Celtic eased into the Scottish Cup Final as they wreaked a merciless revenge on a St Johnstone side who had shocked them at McDiarmid Park a couple of weeks ago.
A blitz of goals just before the interval saw Brendan Rodgers’ side pull away from the shellshocked Saints, as four quickfire strikes from Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah and Maeda again meant that the game was over as a contest by the break.
The damage limitation exercise from the Saints in the second period limited Celtic to just the one further goal, Jota coming off the bench to add the cherry on top for Brendan Rodgers and his men.
Here are the talking points from Hampden…
Sobering day for St Johnstone as Idah helps to leave them feeling sick
It has been quite the week for Celtic striker Idah, who as well as going through a bit of a rough patch on the field, was possibly feeling slightly rough on Thursday morning after being videoed enjoying a night out.
In the grand scheme of things, it is hardly the crime of the century, but in the context of the disappointing season that Idah has had to date, it was a headache both he and his manager could have done without.
After Rodgers was forced to defend him in his pre-match interview by clarifying that in fact, Idah had not been sick inside a taxi, the big Irishman owed his boss and the Celtic fans a performance, and he did get himself on the scoresheet for Celtic third, tapping home Reo Hatate’s cross.
He still doesn’t look to be at the same level he showed when he was here on loan a year ago, but did look slightly sharper than he has done of late, and he will hope he can now put his moment of controversy – as well as his struggles on the field this term – behind him.
Old timers shine for Celts
For all the talent at Rodgers’ disposal, it was two of his stalwarts who really caught the eye on the day, with the driving runs of McGregor through the middle and the direct play and trickery of Forrest proving too much for the Saints defence to handle.
It was McGregor who hit the opener as he exploited the space that St Johnstone were affording him ruthlessly, while Forrest received a huge ovation from the Celtic support when he took his leave just after the hour.
The only disappointment for the winger was that he didn’t manage to find the net as he looks to maintain his run of scoring in the last 15 consecutive seasons, but on this form, he will likely have plenty of time on the pitch over the remaining fixtures to rectify that situation.
A vintage performance from both.
VAR the panto villain
As is so often the case, the technology intervened to become something of a pantomime villain in the second half, as St Johnstone substitute Makenzie Kirk smashed home a consolation with a brilliant finish into Viljami Sinisalo’s top corner.
It had given the couple of thousand fans in the small blue corner of Hampden something to shout about, and there likely wouldn’t even have been many within the rest of the national stadium that would have grudged them it.
Earlier in the sequence of play though, Idah had coughed up the ball, with referee Callum Scott judging that the big man had gone to ground rather easily and waving play on. VAR official Andew Dallas though spotted a shove from Daniels Balodis in the back of Idah, and the goal was chopped off in rather miserly fashion.
There was a call later that went in favour of Balodis and St Johnstone, in fairness, with referee Scott’s soft award for a check on Forrest by the Latvian being overturned on review.
Saints shoot themselves in foot
Over half an hour had gone at Hampden before anything of note really happened, and that had suited St Johnstone just fine.
The conditions for this game between the sides could scarcely have been more different to their match at McDiarmid Park a couple of weeks prior when the Saints recorded a shock win, with the size of the pitch and the fact that it at least had some grass on it seeming to increase Celtic’s chances of breaking down an opponent who were certain to adopt a strategy to frustrate once more.
The first third of the game didn’t really play out that way, though. Yes, Celtic had all the possession and the territory, but apart from efforts from distance that goalkeeper Andy Fisher, the hero of that win in Perth, could have thrown his hat on, St Johnstone were pretty comfortable.
Then, alas, they tried to be a little bit too clever with a goal kick, Barry Douglas of all people dollying a chip into midfield that Alistair Johnston read to win, and suddenly alarm bells were ringing for the Saints.
Seconds later, McGregor was passing the ball home from the edge of the area to break the deadlock. Celtic were suddenly on fire, but it was the Saints who lit the spark themselves.
In truth, the relegation threatened Saints have bigger fish to fry, and Simo Valakari will hope this thumping doesn’t dent confidence for the bottom six run-in.
Rodgers maintains perfect Hampden record
It is 15 games now without defeat for Celtic manager Rodgers at his happy Hampden hunting ground, and if he can make it a sweet 16th against Aberdeen next month, then he will claim another treble.
In this sort of form, it would be a brave man to bet against Rodgers and his men doing just that.
