Lubomir Moravcik and Tommy Johnson added further woe to Celtic's dismal season when they were dismissed during today's goalless draw at St Johnstone.

Midfielder Moravcik did not return for the second half having been sent off by referee Willie Young after an altercation in the tunnel - believed to be with a fan - leaving Celtic down to 10 men at the start of the period.

And just seven minutes after the interval striker Johnson also received his marching orders for a late challenge on Keith O'Halloran, his second bookable offence.

But the nine remaining Celtic players were relieved to be up against an impotent Saints side who could not break through to secure their first win of the season over the Parkhead side.

Saints were almost handed an opening goal after just 18 seconds when a straightforward Alan Stubbs backpass was miskicked completely by goalkeeper Stewart Kerr.

Striker Keigan Parker raced onto the chance but Johan Mjallby was more alert than his keeper and cleared to the audible relief of the travelling fans.

It was a particularly nervy opening for a side who were clearly suffering from the insecurity which accompanies a managerless team.

But interim boss Kenny Dalglish will have been pleased that his team finally found their feet and Johnson forced a save from Stephen Robertson after nine minutes when he turned swiftly on Eyal Berkovic's through ball.

Moravcik tried his own luck from the edge of the area later and Robertson could not hold, although Berkovic was adjudged offside when he collected the ball.

The Israeli international should have scored when he flashed Colin Healy's ball across the goal.

Saints youngster Parker was guilty of squandering a great opportunity when he collected Paul Kane's long ball.

Parker opted to try and find fellow striker Graeme Jones instead of hitting the ball first time, allowing Mjallby to clear.

After 33 minutes Stubbs, in possibly his last game for Celtic, attempted to break the deadlock with a drive from the edge of the box but Robertson pushed the ball away.

The first plaintive cries of "we want a gaffer" were heard immediately afterwards as the Celtic support voiced their understandable concerns about the lack of team leadership.

But their frustration was cemented after the break when a tannoy announcement informed them that Moravcik had been dismissed for an altercation with a fan as the teams left the field.

Celtic's problems were compounded just seven minutes into the second half when Johnson, who had already been cautioned, was dismissed for a foul on O'Halloran.

Nine-man Celtic were now in danger of being pulled apart by the home side and Gary Bollan was unlucky to see his shot rebound off Kerr's post.

But a lack of potency up front for Saints was threatening to annul their two-man advantage and Saints struggled to make any significant breakthrough.

The Bhoys could, though, be grateful to Healy for throwing himself in front of substitute Paddy Connolly's strike after 71 minutes.

The misery continued for Celtic and Dalglish when Healy was carried from the field after a challenge with Bollan six minutes from time.

Connolly then snatched at a chance to hand Saints their first win over the Hoops in the dying moments of the game.

And defender Jim Weir struck the crossbar with a late header to frighten the visitors.

Teams:

St Johnstone: Robertson, Weir, O'Neil, Kane, Bollan, O'Halloran, McBride (McAnespie 76), Millar, Dods, Parker, Jones (Connolly 63).

Subs Not Used: Gow, Crosier, Frail.

Booked: Jones.

Celtic: Kerr, Healy (Kennedy 84), Mjallby, Mahe, Crainey (Fotheringham 57), Berkovic, Burchill, Johnson, Lambert, Stubbs, Moravcik.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Shields, Smith.

Sent Off: Moravcik (45), Johnson (52).

Booked: Johnson.

Att: 6,729

Ref: Willie Young (Scotland).