Scottish Premiership
Sunday, February 5, 2023
McDiarmid Park, Perth

ST JOHNSTONE… 1
(Wright 25)

CELTIC… 4
(Considine OG 13, Kyogo 22, Mooy 38, Turnbull 90+3)

Celtic were once again at their clinical best as they defeated St Johnstone 4-1 away from home in the Scottish Premiership at McDiarmid Park.

Three of the goals came in the first-half, the opener an own goal from Andrew Considine before Kyogo and Aaron Mooy got on the scoresheet, sandwiched between a Drey Wright goal for the hosts.

David Turnbull adding a fourth in stoppage time as Ange Postecoglou's side claimed another valuable three points to keep the Hoops nine points clear at the top of the Premiership table.

The winter weather has taken its toll on pitches throughout the country and it was no different at McDiarmid Park with a dry, bobbly turf making the opening 10 minutes a period where both teams looked to try and feel their way into the game.

It didn’t stop Celtic having a chance on nine minutes when Alistair Johnston met a corner at the near post with his head, and it then didn’t stop the Celts producing some magical football on 13 minutes to take the lead.

Kyogo was the architect, starting the move inside his own half by spraying a cross-field ball out to Jota on the right-wing. Not one to stand around and admire his pass, the striker burst forward to then receive a defence-splitting through ball from Aaron Mooy, and from a dangerous position on the right of the box his cross was turned in by Andrew Considine.

Kyogo played a starring role as the support act for the opening goal, but nine minutes later he was the main character as he doubled the advantage.

Mooy and Jota were influential again as the Australian found the Portuguese on the right and he dribbled his way forward into a crossing position.

Kyogo made his move in the box and Jota picked him out. That just left the Japanese striker to take one touch to settle himself before smashing the ball into the top right corner for his 22nd goal of the season.

Just three minutes later Drey Wright reduced the deficit when he unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards out that arrowed into the bottom left corner of the net.

Callum Davidson’s side had their best spell of pressure in the following 10 minutes as they looked for an equaliser, but the next goal would be Celtic’s on 38 minutes and it was another to be added into the top drawer category.

The first two goals saw a combination of Kyogo, Mooy and Jota and the third saw the three men involved once again. Kyogo dropped into a pocket of space between the lines and was found by Cameron Carter-Vickers.

From there, the ball was played into Jota who produced a sublime dink over the St Johnstone defence to find the forward run of Mooy who then replicated his team-mate by lobbing the ball over Remi Matthews to produce a goal of the highest quality.

Celtic continue winning run with strong display against St Johnstone