3 talking points as Celtic snatch dramatic late win with Giorgos Giakoumakis leaving St Johnstone sickened

Giorgos Giakoumakis netted a dramatic last-gasp winner to ensure Celtic didn’t slip up after an extraordinary finish against St Johnstone in Perth.

Alex Mitchell celebrated his 21st birthday with what looked like a the goal that would grab a point with his first senior goal which cancelled out Andy Considine’s own goal.

But Giakoumakis scored right at the end of five minutes of injury as the Greek converted Alexandro Bernabei’s cross. It was incredible stuff with the goals coming within 70 seconds of each other. Postecoglou delivered relatively good news with Callum McGregor only out until after the World Cup with the skipper, crooked against RB Leipzig in midweek, one of six changes from the team that started in Germany.

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Cameron Carter-Vickers returned from injury and was handed the armband ahead of Joe Hart after a tough couple of games for the Hoops goalkeeper. Greg Taylor was given a rest as Bernabei was handed his first league start.

And he was was involved in a couple of bright early moments as he fizzed a ball across the six-yard box but there were no takers. And then he started the move that should have seen the visitors take the lead. Bernabei sent Jota racing clear down the left and he picked out Liel Abada unmarked but the Israeli ballooned his effort over the crossbar from close range.

At the other end Nicky Clark lofted a good opportunity over after the Celtic defence was caught out by a long ball forward.

Andrew Considine and Sead Haksabanovic (Image: SNS Group)

Celtic were the width of the post away from breaking the deadlock when Matt O’Riley’s shot from outside the box was tipped onto the woodwork. Sead Haksabanovic then forced Saints keeper Remi Matthews into a save with the on-loan Crystal Palace man parrying his shot but Considine cleared.

But Considine wasn’t so lucky as the deadlock was finally broken four minutes before half time. Anthony Ralston fed the inventive Reo Hatate down the right and the Japan star’s lovely reverse pass released Haksabanovic and the Montenegrin’s was diverted into his own net by Considine.

Saints had been dogged up until then but the first goal was always going to be key. Jota went off at the break with Daizen Maeda on for him and Giakoumakis had the ball in the net from O’Riley’s corner – only for for the offside flag to cut short the Greek’s celebrations.

Haksabanovic then set up Abada with a brilliant defence-splitting pass but Matthews was equal to the Israeli’s effort before opposite number Hart produced his one big moment.

The under-fire keeper had barely had anything to do but Melker Hallberg lofted a ball over the Hoops defence for substitute May and his shot was touched onto the post by Hart.

Connor McLennan then blew a glorious chance and then came the late, late drama. Mitchell did well to control a free kick and slot past Hart but he could never have imagine with so little time left that Celtic would have the last laugh.

Here’s three talking points from Perth

Japanese gem

Hajime Moriyasu must have an embarrassment of riches in midfield if there is even any doubt about Reo Hatate going to the World Cup. The 24-year-old didn’t feature during the last international break and he expressed his disappointment with doubts over him making the plane to Qatar next month. But Hatate is an exquisite footballer and showed his class as his vision and pass created the opener. Japan, of course, aren’t short of quality with the likes of former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino, now at Monaco, but surely there must be room in that Samurai Blue squad for Hatate.

McGregor a miss but O’Riley softens blow Drey Wright and Matt O’Riley (Image: PA)

You can’t take a captain as influential as Callum McGregor out of the team and not expect it to have an impact. Ange Postecoglou revealed before the game that the midfielder would be out until after the World Cup and while that is a blow it could have been worse. What happens in the short term was the big question with a handful of players touted for his position. Oliver Abildgaard was favourite so it was maybe a bit of a surprise when Postecoglou opted for O’Riley, replaced by the Dane, but the former MK Dons man, while no McGregor in that position, did well to adapt his game for the defensive midfield role. He hit the post and his free kick set up Giorgos Giakoumakis goal which was ruled out for offside.

Saints sickened

St Johnstone have taken some heavy defeats against the Hoops in the past but this must almost have felt worse. The Perth men defended well for the most part with a real slice of bad luck for that opening goal they conceded. Callum Davidson’s men gave up so much possession but limited Celtic in terms of clear cut chances but they blew two glorious chances themselves to snatch a point when Stevie May’s shot was tipped onto the post and Connor McLennan really should have done better with his big opportunity before Mitchell scored before that late sucker punch.