Leigh Griffiths’ late strike was enough to beat St Johnstone and book holders Celtic a place in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup.

The Scotland striker had passed up three good chances in a game that came to life only after the break.

However, with seven minutes remaining he pounced from close range to fire in for a 1-0 win and ease recent pressure on the Parkhead men, albeit defender Dedryck Boyata was given a red card in the 90th minute by referee John Beaton for what appeared to be dissent.

Boss Brendan Rodgers, who revealed before the game that there was interest in him from a Chinese club in the summer, had come in for some criticism after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock confirmed the Hoops’ worst start to a Ladbrokes Premiership season in 20 years but Griffiths’ goal offered respite and keeps hope of a treble-treble alive.

Once again Rodgers rang the changes with goalkeeper Scott Bain making his second start of the season in goal, having played against Partick Thistle in the previous round.

Kristoffer Ajer, Olivier Ntcham, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Odsonne Edouard also returned to the side.

Saints boss Tommy Wright made just the one change to the side which lost 5-1 at Rangers  on Sunday, Ross Callachan taking over from Matty Kennedy.

Swirling rain accompanied a scrappy opening although the holders should have taken the lead just before the half-hour mark.

Edouard’s cross from the left found Griffiths three yards from goal but the Scotland striker’s header was straight at keeper Zander Clark, who saved with his feet.

Moments later Ajer, back in the side after a virus, limped off to be replaced by Jack Hendry.

Five minutes before the interval Parkhead right-back Mikael Lustig headed a Griffiths corner past the post.

However, there was an even better opportunity for Celtic seconds before the half-time whistle when the normally composed McGregor latched on to an Ntcham pass inside the box only to drag his shot wide of the far post.

Celtic looked a different outfit at the start of the second-half, forcing a couple of early saves from Clark, the first from McGregor, the second from Ntcham.

The home side survived both corners and from the next one which Saints failed to clear, Boyata’s header clipped the bar on the way over.

As Celtic’s pressure intensified Griffiths raced through on goal to screw his drive wide of the far post then Clark then tipped a piledriver from McGregor over the bar.

In between, Blair Alston tested Bain at the other end but Saints were mostly on the back foot.

In the 72nd minute McGregor took out Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy with a wonderful searching pass to set up Griffiths but Clark blocked the shot with his foot.

The Perth men struggled to escape their penalty box and the goal came when Forrest’s diving header from a Kieran Tierney cross was blocked by Saints defender Scott Tanser, with Griffiths on hand to return the loose ball into the net.

Boyata was dismissed, before Shaughnessy came close to levelling with a late header.