Celts & Saints Set for Perth Test

Celts & Saints Set for Perth Test
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


David Turnbull v St Johnstone in August. The midfielder has already scored 7 goals this season

McDiarmid Park, Perth
Sunday, 3 December 2023
12.00 GMT

The Hoops return to Premiership action when they travel through to Perth to take on St Johnstone in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off.

Since the International break, the Bhoys have had to share the spoils in a lacklustre 1-1 draw with 8th placed Motherwell before travelling to Rome, where they lost 2-0 to Lazio - a team currently sitting in 11th in Serie A.

There are another 9 games to be played in the next 30 days, and with so many fixtures coming so quickly there is little time to dwell, but that can be a good thing also. In football, nothing is as cathartic as winning, and if the Bhoys can get on a run it will go a long way to building momentum for the hectic schedule ahead.

And that begins with a trip to Perth - so often has been a happy hunting ground for the Hoops, having won every visit there since 2016. However, that does not mean that there is any room for complacency on this occasion, as a resurgent St Johnstone awaits.


Brendan Rodgers is yet to get the best from fullback pair Greg Taylor & Alistair Johnston

St Johnstone began the season as many pundit's favourites for the drop and such has been the start to this campaign it seemed to justify that prediction. It eventually lead to them dispensing with the services of former manager Steven MacLean at the end of October without having recorded a single win in the league.​

Despite the 0-0 draw when the Bhoys hosted St Johnston at Parkhead back in August, the Saints seemed to be sleep-walking toward certain relegation, with a sizeable gap already opening up and in serious danger of being cut adrift entirely.

Their troubles have been especially amplified on the road, where they have yet to even score a goal!

The Saints' home form, however, is what is keeping them going and are currently undefeated in their last 4 games at McDiarmid Park ahead of the Celts' visit.​

November saw a tremendous shift in their fortunes. Despite coming into this game off the back of a 1-0 loss to Hearts last weekend, there is a definite sense of renewed hope for the Saints' Premiership survival now than there was just a month ago.

The Perthshire club are now under the direction of former Scotland manager Craig Levein, won their first two games of the season and in the process not just closed the gap but climbed from off the bottom of the table - albeit narrowly.


Liam Scales has made the most of the opportunity since his start against St Johnstone in August

Stats & Facts​

• Celtic are undefeated by St Johnstone since May 2016.

• The Hoops have won the last 12 straight meetings with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

• Both sides are undefeated in games in which they have scored first this season.

• St Johnstone have picked up 7 points in their last 3 Home games.

Luis Palma should be set to return this weekend after missing the Lazio game through suspension

Team News

Daizen Maeda (knee), Leil Abada (thigh), Reo Hatate (hamstring) and Stephen Welsh (ankle) remain sidelined, however Luis Palma will be once again available after he missed the trip to Rome in midweek through suspension.

As for the hosts, Levein has confirmed that Cammy McPherson (thigh) remains sidelined, while Nicky Clark and Sam McClelland have returned to training but neither are expected to be able to feature this weekend. Meanwhile Andy Considine is considered to be 'wait and see' after being forced off at half time in the 1-0 loss to Hearts, last week.​

Referee: Don Robertson

This will be Robertson's first time in charge of a Celtic game since the 1-0 win at Ipox, at the start of September.

Celtic's Overall Record
M: 32 W: 28 D: 3 L: 1

VAR: Kevin Clancy


~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 224 W: 134 D: 54 L: 36​

Last 5 Meetings
D W W W W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~ ​

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

SPFL
D W W W D ~ L W D W L​