Celtic survived a tremendous fightback from St Johnstone after enjoying a dream start in the driving rain of Perth. Anthony Stokes scored twice and Niall McGinn was also on target on his return – all within the opening thirteen minutes of their Co-operative Insurance Cup tie at McDiarmid Park.
But Sam Parkin launched the home recovery after another Glenn Loovens mistake before Murray Davidson headed a second early in the second-half. Gary Hooper then missed a couple of outstanding chances at the opposite end, although the visitors were only spared extra-time following a brilliant Fraser Forster save in the final minute.
Manager Neil Lennon couldn’t have earlier asked for a better start as his side quickly raced into what looked an unassailable lead. That had begun on eight minutes when Ki Sung-Yeung’s cross from the right was missed by Alan Maybury and Stokes lashed an instinctive left-footed finish inside the near post.
Two minutes later the former Hibernian striker was denied a second by Saints keeper Graeme Smith before a foul on Joe Ledley had Ki’s free-kick being parried low to his right by Smith and straight into the path of McGinn, who needed no second invitation as he snapped up the chance.
And within sixty seconds it was 3-0 after the lively McGinn again found space down the right and crossed for Stokes to sweep the ball home with the aid of the inside of the far post. Celtic were then the victims of another bad decision when Hooper released Ledley to successfully round the keeper until being incorrectly ruled offside.
Moments later that appeared an even more crucial mistake as Loovens hopelessly miskicked following a lofted ball forward and allowed Parkin to despatch a left-footed half-volley across Forster and into the far corner.
Saints midfielder Liam Craig then drilled a shot comfortably over before Georgios Samaras skipped through a couple of challenges at the opposite end and forced Smith into another important block at his near post.
But it was his opposite number Forster coming to the visitors rescue right on the stroke of half-time when denying Parkin with his knees at point-blank range. However, even the big keeper was left helpless early in the second period as Davidson rose highest above Majstorovic to head in Danny Grainger’s 54th minute corner.
Celtic soon spurned a glorious opportunity to regain their two-goal advantage when Hooper hoisted over after being released by a superb cross-field ball from Stokes.
The action continued to be end-to-end and Saints replied with Parkin forcing a fine low save from Forster after Samaras had carelessly lost possession. McGinn then produced a blocked challenge on Maybury and visiting striker Hooper once again seemed a certain scorer until he slipped in the area as he attempted to round the keeper.
As the action drew towards its close it had become real backs-to-the wall from Celtic, with Majstorovic outstanding in defence as the home side forced a succession of corners and free-kicks.
And they appeared set to be rewarded in the final minute when substitute Jennison Myrie-Williams cut inside the challenge of Samaras and drilled a low, left-footed strike destined for the far corner – only for the valiant Forster to brilliantly turn it aside at the very last moment.
St Johnstone: Smith, Mackay, Grainger, Duberry, Anderson (Myrie-Williams 46), Maybury, Millar, Craig (MacDonald 82), Davidson, Parkin, Samuel (Haber 66)
subs (unused): Enckelman, Rutkiewic
Goals: Parkin (31), Davidson (54)
Celtic: Forster, Cha Du-Ri, Loovens, Majstorovic, Izaguirre (Mulgrew 85), McGinn, Ki Sung-Yeung, Ledley, Samaras, Stokes, Hooper
subs (unused): Zaluska, Juarez, Crosas, McCourt
Goals: Stokes (8, 13), McGinn (12)
Ref: C. Thompson
Att: 5,151
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