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Mohamed Elyounoussi rescued a point for Celtic against St Johnstone but the pressure on Neil Lennon grew as his side fell 13 points behind Rangers.
The visitors went ahead when Chris Kane slid home Stevie May’s cross but Elyounoussi’s header restored parity with seven minutes remaining.
It now means Lennon’s men, who have two games in hand, have won just two of their past 12 games.
They are also winless at home since the middle of September.
Callum Davidson’s side move level on points with seventh-place Kilmarnock while Celtic have now dropped nine points in five league games.
It was a day of big numbers for Celtic as captain Scott Brown made his 600th appearance for the club, McGregor his 300th and Lennon himself marked 20 years since he first joined Celtic as a player.
But the stat that mattered most to the home side was whether they could register a win.
They set about doing that with Odsonne Edouard playing a one-two with Tom Rogic and getting away a shot that took a nick off a Saints defender before goalkeeper Zander Clark gathered.
Rogic should have hit the target with a header after Christopher Jullien nodded Ryan Christie’s free-kick back into a busy area.
Edouard did find his mark with a shot off McGregor’s through ball but Clark was well positioned to save and McGregor’s rebound effort was wayward.
St Johnstone, having travelled to Glasgow unbeaten in five league games, posed the hosts problems through May’s volley, that was headed away by Nir Bitton near the goal line, and another effort from the the striker that fizzed across the face of goal.
Bitton tried to usher the ball over the line at a corner in the second half but Clark was alert again and the Perth side were soon in front.
Kane had replaced the injured Michael O’Halloran in the first half and he was left free to convert May’s dangerous cross after Celtic failed to clear their lines at a free-kick.
Edouard forced another save from Clark as the hosts toiled but moments later Christie’s cross was headed backwards by Elyounoussi and Celtic finally had their goal.
Further efforts came in from Turnbull, Christie and Elyonoussi as the home side chased victory but St Johnstone held out.
Man of the match – Zander Clark
What did we learn?
Celtic have flitted between three and four at the back this season and Lennon re-established a 3-5-2 for the visit of Saints.
Defensively, the home side did not give up as many chances as they had in recent matches but the expected width did not materialise, once again emphasising the absence of James Forrest.
Distribution was poor from Celtic, which only encouraged a well drilled St Johnstone side.
For their part, Saints were not just organised, they carried a threat even before their opener and were good value for a point. That’s now 11 games unbeaten in 90 minutes on the bounce.
What did they say?
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: “The players were tremendous. They worked unbelievably hard off a good shape. We had a wee bit of sustained pressure when we got the goal.
“Could we hang on for the victory? Unfortunately we didn’t but I’m really proud of my players. I’ll take the draw. It’s what we deserve with our efforts and application.”
What’s next?
Celtic complete their Europa League campaign at home to Lille on Thursday evening and host Kilmarnock in the Premiership next Sunday. St Johnstone are at home to league visitors Livingston on Saturday.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Celtic
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Squad number1Player nameBarkas
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Squad number6Player nameBitton
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Squad number2Player nameJullien
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Squad number35Player nameAjer
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Squad number30Player nameFrimpong
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Squad number17Player nameChristie
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Squad number8Player nameBrown
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Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number93Player nameLaxalt
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Squad number18Player nameRogic
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Squad number22Player nameEdouard
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
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Squad number9Player nameGriffiths
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Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
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Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
St Johnstone
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Squad number1Player nameClark
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Squad number19Player nameRooney
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Squad number6Player nameGordon
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Squad number4Player nameMcCart
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Squad number15Player nameMcNamara
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Squad number18Player nameMcCann
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Squad number13Player nameBryson
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Squad number3Player nameTanser
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Squad number11Player nameO’Halloran
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Squad number10Player nameWotherspoon
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Squad number14Player nameMay
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Squad number9Player nameKane
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Squad number26Player nameCraig
Line-ups
Celtic
- 1Barkas
- 6Bitton
- 2Jullien
- 35AjerSubstituted forElyounoussiat 81′minutes
- 30Frimpong
- 17Christie
- 8BrownSubstituted forGriffithsat 59′minutes
- 42McGregorBooked at 78mins
- 93LaxaltSubstituted forTaylorat 45′minutes
- 18RogicSubstituted forTurnbullat 68′minutes
- 22Edouard
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 9Griffiths
- 11Klimala
- 12Soro
- 14Turnbull
- 21Ntcham
- 27Elyounoussi
- 29Bain
- 44Elhamed
St Johnstone
- 1Clark
- 19Rooney
- 6Gordon
- 4McCart
- 15McNamaraBooked at 90mins
- 18McCann
- 13BrysonBooked at 54minsSubstituted forCraigat 86′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 3Tanser
- 11O’HalloranSubstituted forKaneat 26′minutesBooked at 68mins
- 10WotherspoonBooked at 64mins
- 14May
Substitutes
- 5Kerr
- 9Kane
- 12Parish
- 17Melamed
- 22Hendry
- 26Craig
- 40Denham
- 46Ferguson
- 54McFarlane
Live Text
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Match ends, Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 1.
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Second Half ends, Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 1.
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Foul by Christopher Jullien (Celtic).
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Jamie McCart (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Dan McNamara (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Liam Craig (St. Johnstone).
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Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
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Stevie May (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dan McNamara.
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Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Substitution, St. Johnstone. Liam Craig replaces Craig Bryson.
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Attempt missed. David Turnbull (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi with a cross.
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Goal! Celtic 1, St. Johnstone 1. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.
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Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Kristoffer Ajer.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zander Clark.
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Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
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Goal! Celtic 0, St. Johnstone 1. Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stevie May.
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