St Johnstone 1-3 Celtic: The league leaders fight back from behind after Rodgers' angriest team talk at half-time

Matt O'Riley's stunning finish capped a great move and put Celtic in the lead

Manager Brendan Rodgers says he has “never been so angry at half-time” after his Celtic side overturned a half-time deficit to win at St Johnstone.

The Scottish Premiership leaders trailed at half-time after Joe Hart's questionable goalkeeping combined with poor defending allowed Diallang Jaiyesimi to force the lead after a monumental challenge.

But Rodgers' side responded emphatically with three goals in 26 second-half minutes, ensuring they extended their unbeaten start in the league to 15 games and remained eight games clear at the top.

Matt O'Riley's sensational shot rifled into the net shortly after Callum McGregor's fierce drive from the edge of the box had finally destroyed the resolute defensive line of a home side well worth their first-half lead.

Hart then returned the favor by blocking Jay Turner-Cooke's close-range header in stoppage time, sparking an immediate counter-attack which ended with James Forrest coolly sending in the third goal for the visitors.

“If I’m honest, I’m still a bit angry,” Rodgers told ` Scotland.

“It had nothing to do with tactics, it was about mentality. We hadn't scored against St Johnstone for a game and a half, that's not the requirement of this club. One or two felt too comfortable and were bullied for the goal.”

“There was no intensity at all. We were deservedly behind. But the second half was different. That’s what you expect when you play for Celtic.”

Ahead of the game, Rodgers was expecting a reaction from his players as their midweek exit from Europe in Rome followed a home draw against Motherwell last weekend.

And it looked as if the Celtic manager would succeed as his side started brightly as Kyogo Furuhashi shot over before O'Riley denied the finish with a sliding shot from close range.

However, the leaders' sloppiness gave the hosts new hope and they had something to hold on to when on-loan Charlton player Jaiyesimi opened his scoring for St Johnstone shortly after a shot from close range.

But aside from Turner-Cooke's late header, Levein's side offered little attacking power after the break as substitutions of Mikey Johnston and Oh Hyeon-gyu helped Celtic avoid a scare and turn the game in their favour.

Player of the Match – Callum McGregor (Celtic)

Second-half substitutes Johnston and Oh deserve a mention, as does O'Riley, but captain McGregor led his side to a crucial win after scoring his first goal of the season

Mitov great as Rodgers' stern words provoke a reaction – analysis

Levein must acknowledge St Johnstone's first-half performance. His decision to start without a recognized striker would have provoked 4-6-0 jokes, but the game plan worked perfectly in the early stages.

Turner-Cooke's late header perhaps suggests the home side should have tried harder after the break, but Levein can rest assured that he has a very, very good goalkeeper in Dimitar Mitov.

A fantastic first-half save from David Turnbull's angled shot was topped by a phenomenal block from close range to deny Kyogo, who was already offside.

But despite that stunning late stop in the opposition goal, questions continue to be raised about Hart as Celtic's men once again looked less than convincing between the posts in St Johnstone's opener.

To be fair, the former England goalkeeper was one of many who underperformed in the first half for Celtic, but Rodgers' stern words at half-time sparked a reaction from his key players.

The comeback victory means Celtic remain unbeaten in their first 15 league games for the first time since 2017/18 – even under Rodgers, whose side won the Premiership by nine points this season.

What they said

“I have never been so angry at half-time in my career”

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: “Disappointment is the main feeling. But I have to look at the positive side of things. That will give us courage.”

“We became noticeably tired in the second half, but we can change that to maintain the level of performance for 90 minutes. There are players who are getting better, but I feel bad for the fans because we couldn't score more or hold on.” “

Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers: “Callus [McGregor produced a real captain’s performance and [Johnston] was outstanding when he came into the game.

“With that intelligence and ability to compete with others, he can be a fantastic player for us. He's so fast. He was excellent.”

What's next?

Both teams return to league action on Wednesday (19:45 GMT): St Johnstone host St Mirren while Celtic host Hibernian.

