With reinforcements expected in the January transfer window, you won’t find many within the Celtic support who feel a six-point deficit in the Scottish Premiership is insurmountable for Ange Postecoglou and this Celtic team. However, with the League due to enter an earlier winter break, after an uncommon bout of common sense broke out at SPFL Headquarters, anxiety levels may raise somewhat if six was to become seven or even nine. As such a win at McDiarmid Park this lunchtime is vital for Celtic.
After all, as the other Saints of Paisley head to Ibrox, it is unlikely their efforts with a bunch of kids and a Covid impacted squad will result in anything more than a hefty defeat – their herculean efforts and the resultant fatigue from defending their box against Celtic in Wednesday’s goalless draw will see to that.
Despite St Mirren asking for postponements of both fixtures against the top two in the League, football governance wasn’t going to stretch to an outbreak of common sense twice in a week, otherwise we may start expecting it.
For Celtic this on paper looks an easy enough encounter, the stats after all indicate should Celtic score that should in theory be enough to see off St Johnstone.
It is a strange sight to see last season’s team of the year, after winning both domestic Cups, lie bottom of the league. Yet that’s where the Perth Saints are, as the gamble to take the money and run for Chairman Steve Brown, when late bids arrived for midfielder Ali McCann and defender Jason Kerr is looking dangerously close to actually costing his club more money than they gained, should they fall through the Premiership trapdoor.
With 22 goals conceded St Johnstone should be neck and neck with Dundee United fighting for 6th place in the league, the position they finished last season. With nearest relegation rivals Dundee conceding 35 goals it probably should the Dens men holding up the pack, yet creating chances and finishing them off is the main reason for Saints current plight.
Not only are Saints the league’s lowest scorers with a scrooge like 10 goal return, their expected goals are no better, which indicates the supply as well as the conversion is a major issue for Callum Davidson, and one I’m sure he’ll be keen to discuss with his chairman with a transfer window opening next week.
St Johnstone haven’t won in any of their last eight games and have lost seven of those matches in the process, they’ve also kept just five clean sheets in those 19 league games this season. The Saints can’t even rely on their home form to help see them through as they have won just one of their ten games played at McDiarmid Park.
Normally that would indicate poor timing when it comes to playing the League’s best attacking team. After all Ange’s men have won 16 of their last 18 matches, with their only loss in that time coming against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League. However, Celtic’s injury crisis, particularly prevalent in attacking areas, coupled with St Mirren’s surprising point gained on Wednesday night, where they denied Celtic anything, may give Callum Davidson and his men a sliver of hope.
Much like the Paisley side the numbers would indicate St Johnstone’s best hope of a result lies in parking the bus and keeping a clean sheet, as such for Celtic to emerge with an essential win to head into the winter break, Celtic need to find their shooting boots again.
Much of that will come down to that starting eleven in Perth today. Ange Postecoglou has indicated he doesn’t expect many of the injured or ill to return to the fold, but with his post-match comments after the Cup Final indicating Kyogo Furuhashi’s gametime had to be managed rather than him being unable to play, Ange may see an opportunity to give the Japanese striker an hour to see if he can put St Johnstone to the sword before retiring from the action.
As he often is Kyogo could be the difference between a win or dropped points, and with time now offered after today to get back to full fitness, it may be a gamble Ange is willing to take.
Such an option would allow Liel Abada to return to the right wing and Mikey Johnston to continue on the left side of the attack. That in theory should be enough to grab a goal or two in Perth as Kyogo’s absence was sorely felt in Paisley.
Celtic also have a goalkeeping issue to contend with, as a mystery complaint saw the impressive Joe Hart drop out of the squad altogether. And although St Johnstone offer little attacking threat, as a leader an organiser at the back as well as a fine shot stopper, the return of Joe Hart between the sticks would not only soothe any pre-match nerves amongst the Celtic support it would also surely dent any confidence a shot shy St Johnstone attack has at the thought of not facing 75 times capped England International. Hart’s return would also give the Celtic midfield and attack the confidence to take the risks needed to create chances, knowing they have that security at the back.
The return of the recently, and altogether unfairly, criticised Carl Starfelt to the side following suspension can only help in that regard also. It should be remembered after all with Carter Vickers, Starfelt and Joe Hart forming that central barrier to goal, Celtic have the best defensive record in the league.
One off day in a cup final does not a bad player make, and Carl Starfelt in the main has been an excellent addition to the Celtic defence, and if he and Joe Hart return today, I’d not only be confident in the Celtic defence, I’d be hopeful the extra security offered will allow our attacking players to go and win this match this match for Celtic.
Celtic can afford no more slip ups today as we head into the winter break trailing in the League title race, but with three points there to be won against an out of form opponent, and with squad reinforcements on the way, a victory in Perth will set us up nicely when the league restarts next month. Perhaps a returning Kyogo, Carl Starfelt and Joe Hart will be enough to see we get just that.
UPDATE…
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Here's the 𝑯𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒔’ starting XI for today's game in Perth 👇#STJCEL | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/gEgx0X3Top
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 26, 2021
TWICE AS GOOD
Thanks to everyone who ordered Harry Hood – Twice as Good for Christmas presents. If you got an Ange jumper instead then why not order this brilliant book by Matt Corr, or indeed David Potter’s biography of another Celtic legend Alec McNair – born on this day incidentally – from Celtic Star Books or from the official Celtic stores?
