Late goals from Leigh Griffiths and Patryk Klimala snatched three Scottish Premiership points for Celtic after a difficult game against St Johnstone.
Griffiths was brought on for his first appearance of the season with 15 minutes left, and headed in to break the deadlock in the 90th minute.
Fellow substitute Klimala then made sure of the points deep into stoppage time with a finish at the near post.
The win temporarily moved Celtic above Rangers.
However, Steven Gerrard’s side returned to the summit after beating Ross County 2-0. They are a point clear having played a game more.
For St Johnstone, it was a fourth successive league defeat and they have now scored just once in their past seven matches.
Speculation affecting Edouard – LennonLennon evades Snodgrass rumoursSt Johnstone close to Melamed dealCallum Davidson’s side had the best chance in regulation time, Craig Conway crashing an attempt against an upright, and the Perth team also had the clearest opportunity of the opening half-hour.
Conway’s inswinging ball lured Vasilis Barkas off his line. David Wotherspoon nicked in ahead of him, but he got too much on his header when he just needed to glance it past the Celtic goalkeeper.
With David Turnbull – in for his first start – one of three changes from Thursday’s Europa League win in Bosnia, Celtic had the majority of the early possession.
Indeed, they could have had an early penalty had referee Nick Welsh spotted Liam Gordon pulling Shane Duffy’s shirt at a corner.
Callum McGregor, then Odsonne Edouard, had openings but St Johnstone went closest when Conway rattled a post after Wotherspoon had picked him out with a brilliant early cross.
That acted as a wake-up call for Celtic. Turnbull mistimed a header after being picked out by McGregor, before Klimala volleyed narrowly wide and Griffiths had an attempt deflected over.
However, when the chance came in the 90th minute, he made no mistake. A searching Hatem Elhamed cross found the Scotland striker, who buried his header past Clark.
There was still time for Klimala to make the game look more comfortable than it was, the Polish forward riding a challenge before rifling in at the near post.
Man of the match – Leigh GriffithsIt could have gone to a St Johnstone defender, but Griffiths proved to be the decisive playerWhat did we learn?Celtic’s results have been excellent in recent weeks, but it is clear that they are not performing to the best of their ability.
Think back to the start of the year, when they were firing on all cylinders and Griffiths and Edouard formed a fine partnership. Griffiths made his first appearance of the term here and made a real impact.
This was a performance that offered encouragement for St Johnstone. Though they have been on a poor run, they looked confident on the ball and assured in their defending, with the back three especially impressive. With better finishing, they could have won the game.
What did they say?Davidson ‘really pleased’ with St Johnstone despite defeatSt Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: “I thought the players performed to a very high standard and limited Celtic to very few changes.
“I am absolutely gutted for them more than anything else. Celtic bring five quality substitutes on and they are chasing the game.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “I think the subs gave us more urgency. I think our first half was not good enough, the second was better.
“It is evident Scott Brown’s influence on the team. You can’t dress up any kind of stats what he brings.”
Celtic have ‘been waiting for Griffiths’ – LennonWhat’s next?After the international break it’s the big one for Celtic, the Old Firm game on 17 October. St Johnstone meanwhile, have two League Cup games next week – Kelty Hearts on Wednesday, then Brechin City on Saturday.
Player of the match
MayStevie May
with an average of 7.09
St JohnstoneSquad number14Player nameMay
Squad number15Player nameMcNamara
Squad number3Player nameTanser
Squad number7Player nameConway
Squad number10Player nameWotherspoon
Squad number4Player nameMcCart
Squad number18Player nameMcCann
Squad number6Player nameGordon
Squad number8Player nameDavidson
Squad number5Player nameKerr
Squad number11Player nameO’Halloran
Squad number1Player nameClark
Squad number22Player nameHendry
CelticSquad number9Player nameGriffiths
Squad number11Player nameKlimala
Squad number8Player nameBrown
Squad number30Player nameFrimpong
Squad number4Player nameDuffy
Squad number17Player nameChristie
Squad number1Player nameBarkas
Squad number18Player nameRogic
Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Squad number35Player nameAjer
Squad number44Player nameElhamed
Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Squad number21Player nameNtcham
Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Squad number22Player nameEdouard
Line-upsSt Johnstone1Clark5KerrSubstituted forHendryat 90+1’minutes6GordonBooked at 90mins4McCart15McNamara18McCann8DavidsonBooked at 68mins3Tanser7Conway10WotherspoonBooked at 19minsSubstituted forO’Halloranat 67’minutes14MaySubstitutes11O’Halloran12Parish13Bryson16Olaofe19Rooney20Robertson22Hendry24Booth26CraigCeltic1Barkas44Elhamed4Duffy35Ajer30Frimpong21NtchamBooked at 13minsSubstituted forRogicat 76’minutes42McGregor3TaylorSubstituted forBrownat 82’minutes14TurnbullBooked at 49minsSubstituted forChristieat 59’minutes27ElyounoussiSubstituted forGriffithsat 76’minutes22EdouardSubstituted forKlimalaat 59’minutesSubstitutes2Jullien8Brown9Griffiths11Klimala12Soro17Christie18Rogic29Bain57WelshLive TextMatch ends, St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 2.
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 2.
Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 2. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Shane Duffy.
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Callum Hendry replaces Jason Kerr.
Goal! St. Johnstone 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hatem Elhamed with a cross.
Foul by Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic).
Stevie May (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie McCart.
Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.
Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael O’Halloran (St. Johnstone).
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Brown.
Offside, Celtic. Scott Brown tries a through ball, but Leigh Griffiths is caught offside.
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Craig Conway (St. Johnstone).
Substitution, Celtic. Scott Brown replaces Greg Taylor.