Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 4
(Turnbull 23, Edouard 24, Ajer 79, Dembele 85)

ST JOHNSTONE… 0

Captain Scott Brown made his final appearance at Paradise as a Celtic player this evening (Wednesday), as the Hoops swept St Johnstone aside 4-0 in the Scottish Premiership.

Two goals in as many minutes from David Turnbull and Odsonne Edouard capped up some confident possession play in the opening stages, before John Kennedy’s side turned the screw in the second period with strikes from Kris Ajer and Karamoko Dembele.

Celtic set the tone for the evening from the outset as they pressed their in-form visitors deep, causing Callum Davidson’s men to defend for long spells with 10-men behind the ball.

Half-chances fell to Ryan Christie and Moi Elyounuossi in the opening five minutes, but it was the Saints’ Chris Kane who squandered the best opportunity of the half so far when he failed to connect properly with a Glenn Middleton cross yards from goal.

Over the 10-minute mark and the Hoops hit their stride in possession despite St Johnstone’s well-organised backline. Still, chances were at a premium – with Odsonne Edouard denied a handful times in the box by a steadfast Craig Bryson.

After 23 minutes, however, Celtic burst to life when David Turnbull fired his side in front. After Zlamal had conceded an indirect free-kick from a long back-pass, Christie rolled the ball to his colleague, before the 21-year-old midfielder struck low under the wall and into the net.

Less than a minute later, Celtic made it two via Edouard following a sublime assist by Scott Brown – the captain sending a long ball from inside his own half in behind the Saints’ defensive line. The Frenchman lost his man with a touch inside, before lofting the ball home with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.

To the visitors’ credit, they continued to defend with their backs to the ball for the remainder of the first period, and long into the second as Celtic enjoyed the lion’s share of possession from back to front.

Celts pay tribute to Broony with sublime Paradise victory