Celtic slumped to their first SPL u-20 defeat of the season as St Johnstone emerged from Firhill with three points.
The hoops fielded possibly the youngest side ever for an u-20 fixture with all of the players except Mikey Miller still eligible to play at u-18 level.
Miller scored the Celtic goal but with the visitors notching either side of it the home side were left to taste defeat for the first time this season.
Getting the blend right between winning matches and giving players experience will always be the conundrum at this level with the Celtic side just lacking the know how of how to handle fixtures like this but that only comes from experience.
There were three players, Connor McManus, Paul McMullan and Luke Donnelly making their first appearance at this level with all three showing some flashes of the ability that has fast tracked them through the club academy.
Lassad Nouioui and Rabui Ibrahim dropped out from the side that drew 0-0 with Hearts last week while u-20 regulars Darnell Fisher, Patrik Twardzik and Bahrudin Atajic were also missing.
McManus came in for his debut at right back with Miller, Eoghan O’Conneill and Calum Waters making up the defence in front of Glen Daniels.
Liam Henderson returned to central midfield alongside Lewis Kidd and Jamie Lindsay with Denny Johnstone wide right, debutant McMullan on the left and Jack Kirwan playing through the centre.
McMullan created the first Celtic chance in the 17th minute when he lofted the ball over the Saints defence to Lewis Kidd whose chip over the on-rushing keeper bounced off the crossbar to safety.
St Johnstone’s centre forward headed wide of the goal after being set up at the back post with the visitors crashing a shot off the crossbar before the interval.
Other than Kidd’s chance Celtic’s best efforts came from two corner just past the half hour mark with O’Connell heading wide from a Henderson corner from the right quickly followed by Miller volleying a corner from Waters on the right back across goal.
After the first half stalemate there were three goals scored within nine minutes early in the second period. In the 54th minute the visitors took the lead when a half chance at the edge of the Celtic penalty box fell to Liam Caddis whose shot flew into the net before Daniels had a chance to move.
Celtic were back on level terms in the 61st minute when Miller popped up in the six yard box to get on the end of a cross from Johnstone but two minutes later Saints regained the lead with the Celtic defence opened up after Kidd was dispossessed with Daniels blocking but unable to prevent a Callum McConnell’s going into the net.
CELTIC: Daniels; McManus (Donnelly 87), Miller, O’Connell, Waters; Johnstone, Kidd, Lindsay, Henderson (Kelleher 55), McMullan: Â Kirwan,Â
SUBS: Jordan Hart, Glen Eadie