Saints lose late in Glasgow

Dec 28 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE scenes in the rival technical areas could not have been more contrasting.

While a crestfallen Derek McInnes and his entourage cursed their misfortune after restraining an anxious and increasingly clueless Celtic side beyond the regulation 90 minutes, a gloriously curling Cha Du Ri strike triggered hysteria in the home technical area so extravagant impartial observers were checking calendars to confirm it was December rather than April.

Most fans lingering in a sparsely populated stadium were biding their time to vent their spleen on a manager and players guilty of a fourth successive home draw before presents tagged Made in South Korea pacified the natives and wrenched a point from Perth hands.

Before their intervention, the 101st meeting between the clubs was seemingly destined for stalemate, with a drilled and disciplined Saints side set to ruin Christmas for the locals. The official crowd was released as 40,000-plus but someone had been on the Christmas sherry.

The wise men from the east rarely hinted they would muster a goal to snatch a rare victory. But by the 90th minute Celtic were stumbling down cul de sacs blocked by resolute watchmen Steven Anderson and Michael Duberry, with composed keeper Peter Enckelman unflappable bringing-up the rear.

The Finland international, bar one spillage and a rebound from his crossbar, was comfortable and commanding. But he was beaten twice in the three minutes added on by referee Calum Murray, with Cha’s stunning strike quickly followed-up by a breakaway counter by fellow countryman Ki Sung-Yeung. McInnes was left wishing their national call-up had demanded a flight out of Glasgow earlier in the day.

While two previous encounters in Perth saw Saints ship goals before they got into their stride, this time Celtic were kept at bay before the dramatic and unexpected twist to a Christmas tale.

Saints were minus skipper Jody Morris and injured Murray Davidson but Chris Millar and Alan Maybury plugged the gaps effectively in central midfield, harassing the Hoops at every turn.

The Perth side gave their hosts an almighty scare in the first minute when Collin Samuel latched onto a miscued Majstorovic header only for his control to let him down and keeper Forster shepherded the ball for a goalkick when he might have been given real cause for concern.

As expected, Celtic dominated possession but found few chinks in the Perth armour. Greek striker Samaras, who spent most of the match in reverse gear with Duberry at his back, pounded a shot into the turf which veered over and time froze for Enckelman as he watched a Murphy effort bobble inches wide in the 19th minute.

Irish winger McCourt stabbed an 18-yarder straight at the Perth keeper after leaving Millar and Dave Mackay on the deck and another trademark slalom ended with an angled shot dinked wide after half-time.

In the 54th minute Saints gave the Hoops a fright when Danny Grainger's delivery eluded scrambling Sam Parkin and Cleveland Taylor's drilled cross found no takers.

Maybury was carded for felling McGinn but Ki's free-kick from the edge of the box was smacked into the wall. Stokes was pitched in but still the Perth defence stood firm. As sieges go it was hardly the Alamo.

With bench options limited, teenage striker Stevie May got a run for the last 17 minutes and Enckelman was relieved when the ineffectual Murphy tumbled but scooped the ball into the goalie's arms.

Five minutes from the end sub Peter MacDonald did well to direct a shot on the drop goalwards from a Maybury lob.

Normally Celtic build-up a head of steam before securing late strikes but McGinn's dive smacked of desperation stretching for a McCourt pass, sub Kapo's shot bounced up to smack the crossbar in the 87th minute and when Ki squeezed a free-kick wide it looked like mission accomplished for stubborn Saints.

But soon after the three minute warning flashed Liam Craig allowed Cha to drift in off the wing. The full-back swept towards the penalty area without a challenge and his left foot shot curved into the far top corner from 18 yards.

Off came the shirt and relieved Hoops piled onto manager Lennon after playing their Get Out of Jail Free Card. And with Saints pushing men forward Kapo released Korean midfielder Ki to smash a second past Enckelman, to ensure Celtic headed indoors to the sound of cheers rather than jeers.

CELTIC: Forster, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Brown, Samaras (Stokes 66), Cha, McGinn, Ki, McCourt (Kayal 90), Rogne and Murphy (Kapo 77). Subs not used: Zaluska, Wilson, Mulgrew and Towell.

SAINTS: Enckelman, Mackay, Grainger, Anderson, Duberry, Maybury, Millar, Craig (Myrie-Williams 90), Parkin, Samuel (MacDonald 81) and Taylor (May 73). Subs not used: Smith, Gartland, Caddis and McIntosh.

REFEREE: Calum Murray.