Celtic 0-0 St Johnstone: Lackustre champions held as Perth side secure first point of season

Celtic did not deserve to beat St Johnstone, says manager Brendan Rodgers, after his side dropped their first points of the Scottish Premiership season against their stubborn visitors.

But, despite dominating from start to finish, they squandered the chances they did manage to create in a laboured display as visiting goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov produced a series of important saves.

Celtic also had Joe Hart to thank for sparing their blushes further as the former England goalkeeper denied debutant Dara Costelloe and Stevie May after rare second-half counter-attacks from the visitors.

The draw ends their run of nine consecutive wins over St Johnstone since December 2020, and means Rodgers’ side go into next weekend’s first Old Firm derby of the season a point ahead of Rangers.

“I think St Johnstone deserved something from the game,” Rodgers said. “We lacked a number of things you need to win the game. We have to show a little bit more imagination, a bit more quality to penetrate.

“Sometimes after you win the treble, it can happen. You put so much into last season then you come into this season, there’s a great expectation, opponents will always up their game against you, but it’s my job to find the solutions.

“It’s still early in the season, but clearly there’s still lots of work to do. We certainly need to improve the squad and hopefully we can do that.”

Celtic started promisingly when Kyogo fired just wide, David Turnbull had a shot blocked in front of goal, and Mitov made a fine double save from Matt O’Riley.

The Bulgarian would go on to save with his feet again from a close-range O’Riley shot, before the Denmark also fired another chance over.

Sead Haksabanovic had a low drive superbly touched wide by Mitov, while fellow substitute James Forrest headed wastefully over.

However, it could have been worse for the hosts had Hart not been on hand to deny a St Johnstone side whose performance deserves credit, especially given Steven MacLean had given debuts to three loan signings and handed Luke Jephcott a first start.

Player of the match – Dimitar Mitov

Lack of Celtic intensity as ‘home truths’ come good – analysis

Rodgers had gone into the game suggesting that his squad was weaker than the one that won the treble last season under Ange Postecoglou.

His preparations had been disrupted further by injuries in defence which led to Liam Scales being handed a first appearance since February 2022 in a new centre-back pairing with recent signing Gustaf Lagerbielke.

However, the reshaped defence was rarely tested by a St Johnstone side who, whether by design or lack of capability, rarely ventured out of their own half.

It was up front where Celtic looked pedestrian compared to the side that swept all before them domestically last season with their famed intensity and ability to pull apart tight defences under Rodgers’ Australian predecessor.

St Johnstone arrived on the back of what manager MacLean described as two weeks of “home truths”, a “mini pre-season” and a clutch of new signings since a dismal defeat by Ross County.

They were focused on simply surviving the Celtic Park experience, yet came mightily close to inflicting Celtic’s first home league defeat since January 2021 and ending a 27-game wait for a win over the Glasgow side.

It also ended their own run of four straight losses to give a hint of better times ahead.

What they said

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “There was enough effort from the players and the keeper makes a couple of good saves.

“But overall we didn’t play at the tempo we would want to and the speed of the game and that little bit of craft you need to against a team that’s low.”

St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean: “We were excellent. Our shape was fantastic, the players’ work rate, their work ethic, their energy levels. It was everything we asked for.

“It’s been a tough start to the season with the injuries and performances and the results – but it is just a start though. It’s a good point here, but it’s important that we kick on.”

What’s next?

Celtic move on to the first Old Firm derby of the season as they travel across Glasgow to face Rangers on Sunday, 3 September (12:00 BST), the day after St Johnstone host Dundee (15:00).