St Johnstone 0-0 Celtic

  • Published
  • James McFadden and Murray Davidson hit post for Saints

  • Celtic's Scott Brown, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths go close

  • St Johnstone move clear in fourth place

  • Celtic stretch lead at top to 15 points

St Johnstone and Celtic served up a cracker at McDiarmid Park, but somehow both failed to find the back of the net.

Saints pair Michael O'Halloran and David Wotherspoon and Celtic duo Scott Brown and Kris Commons all went close in the first half.

James McFadden and Murray Davidson both hit a post late on for the hosts.

James Forrest could have won it for Celtic but missed an open goal after rounding goalkeeper Alan Mannus.

In the end a point moves St Johnstone clear of Dundee United in the fight for fourth spot and a possible Europa League place.

However, manager Tommy Wright may feel his side were unfortunate not to make it two wins in a row against the champions.

With the league title already secured, Celtic made changes; Zaluska and teenager Kieran Tierney brought in by Ronny Deila to the starting line-up.

Griffiths' miss-hit shot from Efe Ambrose's knockdown went close, but it was Saints who posed the biggest threat early on.

O'Halloran shot wide, then failed to connect with a free header inside the box either side of a terrific save from Zaluska which denied Davidson.

Griffiths almost stole in on the loose ball when Mannus could not control a pass back, but at the other end Ambrose had to clear off the line from Chris Millar's header.

The chances kept coming for the home side and O'Halloran was guilty of passing up two more, heading into the ground then driving a free shot at the goalkeeper.

Wotherspoon and Commons shot wide at either end before a double Zaluska save denied Wotherspoon, again, and Davidson.

For an end-of-season match, the pace was relentless. Brown's header was cleared off the line before half-time, then Tom Scobbie was denied from close range at the same goal early into the second half.

Charlie Mulgrew, making his first appearance since December, tested Mannus with a back-post header before O'Halloran continued his personal duel with Zaluska, firing low into the goalkeeper's hands.

Both sides kept going forward, and substitute McFadden headed off the post for St Johnstone.

However the deadlock should have been broken when Forrest pounced on a defensive mistake, rounded Mannus, but somehow knocked the ball wide.

In a frenzied finish Davidson drove a late shot off the post as Saints threatened once more, but Celtic had the last say when they broke in numbers only for Griffiths to be denied by a great save from Mannus.

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