Celts Seek Sixth Straight to Start Season

Celts Seek Sixth Straight
to Start Season
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


March 2024: Daizen Maeda & Callum McGregor in action against St Johnstone

McDiarmid Park, Perth
Saturday, 28 September 2024
17.45 BST

The Hoops head out on the road to take on St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday, aiming for a sixth straight Premiership victory to maintain their perfect start the season.

The Bhoys eventually overcame an impressive Falkirk side in the League Cup last weekend, but only after twice falling behind the Championship side and Brendan Rodgers needing to call upon the quality on the bench to turn the tide in the last 20 minutes, finishing 5-2.

Rodgers will no doubt name a much changed starting XI from that one for this St Johnstone match as the Celts seek to maintain their perfect start to the season overall, before turning his full attention to Bundeliga side, Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, next week.​

However, it will be important that the manager ensures that the players remain totally focused on the matter at hand, in order to ensure that there is no slip up on Saturday - the first of 3 fixtures in quick succession over the next week, ahead of the October International break.


March 2024: Nicholas Kuhn scores in the 3-1 win against St Johnstone when these sides last met

Currently sitting on 4 points and in 10th place, St Johnstone are a club in trouble at the moment. Thyey are currently hunting for a new manager to take over since the Perthshire club parted company with Craig Levein just over a week ago, have not won at home in the league since before Christmas last year, and a dreadful discplinary record with 3 red cards & 15 yellows after just 6 games.

Last weekend, the Saints appeared to be on their way to 3 points against Ross County, after leading by 3-1 with just 3 minutes of the 90 left to play, but County mounted a late rally to score twice, including a dramatic equalizer to finish level, 3-3. While it wasn't the result that Saints were after, it at least snapped a 4 game losing streak.

Another important factor which hasn't helped is that the Saints have struggled to keep 11 men on the park for the full game - something that they failed to do in the 3 straight league defeats to United, Motherwell and Hibs, immediately prior to the County match.

No doubt, Saints' caretaker boss, Andy Kirk, will be looking to build upon that County performance, but surely his expectations will be realistic enough to know anything that they can take from this game would be a bonus.

That said, while it is important to not take anything for granted, Celtic are full of confidence and will be aiming for a 15th straight win against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park since 2016.​

Adam Idah scored twice in two minutes against Falkirk in the 5-2 League Cup win last week

By the Numbers​

• The Hoops have won on each of their past 14 straight visits to McDiarmid Park, since May 2016 (12LG 1SC 1LC).

• Celtic are undefeated across all competitions since March, and have won their last 11 straight Premiership games, including the first 5 of this campaign.

• If Kasper Schmeichal keeps another clean sheet, it will equal the club record from 1906/07 for most consecutive at the start of a league season.

• Saints have not won any of their last 11 league games at home since before Christmas (D4 L7).

• The Perthshire club have also only kept one clean sheet in their past 16 league games.

Luke McCowan is back in contention after being Cup-tied for the Falkirk game, last weekend

Team News

Brendan Rodgers made 8 changes to the starting line up for last weekend, but only two of which had been enforced; Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston. While the Canadian fullback has been subsequently cleared to resume training and should be in contention, Carter-Vickers (foot) is unlikely to be risked for this game.

Additionally, Luke McCowan is also available once again, after the midfielder was Cup-tied for last week's League Cup match with Falkirk.

As for the hosts, Sam McClelland (achilles), Fran Franczak (ankle) and Uche Ikpeazu (knee) are all sidelined, in addition to Benji Kimpioka, who remains suspended.​

Referee: Don Robertson

Robertson made his Premiership debut in 2014/15 and has referee'd 180 games at this level since. The 37 y.o. has taken charge of 5 Premiership games this season, more than anyone else.

Celtic's Overall Record
M:39 W:34 D:3 L:2

VAR: Alan Muir


~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 226 W: 136 D: 54 L: 36​

Last 5 Meetings
W W D W W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W W W W W ~ D L L L L

SPFL
W W W W W ~ D L L L W​