceded their first goal at McDiarmid Park for four years.
Ryan Christie added to the embarrassment when he slipped whilst taking a corner and punted the ball behind the goal. The Scotsman made amends though, as he clipped a ball in from the wing after Brown and McGregor had combined, and Edouard volleyed into the roof of the net to equalise.
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Christie and Edouard were at the fore again moments later. The ball got played out wide and Christie’s intelligent dummy allowed Greg Taylor to cross for Edouard, who swiveled and scored from close range. Just as in midweek, Celtic scored goals in quick succession and turned the game heavily in their favour.
VIEW BOTH GOALS: Video: Brilliance from Odsonne Edouard as two goals in two minutes put Celtic ahead against St Johnstone
Action quickly reverted to the scrappy style that had preceded that sharp flurry of strikes.
St Johnstone caused Celtic all sorts of problems from corner kicks, as the likes of Shane Duffy appeared to be all over the place and making last ditch challenges. Nevertheless, Celtic survived those threats and Neil Lennon made changes by bringing Griffiths and Elyounoussi on for Rogic and Turnbull in the 75th minute.
Play petered out thereafter, with chances at both ends few and far between.
Celtic come away with the three points but it was a far from impressive performance. Much like midweek, a spell of quickfire goals got the job done, but large parts of the performance was flat.