Lineups

St Johnstone

formation 4-4-1-1

1Myths

2Brown5McGowan6Gordon19Robinson

15For this reason34Phillips11Carey44Costelloe

22Blacksmith

13Jaiyesimi

• 1MythsBooked for 79 minutes
• 2Brown
• 5McGowanBooked at 13 minutes
• 6Gordon
• 19Robinson
• 15For this reasonReplaced byTurner Cookeat 73'protocol
• 34Phillips
• 11Carey
• 44CostelloeReplaced byMayat 87'protocol
• 22Blacksmith
• 13JaiyesimiReplaced byKaneat 73'protocol

Substitute

• 7May
• 9Kane
• 16Jephcott
• 17Wanted
• 23Sprangler
• 25Ballantyne
• 27Turner Cooke
• 31Richards
• 46Franzak

Celtic

formation 4-3-3

1Hard

2Johnston20Carter Vickers5Scale3Taylor

33O'Riley42McGregor14Turnbull

13Which8thFuruhashi7Palma

• 1Hard
• 2Johnston
• 20Carter Vickers
• 5Scale
• 3Taylor
• 33O'Riley
• 42McGregor
• 14TurnbullReplaced byOhat 58'protocol
• 13WhichReplaced byJohnstonat 45'protocol
• 8thFuruhashiBooked for 79 minutesReplaced byIwataat 85'protocol
• 7PalmaReplaced byForestat 80'protocol

Substitute

• 6Phillips
• 15Holm
• 19Oh
• 24Iwata
• 28Goncalves Bernardo
• 29Bain
• 49Forest
• 56Ralston
• 90Johnston

Live text

1. Match ends: St Johnstone 1, Celtic 3.

2. Second half ends, St Johnstone 1, Celtic 3.

3. Attempt failed. Matt O'Riley (Celtic) tries with his left foot from the center of the box, but the ball misses to the right. Assisted by Alistair Johnston with a cross.

4. Goal! St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 3. James Forrest (Celtic) hits with his right foot from the center of the penalty area to the bottom left. Prepared by Tomoki Iwata after a quick counterattack.

5. Attempt saved. Jay Turner-Cooke (St. Johnstone)'s header from point-blank range is saved to the bottom right.

6. Foul by Liam Scales (Celtic).

7. Chris Kane (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the opponent's half.

8. Attempt failed. Mikey Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot is too high from outside the box. Supported by Greg Taylor.

9. Liam Scales (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10. Foul by Chris Kane (St Johnstone).

11. Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) receives a free kick in the defensive half.

12. Foul by Stevie May (St Johnstone).

13. Attempt failed. James Forrest (Celtic) tries with his right foot from a distance, but the ball just misses the right corner of the goal. Assisted by Callum McGregor following a corner.

14. Attempt failed. Liam Scales (Celtic) tries a header from the center of the penalty area, but the ball misses to the right. Assisted by Mikey Johnston with a cross from a corner.

15. Corner, Celtic. Goal conceded by Jay Turner-Cooke.

16. Substitution: St Johnstone. Stevie May replaces Dara Costelloe due to injury.

17. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

18. Substitution, Celtic. Tomoki Iwata replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.

19. Game delayed due to injury to Dara Costelloe (St Johnstone).

20. Attempt failed. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) tries with his left foot from the center of the penalty area, the shot goes high and far to the left. Assisted by Liam Scales following a corner.

Player of the game

MythsDimitar Mitov

St Johnstone

1. Squad number1Player nameMyths

2. Squad number13Player nameJaiyesimi

3. Squad number11Player nameCarey

4. Squad number5Player nameMcGowan

5. Squad number34Player namePhillips

6. Squad number6Player nameGordon

7. Squad number19Player nameRobinson

8. Squad number2Player nameBrown

9. Squad number44Player nameCostelloe

10. Squad number22Player nameBlacksmith

11. Squad number15Player nameFor this reason

12. Squad number27Player nameTurner Cooke

13. Squad number9Player nameKane

14. Squad number7Player nameMay

Celtic

1. Squad number90Player nameJohnston

2. Squad number33Player nameO'Riley

3. Squad number42Player nameMcGregor

4. Squad number19Player nameOh Hyeon Gyu

5. Squad number20Player nameCarter Vickers

6. Squad number49Player nameForest

7. Squad number5Player nameScale

8. Squad number7Player namePalma

9. Squad number2Player nameJohnston

10. Squad number24Player nameIwata

11. Squad number8thPlayer nameFuruhashi

12. Squad number14Player nameTurnbull

13. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

14. Squad number1Player nameHard

15. Squad number13Player nameYang Hyun Jun