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00:00Good afternoon everybody, on a beautiful Easter Sunday at Abnern Park, where St Johnson face the task of attempting to dethrone the whole Celtic in this Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup.
00:14On paper, it's a mismatch, bottom versus top in the Premiership, 52 points between them in the league, but the two most successful Scottish Cup teams in the last 16 years face off.
00:37In this competition, you just never know.
00:44Brendan Rodgers has a perfect record at Abnern Park.
00:55Where Simo Valakari, Zach Mitchell and Dre Wright are both unavailable, so Sven Sprangler starts and Nicky Clark is preferred to Mackenzie Kirk, he goes in as captain.
01:06Goalkeeper Andy Fisher performed heroics in the victory over Celtic, a fortnight ago, while Daniels Melodes netted the winner.
01:14Six of the starting eleven were recruited in January, including Scotland international Barry Douglas.
01:19Well, there could be a debut for former heart striker Uche Iqtiezu.
01:26With Kasper Schweichol,
01:34Viliami Sinisalo keeps his place in goals.
01:39It's the same eleven that defeated Kilmarnock last weekend, when Rio Hitate scored twice.
01:44Dyson Maeda now has over 30 goals for the season, including five, which have come in three Scottish Cup games.
01:52James Boris scored in a league cup semi-final here over St. Johnson in 2021.
02:01Callum Scott is the referee in charge of proceedings.
02:05St. Johnson and Celtic meet in a Scottish Cup semi-final for just the second time.
02:13In 2007, Jan Benegur of Hesley was the double goal-scoring hero for Celtic.
02:19For Saints only come victory over Celtic, you have to go all the way back to 1936.
02:26Celtic are the holders of Scottish football's crowds, all of them, and they've got no intention of letting any of them slip away.
02:39Jumbo Balakari has asked for heroes and miracles, just like in 2014 and 2021, just like two weeks ago.
02:56St. Johnson fans missed out on a Hampden party four years ago, they'd love to make up for that today.
03:03They've given themselves a shot against Aberdeen, Celtic under Brendan Rodgers with a perfect record at Hampden as they look for three in a row in this competition.
03:21competition, perhaps a wake-up call, come alive at this venue, James Forrest wins it back on the edge of the area then, close down by Jason Holt.
03:43.
03:50McGregor back to Cameron Carter-Vickers.
03:56Now Liam Scales, Rio Hitate.
04:04Taylor, the angles now on the edge of the area, what a sighting challenge coming in from Bologna.
04:13Forrest looks to go to the byline, sends it in, Maeda was up there along with Ida, and held by Andy Fisher.
04:23Well, a bright start, you can see the intent, I think it comes off of Bologna in the end, into the goalkeeper's arms, but you can see the speed and the intensity in Celtic's play.
04:38But also, St Johnstone are not here just to sit off, they want to get up and close Celtic down, high up, which obviously has its risks as well.
04:49The guys were talking before, it's a semi-final, go and try and win the game.
04:57I think that should be applauded rather than just trying to park the bus.
05:01It's easy enough to talk about it and try and come up with a game plan.
05:12The difficulty is going to execute it and it's a big, big task for these St Johnstone players to go and do that.
05:17Does that game at McDermott Park have any bearing on today?
05:21I mean, psychologically it could, you know, a lot of people imagine thinking there's no way that St Johnstone are going to do two in a row over Celtic, but you hear Brendan Rodgers talking about it, I think he's right.
05:35It's a different park, McDermott's a little bit bobbly, it's difficult to get the game played quickly.
05:41It's a big park here as well, and it's the occasion of a semi-final and quite often, as you just mentioned, at Hampden, Celtic do turn up.
05:50I don't think there's too much to think about there. It's a massive game, Celtic need to go and win it.
05:58Well, only three times in history of St Johnstone recorded back-to-back victories over Celtic, 1961, 65 and 1998, so not this century.
06:10There's Engels looking early for Ida, Johnson now on the edge, he has it stolen away from him by Stephen Duke McKenna.
06:20That was good play from St Johnstone, just a little bit disappointed from Jason Holt, too much weight on the pass, but Sidibe's got pace at the top.
06:31He's just making the break here, and Fisher had to get the timing right on that, he was outstanding in the league in that victory.
06:40He really was, wasn't he? Not just in that game generally, Andy Fisher has made a positive difference to St Johnstone in the goal since he's come in.
