Three days too late, Celtic appear to have learned lessons from their Europa League defeat from Copenhagen. Game Management.
When you are in front it is about running down the clock, when you are behind and chasing the game it is time wasting.
Against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup Ryan Christie’s free kick found the net at roughly the same time as Odsonne Edouard netted his penalty against Copenhagen.
On Thursday night drawing level seemed to trigger melt-down in some Celtic players as they lost their shape in the euphoria of the goal resulting in a brutal 1-2 from the Danes.
At McDiarmid Park, Pat Bonner spotted something different as he told Radio Scotland:
They didn’t manage the game against Copenhagen in the last five minutes, but so far they’re seeing themselves through. Picking up free kicks, throw-ins, whatever you need to get over the line.
There was a reaction from St Johnstone to going behind but the Celtic defence stood firm, the regular duo of Chris Jullien and Kris Ajer stood firm with back up from their team-mates.
Christie and Tom Rogic ran the clock down, deep inside the Saints half without going over to the mud-bath that was the corner flag.
Bobby Madden found five minutes of stoppage time to add but Celtic saw it through.
After the emotions of losing late on to Copenhagen they overcame the energy sapping pitch at McDiarmid Park and for 90 minutes their cup-tie record was under threat.
With just one more scheduled midweek match, at Livingston on Wednesday, Lennon’s squad can get some regular training and rest in as they close in on a Quadruple Treble and Nine-In-A-Row.
