St. Johnstone vs Celtic. Scottish Premiership.
McDiarmid ParkAttendance7,036.
Report as Celtic hit St Johnstone for six during a relentless display of attacking brilliance; Kyogo scored twice and assisted another; Paulo Bernardo and Callum McGregor scored long-range stunners; Adam Idah converted a superb team move late on; St Johnstone remain managerless
Saturday 28 September 2024 21:56, UK
Celtic thumped managerless St Johnstone 6-0 to reclaim top spot in the Scottish Premiership.
Brendan Rodgers side lead proceedings by virtue of goal difference, scoring 20 times without reply, and winning six from six - a record only matched by Aberdeen - their best start to a campaign since 1906.
With a winning streak stretching back 17 games, attention now turns to Europe with a midweek trip to Borussia Dortmund, where Celtic will hope for more magic from star man Kyogo.
The forward scored either side of a Paulo Bernardo stunner, which he set up, to kill St Johnstone's resistance before the game even reached halfway.
Callum McGregor's fine goalscoring form continued to add a fourth after the break, taking his seasonal tally to four - all from outside the box. "It's nice, I keep flying in and enjoying it," the captain reflected. "The guys were first class, we can really enjoy tonight."
Daizen Maeda nodded a fifth before the night was out, while three substitutes combined to gift Adam Idah the chance to finish a sumptuous team move and complete the exhibition seven minutes from time.
Rodgers will now take his side to Germany to face Champions League runners-up Dortmund on Tuesday in top form, and confident they can, at the very least, offer the Bundesliga's fourth-placed side a stern test.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers speaking to Premier Sports:
"I thought this was an opportunity for us to show our mentality, because all the noise has been about Borussia Dortmund. I want a Champions League mentality here, in the league. The counter-pressing was pleasing, because I want that to be our point of difference.
"We wanted to keep our rhythm going. Some brilliant goals. Nothing pleases me more than Daizen Maeda making a tracking run in the 86th minute to recover the ball.
"We are in a good flow at the moment. This is not a tick-box exercise, it's the opportunity to show a really good mentality. I want to see what the players do when they come to grounds like this."