06:56Well, this is 14th goal since arriving on loan from Swansea, he's only conceded 14 goals, six clean sheets.
07:04James Forrest looking to change that here, it's Forrest, it's deflected and wide it goes for a Celtic corner on the far side.
07:13A bit of smoke engulfs Hampden Park, that is coming from the St Johnstone fans, they are vastly outnumbered, it has to be said.
07:25Johnson sends it in.
07:30Johnson sends it in.
07:39Quickly taken by Taylor, Scales gives it back to the Celtic left back.
07:50He's got a lot of speed for James Forrest, of course it was late in the season last year that he came alive to help deliver the title to Celtic, Rio Hitate drags that one wide.
08:04Yeah, just a little bit too much space on the edge of the box there.
08:08Imagine, Timo Valcari albeit, not wanting the likes of Rio Hitate to have space like that too often because he's dragged that shot but you saw last week, I know it was on the right foot.
08:22It's a cold threat.
08:48It's about this Celtic team as Cameron Cartovic was displayed last week as well.
08:55That's stunning effort from range.
09:00I mean that response last week was pretty impressive, we said from Celtic, I'm sure Brendan Rodgers would have been feeling a lot happier about things after that 5-1 victory against Kilmarnock.
09:22He goes for it, so too does Sprangler.
09:29I think you're right.
09:36Trust the judgement.
09:40He's not got a mask on, it's a bit of a giveaway.
09:56Flipped on by Sidibe, Scales wins the second ball and then McGregor closed down by Adama Sidibe.
10:05That drop off from Celtic, is it understandable when they're so far clear in the league, you know they only had one defeat in the opening half of the season, that was awaited Borussia Dortmund since the turn of the year.
10:32For Brendan Rodgers, you've got to look at some of those games as well.
10:41I mean last week, he had a barrel of the chances by the way and you know, hitting the woodwork.
10:51Games, sorry, the goal was to change the dynamic massively and it just wasn't to be in terms of Celtic finding the back of the net.
11:03Sidibe, doing well, up against Cameron Carter-Vickers, Winston Johnson, a corner kick, of course it was from a set play that Daniel Belonis, not the only goal at McDermott Park.
11:18Sidibe was brilliant there, not only has he got the pace to go and stretch him behind, but then the...
11:251-0 has been a favourite scoreline for St Johnson throughout this cup run.
11:34All three games against Motherwell, Hamilton and Livingston, being won by that scoreline.
11:43Yet conceded in the competition.
11:46Celtic manage to clear their lines.
11:51In fact, between the two teams, only Bobby Wales has managed to score against St Johnson or Celtic in the Scottish Cup this season, that coming in Clamarex.
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17:41Maeda showing that improved product quality just pulls it wide a little bit there with the left foot, Forrest
17:52Perhaps Fischer had it covered
17:55Maeda going down the outside, I know it gets headed away but it's just another indication of where
18:02his final ball has improved dramatically this season
18:06Do you think he's best out on the left or through the middle?
18:11I think up until January it would have been a quick debate on that
18:16but certainly when he's been through the middle
18:20laterally in this campaign he's looked very very dangerous so
18:25that's a difficult one to be honest to say
18:33Colin with him moving out to the wing and Forrest's resurgent form it's keeping
18:39Nicholas Kuhn and Jota on the bench
18:46Scales feeds Maeda
18:49that's to check back this time and find Greg Taylor
18:59Johnson, Hitate
19:03McGregor
19:04a bit of space for Hitate
19:11Engels
19:14Johnson, Celtic moving the ball nicely, neatly
19:17Yeah but it's the speed that they move it as well on the running off the ball
19:24Forrest back to a tactic quickly into Engels trying that one-touch pass but it's been given away
19:32Johnson in, Holt steers it clear and Nicky Clark did enough to help that to Duke McKenna
19:39and now Sidibe, well it's a role he'll have to play, he fouls Carter Vickers but he certainly makes his presence known
19:47Yeah he certainly did but you can see obviously Watson Johnson are trying to do there as quickly as possible
19:57get the ball in behind and allow Adama Sidibe to open his legs and make it a foot race
20:02Taylor
20:05Maeda
20:07and it comes on Curtis just as the Japanese winger got in behind that back four
20:22Celtic go quickly they'll have another opportunity
20:24Arne Engels trying to catch the St Johnson defence unawares but Graham Carey was equal to
20:38I knew he had a decent opportunity but it's come to McGregor it's blocked off this time
20:57Celtic captain
21:02loses out on this occasion
21:04He's picked up by Clark position to make the clearance
21:15Yeah I think with scales in the left-sided centre half
21:18Ben Rogers just feels he's a little bit cleaner in possession at times than trusty
21:27Allows them to build up perhaps a little bit quicker
