Celtic vs St Johnstone 2-0 1st April 2012

CELTIC inched closer to sealing the SPL title after a victory over St Johnstone that came amid tributes to former player Stilyan Petrov, who yesterday announced he had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia.

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Celtic players, staff and fans wore shirts emblazoned with the Aston Villa midfielder’s name and shirt number.

If the tributes to Petrov were an expression of the club’s solidarity, then the same could be said of St Johnstone’s rearguard for much of the first half.

Celtic struggled to break down a well-organised Saints side, but a Georgios Samaras header and an own goal by midfielder Chris Millar after the break saw off the visitors, whose striker Cillian Sheridan missed a great chance with the game goalless.

It was not a vintage Celtic performance, who were perhaps a bit deflated by Rangers’ win at Motherwell yesterday which prevented a possible title party today.

However, that will not worry Hoops boss Neil Lennon, whose side need only a draw at Kilmarnock next Saturday to be crowned champions.Saints midfielder Chris Millar took possession wide on the right and played in right-back Dave Mackay, who sent a great cross into the box only for Sheridan to somehow miss the target from six yards.

Moments later Sandaza rose highest in the Hoops box to head Craig’s whipped-in free-kick looping over the bar.

Matthews replaced Lustig in the 55th minute before Ki came on for Stokes and, in between the two substitutions, Mannus tipped a cross-cum-shot from Commons over the bar as the hosts exerted some pressure.

Samaras won the free-kick which led to his opener in the 66th minute when Saints defender David McCracken fouled him 35 yards out in his frustration to get the ball off the Greece striker. Commons flighted the ball to the back post, where Samaras climbed to head back across goal and past Mannus.

The points were sealed four minutes later, with the Saints bench still complaining about a hefty tackle on Craig by Commons, who played on.

Celtic swept up the park and, when Ki played in Samaras down the right, he drove a low cross into the box which was deflected into his own net by Millar.

Saints shrugged off their rage to try to rescue something from the game and in the 83rd minute Forster made a fine save from Craig’s 25-yard free-kick, stretching to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

Craig then blasted over the bar from close range after Forster had parried a Sandaza cross right to his feet, summing up a frustrating day for the McDiarmid Park midfielder.

In the final seconds of normal time, after Wright had clattered Commons 25 yards from goal, Mulgrew drew a good save from Mannus with his curling free-kick.