Hartson back in Celtic favour

Celtic 3 St Johnstone

John Hartson was at the eye of the storm a few weeks ago, yesterday he simply had his eye in as Celtic progressed to the last eight of the Scottish Cup on the back of his two penalties.

The Welsh striker found himself dropped just a fortnight ago by Martin O'Neill as a very public rebuke for having the temerity to deliver a volley of abuse at his manager for substituting him.

Hartson was also forced to sit out last week's enthralling Uefa Cup encounter with VfB Stuttgart because of suspension, but his efficiency from the spot will increase his chances of playing in Thursday's return leg in Germany.

St Johnstone's stubborn resistance at Parkhead in this fourth-round tie was only truly overcome once Hartson broke the deadlock in the 32rd minute, and he managed another four minutes from the end to finish off the First Division side, with a fine goal from Jamie Smith sandwiched in between.

Indeed, the Perth team would have taken a lead their first-half adventure might have deserved if Javier Sanchez Broto, making his debut for Celtic in goal, had not produced an acrobatic save from Paul Hartley's venomous 25-yard shot after eight minutes.

"I thought we were a bit sluggish in the first-half and the Broto save definitely woke us up," O'Neill said. "We improved in the second half and we did enough to win the match."

However, it was Hartson who ended the stalemate once John Robertson tugged back Colin Healy as he burst into the box, allowing the striker to sweep in his first penalty.

Smith was prevented from doubling that lead just after the break when his shot on the turn hit the post, but the newly-capped Scotland midfielder received his reward for an industrious display when he scored after 77 minutes.

This time he swapped roles with Hartson, the latter supplying the cross for his diminutive colleague to climb and head past the St Johnstone keeper Kevin Cuthbert.

Then in the 86th minute Hartson beat Cuthbert again in a penalty duel, this time after Chris Hay had brought down Shaun Maloney.

"We did a lot of things very well, even though we were depleted," said the Saints' manager, Billy Stark. "Maybe we suffered from something that Premier teams suffer, which is a lack of belief, but we had some reasonable moments."

Goals: Hartson pen (32) 1-0; Smith (77) 2-0; Hartson pen (86) 3-0.

Celtic (3-5-2): Sanchez Broto (Marshall, 83); Mjallby, Laursen, Crainey; Smith, Healy, Lambert (Maloney, 79), Sylla, Guppy; Hartson, Fernandez. Substitutes not used: McNamara, Boyd, Petrov.

St Johnstone (3-5-2): Cuthbert; Robertson, Dods, Maxwell; Baxter, McLune (Hay, 81), Hartley, Connolly, Lovenkrands; Parker, Noble (Panther, 31). Substitutes not used: Miotto (gk), Ferry, Forsyth.

Referee: H Dallas.

Booking: St Johnstone: Robertson.

Man of the match: Smith.

Attendance: 26,205.