21:29Curtis looks over the top
21:35Sinesalo will come out and take no chances with that one
21:39Missing of course the vast experience of Kasper Schmeichel
21:44That man in your pictures is I think it's fair to say he's quicker he's more athletic than scales and
21:50you see Sidibe there trying to get him behind us
21:54but it's perhaps an area that St Johnson should be looking to try to exploit
21:59more so than over on the other side with Carter Vickers
22:12Fisher and I think Curtis
22:15hesitated there as he perhaps thought he was going to be offside
22:18I thought he looks fine I thought he looks as if he was onside
22:27Discussion between the right back and Simo Valakari ongoing
22:32Finn was appointed in October
22:34He's given St Johnson a fighting chance of relegation but
22:45the odds stacked against them still
22:55You can see at the start obviously St Johnson were wanting to try and engage higher up but
23:16Celtic have just been able to dominate the ball themselves higher up the park
23:21but they need to try and get that ball into the dangerous areas as quickly as possible because
23:25the deeper the team comes and the more bodies that are there it becomes more congested
23:30you've got to keep that speed on their plate
23:31But Tati back to Taylor
23:37Moments like this 1v1 that's where they really want to be getting it
23:40Maeda against Curtis fizzes that one across
23:43Sprangler
23:44their head's clear
23:49Taylor
23:50Maeda now again he gets Curtis one on one he's past him
23:54Dyson Maeda tries to steal Forrest
23:58perhaps had a few different things in his mind there
24:06it just looked like he wasn't sure or convinced him
24:09what he was looking to do
24:11obviously cuts inside this time
24:14just here that touch
24:18perhaps below this just defends it pretty well
24:21blocks him off where he was looking to go
24:23planted a wee seeded out in his mind but that is the area quite clearly you want to get it
24:30with enough space to run in behind into Dyson Maeda's feet
24:37give him the option to run the line or cut inside and play quick one-twos
24:41and of course the same on the other side you want to feed this man James Forrest for the same sort of thing
24:49he's up against Barry Douglas slides it across and making sure he got enough on that was
24:55it's a simple game at times get the ball into yd there's allowed your man to go one v one
25:06almost score from it
25:09Taylor from the edge and he just tried to disguise that pass into
25:12the Tate when the vast Celtic support were crying out for him to shoot
25:24just astonishes me why so many sides avoid doing the simple thing at times
25:29and Taylor is
25:33so they got a pretty good goal-scoring record on this ground
25:37coming against Rangers including in the Premier Sports Cup final this season
25:55Engels back for Carter Vickers
25:59Proctor Vickers encouraged to shoot and well after last week why not
26:13there's a wee Roy spy up there but absolutely I mean look he's
26:18almost on the edge of the box here and nobody was really coming to confront him
26:23just cut across it but I don't think Brent Rogers will be disappointed with that I think he would be
26:30advocating to do the same again
26:31the reason he's wanting you know the guys to step in is to try to commit one of the defenders
26:40pull them out of position and if they don't step out then keep going get closer and have a shot
26:45get up here it comes to carry
26:58hope looks up the line
27:08well coming up in midweek it's semi-final time in the Coppa Italia and a Milan derby inter against AC
27:16the top two face off Barcelona against Real Madrid from nine o'clock on Premier Sports one
27:26two pretty good games there to be fair
27:35well coming up in midweek it's semi-final time in the Coppa Italia and a Milan derby inter-tap
27:46is dropped short now Forrest
27:50Carter Vickers again being allowed to wander forward
28:02McGregor out to James Forrest again, Hitachi comes to get involved, he's done well to make
28:12the space for himself, McGregor look to unleash and then Engles does too, initially it was
28:19a really good block by Victor Griffin, yeah it was a very good block, it's a good strike
28:28from Engles, on the spin, getting plenty behind it, Andy Fisher just doing his job, efficiently
28:40body right behind it, no fumble, keeps it
28:49When people are too static it becomes easy enough to defend against but they're constantly
29:01on the move, passing's quick, takes a lot of concentration for the opposition, McGregor joining in again,
29:10Atate now, looks to curl that to the back post where Forrest attempts to attack it, it's
29:17going to be a difficult ask
29:19Approaching the half hour mark, I'm pretty sure Simo Valkari will be quite happy, you know as
29:29much as there's been a few moments for his goalkeeper to step up, he's done that comfortably and
29:36the shots have been from a little bit more out, a wee bit of distance, Celtic have threatened
29:44to get him behind on a couple of occasions but they've not really carved wide open as of yet.
