Celtic 1-0 St Johnstone: Stokes on target as Bhoys see off Europa League-chasing visitors

The Republic of Ireland international struck midway through the first half to earn Neil Lennon's team all three points and stunt Saints' European dream

Anthony Stokes’ close-range strike proved the difference as already-crowned champions Celtic beat St Johnstone 1-0 on Thursday night.

The Hoops, who have to wait until May 13 until they can lift the Scottish Premier League trophy, made seven changes with Mark Wilson making his first appearance in a green and white shirt since October 29 and Dylan McGeouch enjoying a first start for the club.

The visitors made several changes to the side beaten 5-1 at the weekend, with Callum Davidson, Chris Millar, Jamie Adams and Cillian Sheridan all starting with Derek Riordan benched.

Both sides created little in the opening exchanges but were keen to keep the ball on the ground and pass it around until Stokes made a mess of a chance inside the box and failed to test Alan Mannus.

He had to wait a little while longer before he could make amends but poked home from close range after 28 minutes following a short corner from McGeouch.

Mo Bangura ran across the line of the pass and the Saints defenders stood and watched as the ball fell kindly to Stokes who finished well despite the appeals for offside.

The visitors didn’t wait long to respond and came close through a free-kick from Liam Craig which flew just wide of Lukasz Zaluska’s goal from 25 yards out.

Murray Davidson then should have levelled but he somehow shot at Zaluska instead of placing his shot into the bottom corner though it was a good save nonetheless.

The second half started in much the same vein, with both sides not wanting to take the game to the other, before Mannus parried a left-foot drive from Joe Ledley and then saved a Kris Commons free-kick.

Bangura was unlucky not to extend the hosts' lead but his shot cannoned back of the upright after he had turned the vistors' defence inside out.

Moments later Ledley and Gary Hooper combined with the latter firing just wide of Mannus' right-hand post but the one-goal advantage proved enough in the end for the champions.