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FIVE key lessons from Celtic’s win over St Johnstone

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The similarities between the game with Hapoel three days earlier were obvious as some patterns began to emerge in Celtic’s play during the 4-2 win at St Johnstone.

Without doubt there is plenty of pace, imagination and finishing ability when Celtic push forward, 14 goals from 3 games being a reasonable return from the performances that the team puts in.

At the back however there are concerns although as Brendan Rodgers pointed out his back four is exceptionally youthful with only Kolo Toure knowing his way around the business.

From the dug out it is obvious that we have a manager of substance, someone that reads the game well, reacts to what he sees and gets the best out of his squad of players.

The substitution of Leigh Griffiths was telling, while he had again produced the goods with an erratic referee like Craig Thomson there is always the possibility of danger. As he left the pitch Rodgers held onto the striker for some telling words no doubt explaining exactly why he had been replaced.

There was no real new messages emerging from the match, more a reinforcement of what we have picked up already this season. If the progress continues in Tuesday’s match against Hapoel then a whole new chapter and challenge will emerge.

CLICK HERE to go through the gallery of yesterday’s key lessons.

FORRESTFORREST’S ON FIRE

So far this season James Forrest has been on a par with Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts in terms of the impact that he’s had on the Celtic team.

When the team is attacking at pace Forrest is as much a danger to defences as anyone, as St Johnstone discovered yesterday.

Alongside Leigh Griffiths he played a big role in the second goal scored by Scott Sinclair while his solo effort third goal will take a lot of beating.

With his form rather than fitness now the issue it seems that Forrest has finally arrived as a first team starter.

 CRAIG GORDON

CRAIG GORDON

It looked like the message about Dorus de Vries and his ability with the ball at his feet had an adverse effect on Craig Gordon.

During the second half especially he played a number of short passes out of his penalty box but they tended to give St Johnstone hope rather than build Celtic attacks.

It may only be perception but Gordon looks very vulnerable these days in the Celtic goal, reversing that situation looks unlikely with a new keeper suddenly on the sidelines.

TOURE

TOURE AND O’CONNELL?

It’s not perfect, there are definite teething problems but that’s to be expected with less than a dozen Celtic first team appearances between the duo.

Most of yesterday’s problems were self inflicted, neither defender looked very comfortable with the passes coming from Craig Gordon with St Johnstone posing little threat.

Concentration will be tighter in Israel on Tuesday, it would be sensible to keep the partnership developing rather than bring in Erik Sviachenko for O’Connell. Both players have plenty to prove and will be all the better for coming through Tuesday’s test.

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CRAIG THOMSON

Following the fashion set by their refereeing guru Hugh Dallas, Thomson is really taking on board the mantra that the referee is the star of the show.

From the bookings for Griffiths and Forrest it was clear that the referee had enjoyed the spotlight so much at Dens Park the previous week that he wanted more of the same.

If he had an appreciation for the game rather than seeking attention Paul Paton would have been red carded for his brutal challenge on Tom Rogic. Having viewed Liam Henderson take a head knock he only decided to take action once blood was gushing from the midfielder’s head. A woeful display.

 

GRIFFITHSLEIGH GRIFFITHS

Game by game he is looking more confident, in every match you expect the striker to score.

Yesterday’s match will go down as a mixed bag, ending with a polite warning from Rodgers that he has to be careful when he is sitting on a booking, it wouldn’t have been a massive shock if he had been given a second yellow card for a lunge on a defender in front of the Celtic dug out.

With the confidence of his acclaimed double against Hapoel he is taking his game upto a new level- one that will hopefully involve the Champions League group phase after two painful near misses.

 

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