Quite how we lost this one I don't understand. OK, so we weren't great in the first 20 minutes but after that we were fantastic. We bossed the start of the second half and would have had a couple had it not been for Fraser Forster. The fact we were in control was proven by the fact Celtic made a double change to get back into things and sadly that resulted in things starting to sway back their way. But even after Celtic went in front we stayed strong and Forster produced another save to keep his side in front before a goal a couple of minutes from time finished us off.
Plenty to be positive about if not the result. Dougie Imrie looked good on his debut, Paul McGowan did his usual and there were no real failures. David Barron had to start on the right side of midfield as Imrie replaced Gary Teale. We also had Steven Thompson, McGowan and Graham Carey in from the start so we were hardly being defensive. Neil Lennon left Anthony Stokes on the bench, with Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras up front. With James Forrest and Ki Sung Yueng starting it was still a fairly offensive line-up.
Considering the form they're in it surprised no one that Celtic enjoyed the bulk of the early play and we were only able to make the odd break across the half way line. On one of those Thomas Rogne rather foolishly fouled McGowan and got a rather harsh booking. The free-kick was poor but it was put behind for a corner and from it we almost went in front, Marc McAusland meeting the ball with a fine low effort that Fraser Forster did well to stop from sneaking over the line. Rather more impressive was Hooper's shot from more than 30 yards, Craig Samson appearing to have it covered before it swerved and he had to claw it away for a corner. Steven Thompson then seemed to forget where he was as he met the corner strongly and diverted it towards goal, Samson thankfully making a comfortable save.
He remembered where he was a few minutes later as Barron, who seemed to have been moved back into the middle of the park, played a great ball out to Imrie, who whipped in a cross that Thompson met but dive-headered straight at Forster. We had at least stemmed the tide of traffic coming towards our goal - although there was still a wee bit too much of it - and had been creating a few openings, although not chances, ourselves. Barron showed why it's four years this month since he scored his only career goal as he set his sights for the top corner and watched the ball trundle wide. Graham Carey - rather less involved than the last time one of the Old Firm came to town - had similar visions as he met a Thompson flick but smashed it across goal.
However, while we might have had possession Celtic were obviously still a threat, Hooper proving that with a header that wasn't far away. It was Forrest who provided that cross and his next one found its way onto the bar - via a deflection only the officials saw. Thankfully the dubious decision didn't cost us an we went in level at the break.
Forster was forced to react less than two minutes into the second half, although Kenny McLean's shot with his right peg was unlikely to sneak in at the far post. Next time he was on his left foot he couldn't shoot so crossed and Lee Mair almost sneaked in to nod home, missing the ball by fractions. Surprisingly, despite expecting Celtic to come flying out of the traps, it was us with the possession and the attacking emphasis as Imrie's dreams of a debut goal foiled when he shot straight at Forster.
David van Zanten hasn't scored for a while and fancied his chances when the ball broke to him at the edge of the box, but his shot was going well wide before McGowan sent on its rightful path - Forster producing a stunning shot to keep it out. McGowan's next contribution wasn't quite so good as he got booked for fouling Samaras - although as he'd been charging forward on a break it was a clever foul. Our game plan, whatever it was, had obviously worked as Celtic felt the need to make a double change, Samaras and Ki being hooked for Stokes and Kris Commons. Almost immediately they looked a different side and from a corner there was a huge shout for a corner as the Celtic fans and players felt there had been a handball, the appeals waved away by the officials.
We were now on the back foot, although a chance opened up when McLean passed to McGowan, who sent Imrie through only for his fierce effort to be saved by Forster at the expense of a corner. You always feared Celtic's quality would tell when they attacked as they looked capable of slicing Saints apart when the mood took them, but Carey danced his way past two defenders before being brought down by Cha who was deservedly booked.
The opening goal arrived courtesy of more wing wizardry but it wasn't from Carey, or indeed any of our players. Forrest easily had the beating of Jeroen Tesselaar so the Dutchman sent him tumbling at the expense of a free-kick over on the touchline. Commons delivered the ball and it appeared the danger was over when Samson fisted it away but we switched off and when Scott Brown played it back in Forrest appeared drive it past the reach of the Saints goalie into the net. Game as good as over and the Celtic fans had suddenly found their voice. Funny that.
It was now about ensuring we didn't concede again as Celtic pushed for a second that would finish it. After riding the storm for 10 minutes we won a corner and when Carey whipped it in Mair must have thought he'd headed us level only for Forster again to deny us with a block. Carey, along with Brown, was then hooked with Aaron Mooy and Gary Teale coming on. Like the earlier double change it boosted Celtic, Commons producing a woeful shot that went for a throw before Hooper shot wide when he should at least have hit the target.
Imrie was desperate for a debut goal and had a third stab at it when McGowan played him in, Imrie switching back onto his left foot before shooting just wide. Having done the damage Forrest got first use of the showers as Adam Matthews replaced him. Before he could even do anything Celtic doubled their lead as we once again gave Brown a ridiculous amount of space. This time it was from a short corner as Commons picked him out before the Celtic skipper sent a wonderful curling shot into the top corner.
We didn't deserve that - and certainly didn't deserve to lose by three so thankfully Thomas Rogne's effort was ruled out for offside. Imrie had another go just as stoppage time began, this time lashing it wide. For him and Saints it just wasn't to be.
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