29:52I mean, when you play against a Celtic side like this, I assume there will be areas where
29:59you have to allow them, you have to compromise somewhere and if that is from range you would
30:04think Simo Valkari would take that?
30:06Absolutely, it's the lesser of two evils definitely
30:11I guess he has a 50% record against Celtic both as a manager and a player, 1-3 of 6 and
30:34his time with Motherwell back in the 90s.
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35:25Well, I mean, look, first of all, from Celtic's perspective, it's a wonderful goal, and I
35:32don't think there was any doubt when this ball came to Cal McGregor with that space.
35:36They knew he was just going to find the corner.
35:38Lovely little layoff from Hitate.
35:42He's able to get his body set, open up, and find that corner.
35:46But for St Johnston, they are the architects of their own downfall.
35:51You know, it's admirable looking to play football, of course, but you need to be doing it.
35:55With a little bit of common sense.
35:58They're taking a bye kick and clipping it into the middle of the park there.
36:03I just don't see the benefit of that there, particularly when you've not spent a great deal of time out of your own defensive third.
36:13They're not set.
36:15Barry Douglas is going to be dropping it.
36:19It's not even the goalkeeper.
36:20I just, I'm not sure that that's the, the, the most clever of tactics in that instance.
36:30I'm not even sure that, I think it was Duke McKenna whether he was actually really set to take that there.
36:35It just invites pressure.
36:42Now Ina gets turned.
36:45Ina waits.
36:50It comes off Curtis.
36:52Celtic really under tails on now.
36:54So, you know, when you're talking about allowing the shots to come in as a, you know, a lesser of the two evils.
37:13But I just think St Johnston, it wasn't even like a, an open play where you're, you're in good positions and you're allowing that strike.
37:19They were just far too open.
37:21And it was, they were the ones that, that allowed that to happen to them.
37:25Angle's targeting that near post again.
37:29Now he'd is Headers Sidibe away.
37:38McGregor.
37:40It has 23 major honours to his name.
37:43He will be hoping that he will hold aloft number 24 on the 24th of...
37:51Carter Vickers, Ida again, Joe Short, McGregor
38:12Ida! Celtic are already starting to think of the Scottish Cup final, Celtic's two outstanding
38:30players, Callum McGregor and Dyson Maeda combined, that is 32 goals for the season
38:40for the Japanese winger, the best player in Scotland this season, and now a two goal advantage
38:48That's a great goal, it really is, and I love seeing that, you know, it's not something
38:53that Celtic did a great deal when Kyogo was in the side, because he was always looking
38:58to run him behind, but with Ida, he can be that platform to just play off, and as soon
39:02as that ball's getting played, you see McGregor's on his bike, and as soon as he's picking it
39:06up, Maeda's got one thing in his mind, getting him behind the defence, it's almost cutting
39:12it out, but then that comes down, and bounce off, or have a strike yourself, or lay somebody
39:24in, and that's exactly what Celtic have done there, lovely work goal, Dyson Maeda, that's
39:31his sixth Scottish Cup goal this season, the first to do that since Henrik Larsson scored
39:38nine in 2001, and he's scored in every round, if he can complete that in the final he'd be
39:47the first Celtic player to do that since Brian McClare in 83-84, he's a player that really
39:58has lit up this season, and so much so that they haven't really felt the loss of Kyogo,
40:0922 goals in his last 23 and a half games, oh bad, they've got so many players in there
40:25that are all getting picked up, hit that front man, because it slices right through the heart
40:31of all that pressure, and there was so much space there for Edun, and McGregor to spin
40:38and get on the end of it, all of a sudden the opposition are on the back foot, desperately
40:45trying to get themselves set again, just looked as if McGregor was on his bike looking for the
40:54same thing again there, Carter Vickers looks for Johnson who tries to get turned but brought
41:05down by Duke McKenna, quickly taken but Callum Scott won't allow it, five minutes left and you
41:20really do worry for St Johnson on the score line like this. Swung in quickly, out comes Fischer.
