Brendan Rodgers claimed Celtic’s dismal first-half display at McDiarmid Park made him the angriest he’s ever been throughout the duration of his managerial career.
Lacking in intensity and quality, the league leaders trailed through Diallang Jaiyesemi’s strike at the interval.
For all his side rallied after the break, eventually taking the three points through goals from Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and James Forrest, the Northern Irishman was still livid at the way his ‘soft’ players started the contest.
‘We got bullied for the goal and we were soft in everything, with and without the ball. Half-time was the angriest I’ve ever been as a manager.
Brendan Rodgers was left fuming by Celtic’s dismal first-half display at St Johnstone
‘People who have been around me will know I’m normally very calm. It was nothing tactical; this was about desire and what it takes to play for this club. Thankfully in the second half the players were brilliant.
‘Callum McGregor was outstanding, and I got more of the energy and ambition that I want.’
Rodgers did give his players credit for their response with the reaction before and after the captain’s strike more like the standard he’d demanded from the outset.
‘It was what I expected in the first half,’ he added. ‘We’d gone a game and a half and not scored, with the greatest of respect, against St Johnstone.
‘Craig (Levein) had organised his team well and they got their goal from the set-piece that we were soft at. I expect much more from us.
‘Second half, it was a real testament to the players, because they could have folded and been nervy, but they got to the level I demand from them.
‘They were fantastic goals and we could have had more. It’s a reminder that if you go soft, if you go timid against any team, they can hurt you.’
Asked why a team with four day’s rest after playing Lazio in Rome could start a game so poorly, Rodgers was blunt.
St Johnstone took a shock lead against Celtic who were coming off a disappointing display mid-week against Lazio
‘It’s comfort,’ he said. ‘It’s the biggest pitfall in succeeding, that you become timid and lose your aggression. It’s easily done, but it’s my job to guard against it.
‘It was just nowhere near the level.
‘I said to the players afterwards, don’t make me be like that again. Don’t ever make me feel I have to get to that level. My teams will normally be front-foot, demanding and constant, but that’s not acceptable.
‘No matter what success they have had over the last couple of years, there is a demand at this club to continually succeed.
‘Yes, we’re missing players and dynamic players but in the second half you see the levels se can get to.
‘This was always going to be a big month. This was an important game to kick off the run of games throughout this month. I was really pleased with the reaction. You’ll need to speak to the players about whether the message got through, but certainly in the second half, it was more what I expect from a Celtic team.’
Rodgers was reluctant to call-out individuals, sidestepping a suggestion that he might look to replace Joe Hart in January.
‘It’s not one for now,’ he said. ‘I want to improve the squad over my time here, and particularly over these next couple of windows.’
Callum McGregor (right) though got the ball rolling on a second-half comeback for Celtic
Kenn to also praise the way his captain dragged the team over the line, Rodgers said: ‘It was retro Callum McGregor from my first time here. He used to score great goals like that, left-foot, right-foot.
‘He’s not up there so much because he’s orchestrating the game from behind, but he was the real catalyst. I was watching him in the second half and that was a Celtic captain’s performance, dragging your team through the game with intensity and quality.
‘Matty’s was an outstanding goal. There won’t be too many better that he will hit. It was a great move, we got up the field and it got us into a good position in the game.’
Saints boss Craig Levein was encouraged by much of what his side produced.
‘My overriding feeling is one of disappointment,’ he said. ‘Like I said last week, we were in the match until the end.
‘We did a lot of good things and defended really well.
‘We’ve lost to two wonderful pieces of skill. Those two goals really punched a hole in us and changed the match.
‘The last goal I’m not bothered up – we were gung-ho by then.
‘I was encouraged in a lot of ways. One of the things I’m confident we can improve is our fitness.
Celtic recovered from a poor first-half performance to take a 3-1 victory against St Johnstone
‘We tired a bit in the second half, which is understandable.
‘There’s a lot of concentration needed to cut off passing lines, close spaces and defend the box in the right areas.
‘That’s tiring.
‘But I know we can get fitter – and that will help us in our quest to climb the table.’
