Bogle double claims the points
With four players called up for first team duty it was a much changed side that John Kennedy selected with a shoulder injury to Jackson Irvine further upsetting the side.
Galway bhoy Joe O’Brien started his first match at u-19 level stepping in to replace Marcus Fraser and stood up well to some concerted pressure from St Johnstone during the second half.
Just like last week’s 5-0 win over Kilmarnock Celtic found themselves in an early two goal lead. Bogle cashed in on a slip from the Saints keeper in the 13th minute to open the scoring then turned sharply three minutes later on the edge of the box to double Celtic’s lead with a low drive beyond the Saints keeper.
After half an hour Irvine went down heavily and was in obvious pain before being taken off with Mo Yaqub taking his place and Joe Chalmers moving in to partner Joe O’Brien in the centre of defence. At this stage it looks unlikely that Irvine will be fit for Thursday’s match with Barcelona.
Celtic came close to extending their lead before the interval with Tony Watt, Bogle and John Herron all coming close.
After the break Celtic seemed to take their foot off the gas and were grateful to Robbie Thomson for a 56th minute penalty as St Johnstone stepped up the pace but it was in injury time before the ‘home’ side found the net.
Celtic now prepare for Thursday’s match with Barcelona in the Next Gen Series with the dilemma of having four key players possibly required for first team duty against Dunfermline on Wednesday night.
CELTIC: Thomson, Miller, Irvine (Yaqub 33) O’Brien, Chalmers; Herron, Kidd, Fisher, P Twardzik; Watt (Atajic 69), Bogle
SUBS Fazan, Williamson, Lindsay, Johnstone, George
THIS SEASON’S SCORERS: Watt 8, Herron 6, George 5, F Twardzik 4, Bogle 4, P Twardzik 3, Williamson 2, Irvine 2, McGregor2, McGeough 2, Atajic 1, Gormley 1, OG 1
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