Bhoys & Buddies All Saints Clash

Bhoys & Buddies All Saints Clash
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


May: Callum McGregor scores a late equalizer against St Mirren when these sides last met


Celtic Park, Glasgow
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
19.45 GMT

The Hoops are at home for the visit of third placed St Mirren on Wednesday, looking to at the very least maintain the 5 point lead at the top of the Premiership table.

Celtic will need to shake off what was an underwhelming performance in the goalless draw away at Hibernian at the weekend. Despite a late flurry of attack in the dying minutes, the Bhoys lacked energy, creativity and a cutting edge for much of the match.

Brendan Rodgers and his team will know that they are capable of so much better - even if the manager continues to be haunted by his record at Easter Road, having now failed to find the right formula to secure even a single victory in 4 visits there now.

If there is a silver lining to be taken, it is that the Hoops recorded their first clean sheet in over a month and maintained their undefeated start to the league campaign.

But the Bhoys will be keen to get back on track - and will need to be - as the visitors will be coming into this game full of confidence.​

Brendan Rodgers Easter Road headache continues after another disappointing visit to Leith

These sides met 5 times last season, with Stephen Robinson's side being the first to beat Celtic in almost a year, when they defeated the Bhoys 2-0 in September 2022.

Following that, Celtic ran out big winners in the next 3 encounters, winning 4-0, 5-1 in the Scottish Cup, followed by another 5-1 win in the league. The sides would meet once more, after the split which ended with the sides sharing the sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw, courtesy of a late Callum McGregor equalizer after the Bhoys had been second best for the majority of the match.

There can be no denying the impact and effect that Robinson has had at St Mirren, as he led them last season to their highest Premiership finish since the 1980's.

The Paisley outfit have carried that into this campaign also, sitting in 3rd and 5 points clear of the rest of the competition, after the comprehensive 4-0 victory over St Johnstone at the weekend.

The 1st of November is All Saints' Day. The visitors will be no pushovers and Celtic need to be at their fluent, energetic and clinical best to ensure it's not St Mirren's day also.

By the Numbers​

• The Bhoys have been undefeated in the past 48 games against all domestic opposition at Celtic Park since January 2021 - the visitors that day were St Mirren.

• Could be in for a tight first half - St Mirren have conceded just 1 'Away' 1st half goal, while Celtic have yet to allow a single first half goal at home.

• Both sides have a 100% win record in the league when they've scored first.

The Hoops recorded a first clean sheet since Cameron Carter-Vickers' return to the starting XI

Team News

Celtic are expected to be without Alistair Johnston after the Canadian International had to be replaced with a suspected concussion on Saturday. Thankfully, that did not turn out to be the case, but it is a protocol, with Anthony Ralston starting in his place. Johnston joins Reo Hatate (hamstring), Stephen Welsh (ankle) and Liel Abada (thigh) on the sidelines - all three of whom are expected to be out until Christmas at least.​

As for the visitors, it appears that the biggest question that Robinson faces is whether to once again go with the same XI that defeated St Johnstone and persevere with Ryan Flynn or to re-instate Ryan Strain, who is available again after being suspended.

Referee: John Beaton

This will be Beaton's 6th Premiership appearance of the season and has 218 games overall at this level siince making his top flight debut in March 2012.

Celtic Overall Record with Beaton
M: 50 W: 38 D: 9 L: 3

VAR: Nick Walsh



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 264 W: 182 D: 48 L: 34​

Last 5 Meetings
D W W W L

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~

All Comps
D D W W L ~ W L D L W

SPFL
D W W W W ~ W L D W W​