Matt O'Riley's stunning finish capped a fine move and put Celtic ahead
Three goals in 26 second-half minutes ensured Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic fought back from a goal down at St Johnstone to extend their advantage to 11 points.
Matt O'Riley's sensational strike arrowed into the net just 12 minutes after Callum McGregor's fierce drive from the edge of the box had eventually broken down the resolute backline of a home side who were well worth their first-half lead.
Celtic's slack play before the break encouraged St Johnstone, who took one of the few chances that fell their way when questionable goalkeeping from Joe Hart and weak defending allowed Diallang Jaiyesimi to force in after an almighty scramble.
But Hart redeemed himself by clawing out a close-range Jay Turner-Cooke header in stoppage time, which started an instant counter-attack that ended with James Forrest coolly dispatching a third for the visitors.
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The victory stretches Celtic's unbeaten league start to 15 games, while Craig Levein's men remain 11th, one point clear of bottom spot.
Brendan Rodgers expected a reaction from his players as their midweek European exit in Rome followed a home draw with Motherwell last weekend.
And it looked like the Celtic manager was going to get that as his side started brightly, with Kyogo Furuhashi blasting over before O'Riley failed to connect with a sliding effort at close range.
Sloppiness from the leaders fuelled the hosts with hope, though, and they had something to hold on to when on-loan Charlton man Jaiyesimi opened his St Johnstone account shortly after being denied from close range.
But, aside from that late Turner-Cooke header, Levein's side offered little in an attacking sense after the interval as the introductions of Mikey Johnston and Oh Hyeon-gyu helped Celtic avoid a scare and turn the game in their favour.
Player of the match - Callum McGregorSecond-half substitutes Johnston and Oh deserve as mention, as does O'Riley, but captain McGregor drove his side on to a crucial victory after scoring his first goal of the seasonMitov magnificent as Rodgers' stern words prompt response - analysis
Levein has to take credit for St Johnstone's first-half approach. His decision to start without a recognised striker would have prompted 4-6-0 puns, but the game plan worked to a tee in the opening period.
Turner-Cooke's late header perhaps suggests that the home side should have given it more of a go after the break, but Levein can rest in the knowledge that he has a very, very good goalkeeper in Dimitar Mitov.
A fantastic first-half save from a bending David Turnbull shot was bettered by a phenomenal close-range block to deny Kyogo, who was offside anyway.
But, despite that stunning late stop in the opposite goal, questions will continue to be asked about Hart as Celtic's man between the sticks again looked far from convincing for St Johnstone's opener.
In fairness, the former England keeper was one of many performing below par for Celtic in the first half, but Rodgers' stern half-time words prompted a reaction from his key men.
The comeback win means Celtic remain unbeaten in their first 15 league matches for the first time since 2017-18 - also under Rodgers, whose side went on to win the Premiership by nine points that season.
What's next?
Both sides return to league action on Wednesday (19:45 GMT) as St Johnstone host St Mirren while Celtic welcome Hibernian.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSt Johnstone
Formation 4-4-1-1
1Mitov2Brown5McGowan6Gordon19Robinson15Kucheryavyi34Phillips11Carey44Costelloe22Smith13Jaiyesimi
- 1MitovBooked at 79mins2Brown5McGowanBooked at 13mins6Gordon19Robinson15KucheryavyiSubstituted forTurner-Cookeat 73'minutes34Phillips11Carey44CostelloeSubstituted forMayat 87'minutes22Smith13JaiyesimiSubstituted forKaneat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 7May9Kane16Jephcott17Olufunwa23Sprangler25Ballantyne27Turner-Cooke31Richards46Franczak
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
1Hart2Johnston20Carter-Vickers5Scales3Taylor33O'Riley42McGregor14Turnbull13Yang8Furuhashi7Palma
- 1Hart2Johnston20Carter-Vickers5Scales3Taylor33O'Riley42McGregor14TurnbullSubstituted forOhat 58'minutes13YangSubstituted forJohnstonat 45'minutes8FuruhashiBooked at 79minsSubstituted forIwataat 85'minutes7PalmaSubstituted forForrestat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Phillips15Holm19Oh24Iwata28Gonçalves Bernardo29Bain49Forrest56Ralston90Johnston
Referee:Don RobertsonMatch StatsHome TeamSt JohnstoneAway TeamCelticPossessionHome30%Away70%ShotsHome5Away25Shots on TargetHome3Away7CornersHome2Away12FoulsHome8Away7Live Text Post update
Match ends, St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 3.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 3.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. Matt O'Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alistair Johnston with a cross.
90'+3'goalGoal!
Goal! St. Johnstone 1, Celtic 3. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tomoki Iwata following a fast break.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt saved. Jay Turner-Cooke (St. Johnstone) header from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Liam Scales (Celtic).
90'+1'Post update
Chris Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Mikey Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
89'Post update
Liam Scales (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Chris Kane (St. Johnstone).
89'Post update
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Stevie May (St. Johnstone).
88'Post update
Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor following a corner.
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Scales (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mikey Johnston with a cross following a corner.
88'Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jay Turner-Cooke.
87'Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Stevie May replaces Dara Costelloe because of an injury.
86'Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomoki Iwata replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.
84'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Dara Costelloe (St. Johnstone).
83'Post update
Attempt missed. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Liam Scales following a corner.
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Player of the match
MitovDimitar Mitov
with an average of 7.33
- St JohnstoneSt JohnstoneSt JohnstoneCelticCelticCeltic
St JohnstoneAvgSquad number1Player nameMitovAverage rating
7.33
Squad number13Player nameJaiyesimiAverage rating
6.38
Squad number11Player nameCareyAverage rating
6.29
Squad number5Player nameMcGowanAverage rating
6.24
Squad number34Player namePhillipsAverage rating
6.11
Squad number6Player nameGordonAverage rating
6.02
Squad number19Player nameRobinsonAverage rating
5.95
Squad number2Player nameBrownAverage rating
5.94
Squad number44Player nameCostelloeAverage rating
5.93
Squad number22Player nameSmithAverage rating
5.93
Squad number15Player nameKucheryavyiAverage rating
5.90
Squad number27Player nameTurner-CookeAverage rating
5.22
Squad number9Player nameKaneAverage rating
4.64
Squad number7Player nameMayAverage rating
3.90
CelticAvgSquad number90Player nameJohnstonAverage rating
7.04
Squad number33Player nameO'RileyAverage rating
6.85
Squad number42Player nameMcGregorAverage rating
6.53
Squad number19Player nameOh Hyeon-GyuAverage rating
6.45
Squad number20Player nameCarter-VickersAverage rating
6.34
Squad number49Player nameForrestAverage rating
6.32
Squad number5Player nameScalesAverage rating
6.22
Squad number7Player namePalmaAverage rating
5.98
Squad number2Player nameJohnstonAverage rating
5.91
Squad number24Player nameIwataAverage rating
5.88
Squad number8Player nameFuruhashiAverage rating
5.78
Squad number14Player nameTurnbullAverage rating
5.52
Squad number1Player nameHartAverage rating
5.50
Squad number3Player nameTaylorAverage rating
5.49
Squad number13Player nameYang Hyun-JunAverage rating
4.66
Source: bbc.com