Celtic 3-1 St Johnstone: Defending champions back on top after home win

Celtic’s forwards “need competition” said manager Brendan Rodgers after Kyogo Furuhashi made an “excellent” return to the team in victory over St Johnstone that reclaimed top spot in the Scottish Premiership.

Kyogo, who also struck the crossbar and had two goals ruled offside, started the previous three games on the bench and has been in and out of the side since Adam Idah’s arrival in January.

“Adam has been very good when he came in and that is what Kyogo and every player needs,” Rodgers said. “They need competition.

“[Kyogo] was bright, his movement was good. Sharp. He was very brave at the first goal. He makes a run and comes back onside. Some strikers would maybe move their head out of the way with the keeper coming through, but he didn’t and he scored the goal.

“And it was a great cross for the second one. He was excellent.”

St Johnstone, who replied late on through Connor Smith, drop a spot to 10th and are just a point above Ross County in the relegation play-off place.

Rangers, who have the same goal difference as Celtic but with fewer goals scored, visit Dundee on Sunday. After that final Premiership game before the international break, all top-flight teams will have eight fixtures to play.

Daizen Maeda diverted a Cameron Carter-Vickers shot towards goal and both that and Maeda’s follow-up were blocked on the line amid desperate Saints defending early on.

Kyogo made a typical run to beat offside and latch on to Kuhn’s pass, the striker’s chip finishing too high, and Luke Robinson came to St Johnstone’s rescue on the goalline by blocking Tomoki Iwata’s shot.

Kyogo’s chest then converted Matt O’Riley’s cross but the striker was offside. However, Saints had no such reprieve when Kuhn delivered from the right and Kyogo headed past Dimitar Mitov.

The flag was raised again as Kyogo converted a Maeda headed pass.

But the Japan international kept himself onside to set up the second just after half-time. He latched on to Greg Taylor’s pass in the inside left channel and the laid the ball across for Kuhn to tap in.

And the St Johnstone goal continued to come under heavy pressure as Kyogo smacked a shot against the bar following O’Riley’s delicate pass.

Kuhn made way for Forrest and the veteran winger made his mark with the third goal. Celtic built on the left and O’Riley spotted Forrest in space on the other side, the substitute’s control and left-foot finish both clinical and typical.

Smith and Stevie May, like Forrest, also made an impact off the bench. May’s header was well kept out by keeper Joe Hart and Smith volleyed in the rebound.

Almost straight away Alistair Johnston netted at the other end but once again the flag denied Celtic.

Player of the match – Kyogo Furuhashi

Title holders get job done – analysis

It’s all about winning for Celtic at this stage of the campaign and on that scale they delivered.

Rangers have been a bigger problem to Celtic this season than last term or during boss Brendan Rodgers’ previous spell as manager and that has raised the stakes but so long as the defending champions keep picking up victories like this, another title is well within reach.

St Johnstone’s approach was to defend stoutly and compete where possible further up the park. The first part they did well enough, the latter not so much. Adama Sidibeh was isolated in attack and his frustration boiled over with a booking for catching Stephen Welsh with an arm.

The mission for Craig Levein’s side now is survival and with Mitov in goal, Saints at least have a chance of staying in games. He kept out an Iwata strike with an impressive first-half save, touched an O’Riley free-kick over in the second period and denied substitute Adam Idah at close range late on.

What the manager said

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “Very pleased. Very good performance. Scored three goals, could’ve had more. Overall, really, really pleased. Good penetration.”

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: “Some good things and some not so good things. Break it down to in possession and out of position – quite a stark difference in the level of success.

“Defensively we restricted Celtic pretty much in the first half. With the ball, we just couldn’t string two or three passes together. We were too hurried. You need to be calm when you get the ball. The substitutes were really good.”

What’s next?

St Johnstone resume at home to Dundee on 30 March (15:00 GMT), with Celtic away to bottom side Livingston on 31 March (12:00).