PITCH PERFECT!

Celtic negotiated a tough tie on a mud bath field to book a place in the Scottish Cup semi-final, with Ryan Christie scoring the all-important winning goal

- TONY CONNELLY

RYAN Christie has pointed to Celtic’s ability adapt and concentrate on the basics as the blueprint in their Scottish Cup quarter-final win against St Johnstone.

The poor playing surface meant the cup holders had to set aside their usual style of football, but the winning mentality that infuses Neil Lennon’s squad shone through. Now Hampden awaits.

The Hoops extended their incredible domestic cup-winning run to 34 games with the 1-0 win over St Johnstone in Perth, booking a place in the semi-final at Hampden where they will face Aberdeen.

“It was a tough game,” said Christie in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “The conditions made it difficult for us to implement the kind of football we like to play week in, week out. It’s games like that where you have to adapt and concentrate on the basics. It becomes all about getting a goal and keeping them out at the other side.

“It was one of the most difficult surfaces we’ve had to play on, especially in the second half as, after about 60 minutes or so, it had really cut up by then. It made the basics, like making sure you’re first touch is right, challenging and you really need to concentrate on every little thing. The element of not knowing where the ball was going to bounce simplified the game and made it difficult to anticipate the second ball.

“It meant we had to simplify our passing and there were a few times when Broony and I were trying to switch the play and it ended up coming off our shins. It restricted the passes we could make, so we needed to keep it simple and take the chances when they came.”

Despite the added challenge of the uneven, bobbly surface, Celtic still created chances in the first half, but St Johnstone goalkeeper, Zander Clark, kept his side in the tie with some good saves.