Celtic stunned as inspired Swansea City star has Chris Sutton raving

Fisher denied Celtic a number of times to give his own side a chance of avoiding the drop

Swansea City's on-loan keeper Andy Fisher pulled off an inspired performance in St Johnstone's shock 1-0 win over Celtic.

Daniels Balodis' first-half header was enough to give the Saints the victory and Fisher more than played his part in the three points, making a number of high-class saves.

Runaway SPL leaders Celtic will now have to put their celebrations on ice.

Fisher, who joined the McDiarmid Park outfit on loan at the start of the season, spoke to Sky Sports after the game.

"Massive," the man of the match said when asked how big the three points were. "But yeah, saying that if we go into next week and lose it counts for nothing.

"We've got to keep our heads down, focus on the next game and make that massive win count. Hard work [was what it took to win today], the lads in front of me was excellent throughout the whole game. Yeah, can't credit them enough for that. Obviously you have to make saves in these games, and I think I did that and hopefully I can show them what I can do."

Commentating on Sky was former Hoops striker Chris Sutton, who waxed lyrical about Fisher's performance throughout the second half, calling his showing "sensational". He wrote on X post-match: "Well played St Johnstone still scrapping at the bottom but a huge 3 points gives them a bit of hope. Andy Fisher outstanding in goal. For Celtic still work to do. Not sure what has happened to Nicolas Kuhn. Still 13 points clear at the top isn’t a bad position to be in …"

Fisher is set to return to SA1 this summer where he has another 12 months on his contract.

It was the Perth side’s first win over the Parkhead club since 2016 and they moved five points behind second-bottom Dundee with six fixtures remaining while Celtic – still 13 points ahead of Rangers – have to delay thoughts of their William Hill Premiership title celebrations.

It was a momentous win for Saints.

The magnitude of the home side’s task was underlined by the fact that they had lost 6-0 at home to Celtic in September and 4-0 at Parkhead in December.

Three of the four stands were full of expectant Hoops fans for the midday kick-off and they were shocked when Saints raced ahead, after Celtic midfielder Arne Engels had tested Fisher with a drive.

Balodis headed just over the crossbar from a Makenzie Kirk cross in St Johnstone’s first attack but Saints’ Latvian defender was more accurate from Graham Carey’s free-kick, glancing a header past Hoops goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.

In the 13th minute, after Fisher parried a drive from Daizen Maeda, Stephen Duke-McKenna’s last-gasp tackle prevented Nicolas Kuhn tapping into an empty net from a yard out before he drew a fine save from Sinisalo with a drive on the turn.

Saints were coping well with Celtic’s pressure.

However, a slack back pass from defender Sam Curtis was intercepted by Maeda but Fisher made the save, as he did moments later from a Jota drive.

Five minutes from the break VAR checked a possible penalty for St Johnstone penalty for a Reo Hatate handball but play moved on and Sinisalo saved Adama Sidibeh’s header from a Carey corner.

Yang Hyun-jun and Greg Taylor replaced Kuhn and Jeffrey Schlupp for the start of the second half but there was no instant improvement.

Indeed, Sidibeh did well to escape the attention of Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers only to drag his shot wide.

Celtic continued to dominate the ball and in the 55th minute from an Engels corner, Hatate crashed a shot against a post while at the other end Duke-McKenna’s effort from distance flew just wide.

After Hatate drove high over the bar from 12 yards after being set up by Jota, Adam Idah replaced Maeda.

Amid relentless Celtic pressure, Valakari made a quadruple substitution with Taylor Steven, Sven Sprangler, Nicky Clark and Benjamin Kimpioka on for injured Drey Wright and Sidibeh, Carey and Kirk.

Kimpioka had a couple of chances in quick succession inside the Celtic penalty area in a rare Saints attack but could not get his shot away.

At the other end, Luke McCowan – on for Engels – fired wide from 16 yards in the 79th minute before fellow Parkhead substitute James Forrest hit Fisher from close range and then from distance.

Fisher then blocked a McCowan chip in the first minute of five added on as St Johnstone kept their survival hopes alive.