While Celtic did struggle for a lot of the game against St Mirren during the week, they suddenly burst into life late in the match so there will be a hope that they can carry that on this afternoon against St Johnstone.
The Saints have demonstrated that they can be a well drilled side who will frustrate you and they can nick a few goals from set pieces, so it’s important to get an early goal and ruin their game plan as soon as possible.
That seems to be reflected in Lenny’s team selection ahead of the game, with several attacking players making the starting XI:
📋 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞 𝕟𝕖𝕨𝕤…
Here’s how the Hoops line up for #STJCEL 👇#COYBIG 🟢⚪ pic.twitter.com/IzRE8FOc58
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 14, 2021
Ryan Christie is a welcome return to the side after the lovely goal he scored during the week, while Stephen Welsh picked up a nasty looking injury against St Mirren so he’s been replace by Shane Duffy.
Duffy could actually be useful in this game as defending set pieces will be important, so hopefully he’ll be able to assert himself in the air and make a difference in that part of the game.
The inclusion of Christie has come at the cost of Ajeti who’s had to drop back to the bench, and it does look like a few of the fans are frustrated to see a system with a lone frontman once again:
“Play Christie up front, instead of giving ajeti a good run of games.” pic.twitter.com/4B7z2hUBFU
— Mark Tiernan (@MarkTiernan31) February 14, 2021
reverts to 1 uptop which has been terrible all year for us and now we have christie in a free role probably to try as much 3 point kicks as he can 🤯🤯 the fact nothing is being learnt this season and no forward planning and blatently not listening to fans is criminal! Review?👀
— ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (@mikeymullen1989) February 14, 2021
Back to one up front? Why would we play one up front when our most convincing performances have come with two up front?
— Brogan Rogan Trevino (@BroganRoganTrev) February 14, 2021
3 strikers on the bench and we start Christie up front
— jamie (@Lord_Bitton67) February 14, 2021
Why drop Ajeti when you can see he is getting better and “fitter” with each game. Christie (I hope i am wrong today) has been a passenger for weeks. Changing a winning team….so frustrating.
— John Edmiston (@JohnEdmiston10) February 14, 2021
Back to the 1 striker crap that’s served us so well so far this season 🙈
— Ann-marie Colvan (@AnnmarieColvan) February 14, 2021
2 up front v Rangers and play very well, 1 up front v the Saints? Barkas needs games. If we were ‘outstanding’ on Wednesday, why not build upon it and play Griff with Eddie?
— Doug Smith (@Skyseller67) February 14, 2021
