By David Sharp

ST JOHNSTONE

Kevin Cuthbert: Unlucky to see a soft penalty given for his clash with Vennegoor of Hesselink, but saved crucially from Paul Hartley in the second-half. Nowhere for Celtic's winning goal, but could do little to prevent it.

Steven Anderson: Calm and collected at the back and got forward when he could.

Kevin James: Saints captain was typically imposing at the back but was partly responsible for Celtic's opener when his poor back header was intercepted. Got forward at set-pieces and his height was always a concern.

Allan McManus: Coped well with the intimidating threat of Vennegoor of Hesselink and wasn't responsible for either goal.

Goran Stanic: An efficient game at the back but was slow off the mark when Vennegoor of Hesselink beat him at the near post for Celtic's winner. On a rare foray up the pitch his threaded ball through to Scotland in the box nearly produced a second equaliser.

Paul Sheerin: Was lively throughout and caused Celtic plenty of problems with his strong running and dribbling skills. Forced Boruc into a great save 10 minutes from time with a blistering 20-yard drive.

Derek McInnes: Unspectacular but steady performance in the sitting role in the St Johnstone midfield. Used his experience to break up play and rarely gave away possession.

Simon Mensing: Not as influential as he often is, but still worked his socks off and got up and down the park to cause problems.

Martin Hardie: His goal-bound lob over Boruc was nodded over the line by Stephen MacManus for St Johnstone's first-half equaliser and he battled valiantly throughout.

Jason Scotland: Typically energetic up front and spurned a great opportunity to open the scoring early on when he was clean through on Boruc. Was denied a certain goal by Naylor's intervention and had a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Macmanus.

Peter MacDonald: Didn't cause as many problems for the Celtic defence as his counterpart but he persistently pestered the Celtic back line.

Substitutes

Filipe Morais (on for Mensing after 75 mins): Put himself about in the closing stages with some crunching challenges.

Willie McLaren (on for Sheerin after 87 mins): Had little time to impress.

CELTIC

Artur Boruc: The usually unflappable Pole was caught in a flap for St Johnstone's goal as Hardie lobbed the ball over his head. Made amends with some crucial saves.

Gary Caldwell: A solid but unremarkable shift from the big defender who was put under plenty of pressure by St Johnstone's dogged frontline.

Steven Pressley: Coped well with St Johnstone's attacking trio and worked tirelessly for the Celtic cause.

Stephen McManus: Was unfortunate to score the own goal which made it 1-1 as the ball was almost certainly going to cross the line anyway. Otherwise solid throughout.

Lee Naylor: Battled hard on the right flank and prevented a certain goal for St Johnstone, with the score at 2-1 in Celtic's favour, when he blocked Scotland's shot in the box.

Shunsuke Nakamura: Neat and tidy in possession and dangerous from set-pieces but floated around in midfield to little penetrating effect and hobbled off with 10 minutes to go.

Neil Lennon: Typically tenacious in midfield and rarely wasted possession but the Celtic captain, lacking pace at the best of times, is getting even slower in the twilight years of his career.

Paul Hartley: The former Hearts man has failed to shine since making the move from Tynecastle and bar a decent strike in the second-half which was palmed away by Cuthbert he had a quiet game.

Aiden McGeady: The Scottish Young Player of the Year nominee was fairly anonymous for most of the game and looked particularly jaded in the second-half after a long season.

Derek Riordan: Promoted to the starting line-up after scoring the winner at Motherwell but despite some good movement the former Hibs striker blew his only real chance of scoring when his attempted lob found the roof of Cuthbert's net.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink: The prolific striker did enough to gain an early penalty which he calmly converted and grabbed Celtic's crucial second with a cute glancing header

Substitutes

Kenny Miller (on for Riordan after 65 minutes): The Scotland international put himself about and did his trademark shift of selfless running but to little affect.

Thomas Gravesen (on for Nakamura after 80 minutes): Full of running for the time he was on the field. Hustled and bustled but made little impression.