41:50in the final five minutes of the half.
42:09Sunesalo, now Carter Vickers again with space to drive forward into, Ingles have made a great run through the middle.
42:18Carter Vickers, Carter Vickers electing not to deliver the ball over the top.
42:27Scales again with freedom to come forward.
42:43Celtic have it all in their own control.
42:47It's Griffin that wins him back for St Johnson, come under.
42:56St Johnson watching the Celtic and the way they build that game up at times then.
43:02Moulonis loses out to Maeda.
43:17You cannot hesitate when he's around.
43:20I was just saying, as I was just saying, he's not a lot of the times getting too high up on the game.
43:26So he'll drop and he'll deepen off just so that he's not closing that space for James Forrest and just pulling Duke McKenna out.
43:35Celtics passing the movement.
43:40It's absolute.
43:44Will be a relief to St Johnson.
43:49Will be a relief to St Johnson.
43:50St Johnson.
43:51Will be a relief to St Johnson.
43:53Will be a relief to St Johnson.
43:55Sure it's Chris again with that challenge.
43:57To the other challenge.
43:58Well in goes Greg Taylor with that challenge from Sam Curtis.
44:00Well then goes Greg Taylor with that challenge from Sam Curtis.
44:25He's just caught him on the neck there but you know it's good for the referee not getting
44:47carried away you see so often pulling out cards for instance like that which are a nonsense
44:52but Calum Scott not doing that which is good to see.
45:08Scales.
45:15Carter Vickers gives it straight back to Scales now.
45:20The lead is in the middle.
45:25Precision passing from Celtic.
45:29They have cut St Johnson to pieces there.
45:34And they are heading for another Scottish Cup final.
45:43The treble is looking like it's another step closer.
45:49It's the running off the ball.
45:52You can see Kerry just for a split second.
45:56You see him there he knows.
45:58Split second switches off.
46:00Itati's in behind him.
46:01Ida's in between the sticks.
46:04And Itati puts on a play for him.
46:08Celtic have been very good.
46:11Very good.
46:12A lot of running off the ball as I said before.
46:15Stretching the opposition.
46:18And then they've been clinical when they've got into these areas.
46:25The leader scored in the quarterfinal against Hibbs as well.
46:30That previous to this was his only goal in eight games.
46:35Saving them for this.
46:37This reacts just in time.
46:41But Itati has it again.
46:43Celtic won a fourth here.
46:45Itati.
46:46Maeda.
46:47Maeda!
46:52It's a round to Hatton Park.
46:55A first half demolition jump from Celtic.
47:01Laying down a marker.
47:03We knew there was a gulp between the teams.
47:07And Celtic.
47:08And Celtic.
47:14How big.
47:15They've got themselves in St Johnson.
47:18A double for Dyson Maeda.
47:20And it's four with two.
47:22Right on half time.
47:24Well I thought the chance had gone.
47:26Itati.
47:27He really should have laid in James Forrest over on the right side.
47:31And eventually look at this from Maeda.
47:33Through the defender's legs.
47:34Past the goalkeeper before he can react.
47:36But.
47:37Yeah they'll feel like it's a sore one.
47:39Because of that heavy touch from below this.
47:43It's the quickness.
47:45Bang.
47:46But when Celtic are at it like this.
47:55And that's why he's challenged to them.
47:58Because he knows the intensity in the tempo is key to exactly this.
48:03Disbelief amongst the St Johnson support.
48:04They are shell shocked.
48:05Their team cannot cope.
48:06With Celtic.
48:07Absolutely top of their game.
48:08The best team in the country.
48:09And Celtic have had that on full display.
48:10This afternoon at Hampden Park.
48:11And Maeda has added a double.
48:15And Adamita got one in between.
48:16And Adamita got one in between.
48:17As they rush in with the goals towards the end of the half.
48:18And at the break at Hampden Park.
48:19It's a jubilant Celtic support.
48:20And at the break at Hampden Park.
48:21It's a jubilant Celtic support.
48:22And Adamita got one in between.
48:23And Adamita got one in between.
48:24And they rush in with the goals towards the end of the half.
48:26And at the break at Hampden Park.
48:27And at the break at Hampden Park.
48:28It's a jubilant Celtic support.
48:30It's a double
48:33And Adamita got one in between
48:38They rush in with the goals towards the end of the half
48:43And at the break at Abdon Park
48:45It's a jubilant Celtic support