Parkhead hero Dave Mackay has warned that St Johnstone’s shock victory against Celtic can’t be allowed to be a one-off.
The full-back’s second-half strike earned the Perth men their first win at Celtic Park for 13 years, and has kick-started a campaign that had begun slowly.
Mackay insisted it will be a waste of a historic result if they don’t follow it up with another three points in Saturday’s Tayside derby against Dundee United.
He said: “Losing to Dunfermline was really disappointing even though I thought we were the better team and we badly needed a win. There’s no better place to get it than at Celtic Park. If that doesn’t give us confidence, then nothing will.
“We’ve clawed the three points back that we lost the week before and hopefully we can now kick on after this win. If we get beaten against Dundee United the result won’t have done very much for us. We have to use it as a springboard.”
Mackay’s goal will ensure his place in the Perth club’s history books, and the former Livingston and Dundee man admitted: “It will be a great thing to look back on to say that you’ve come here and scored the winning goal against Celtic at Parkhead. There’s no point scoring if you’re five down.
“It’s the first time I’ve beaten Celtic, so it’s been a long time coming. I’ve had a few draws and a few drubbings along the way so it was a great feeling to eventually win.
“I’m not used to scoring, either. I didn’t get any last season so it’s great to get one early. That’s me top scorer as well!”
Mackay’s goal took a deflection off Joe Ledley on its way past Fraser Forster, but the unlikely match-winner pointed out: “It was on target and it hit the back of the net and that’s all I’m caring about. We’d had a good spell of play before my goal. Liam (Craig) played a great ball across goal and Cillian (Sheridan) just missed out sliding in at the back post.”
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“We had another couple of opportunities as well so it wasn’t as if we were just shutting up shop far from it. We came with two strikers and had a go.
“Alan Maybury came in and did a great job at right back and the manager asked me to do the same just in front of him. It’s not a role I’m particularly familiar with but I thought the two of us linked up really well.”
Next up for Saints is a McDiarmid Park clash with Mackay’s old club Livingston in the Scottish Communities League Cup on Wednesday night.
He said: “It will be the first time I’ve played against them since I left so I’m really looking forward to it. I enjoyed my first three years there. The last year was a bit challenging but it’s a good wee club and I’ve got a lot of friends there.
“The most important thing is we get through to the next round.”
Perth boss Derek McInnes is already focused on the cup tie.
He said: “On Sunday night I had a glass of wine and then looked over a DVD of Livingston late on. It was important to press on with preparations for the cup tie.
“But you have to savour results like this and I was absolutely delighted the players got their reward for all the hard work they have put in.
“I’m delighted for the fans. Like myself, I am sure they have been sent packing from Parkhead a few times after taking a hiding. Sunday was great but now we have to get our game head back on for Livingston.”
David Robertson and Carl Finnigan were injured at the weekend and are unlikely to face Livi.