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Celts Seek Saintly Success in Perth

Discussion in 'TalkCeltic News' started by Taz, Oct 7, 2022.

By Taz on Oct 7, 2022 at 3:48 PM
  1. Taz Blind Justice Gold Member News Writer

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    Celts Seek Saintly Success in Perth
    ~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~

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    Jota applies a stylish finish to score against RB Leipzig in midweek

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    McDiarmid Park, Perth
    Saturday, 8 Octber 2022
    12.30 BST


    Celtic are in need of a quick bounce back when they travel up to Perth to take on St Johnstone in Saturday's lunchtime kick off.

    The Bhoys will be keen to really get back into the swing of things, and a positive result coupled with a impressive performance would take a good step towards achieving that and to restore some of the confidence that will have taken a bit of a hit over the past month.

    And with St Johnstone, who have won just one of their 4 'home' League matches so far, it could provide the ideal platform for the Hoops to get back on track, especially with a couple of key European games at Paradise coming up.

    But while the hosts have not had the best start, there have been very definite signs of improvement, in that they have managed to keep clean sheets in both of their last two home games, as well as picking up points elsewhere to keep their heads above the other early season league strugglers.

    Context is everything, and with the fixtures keep on coming, with the Bhoys set to face both of the Edinburgh sides over the next fortnight as well as a League Cup Quarter-Final in between two massive Champions League home fixtures, there really is no such thing as an easy game.

    The Bhoys need a win on Saturday to maintain at the top of the League table, but there is so much more riding on this weekend, but this is why Postecoglou assembled the team that he has - to cope with this, and to find a way to win.

    This weekend, that is the bottom line. Win.


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    Joe Hart will need to shake off his blunder in midweek as the team will look to him for leadership

    There is no hiding from the fact that this has been a very tough run for Ange Postecoglou and his side in the last 6 weeks or so, with results not going their way and injuries piling up. Obviously context matters, but the bare facts don't make for pleasant reading.

    Since the comprehensive Glasgow derby victory at the beginning of September, there has been just the one win in the past 5 games - the sole success coming against Motherwell last weekend.

    Upon closer examination there has been just the one clean sheet in the past 7 outings - the aforementioned derby match - with the team conceding 11 goals in that time, and there are causes for concern at the other end of the pitch also, with the Bhoys having spurned a good number of clear scoring opportunities and netted just 4 in the past 5 games.

    Noone said that competing in the Champions League was going to be easy, and especially this year, with the compressed schedule in order to accomodate the World Cup beginning next month, in addition to an unexpected postponement of League fixtures and an International break has disrupted the Bhoys' rhythm, and while it does give some context as to these bare facts, but bare facts they are.

    All of which will add the pressure on getting a positive performance and result when they take to the pitch tomorrow.

    Just the Facts of the Stats

    • Celtic have won the last 7 consecutive matches between these sides and remain undefeated by St Johnstone since May 2016.
    • The last these sides met resulted in a 7-0 win for Celtic, back in April. Incidently, that was also the last time Celtic were awarded a spotkick - 19 competitive games ago.
    • McDiardmid Park has been the toughest place to score goals this season, with just 5 in total having been scored there across 4 Premiership games so far.

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    April: Reo Hatate opens the scoring in the 7-0 win the last time Celtic played St Johnstone


    Team News

    The Bhoys have Gorgios Giakoumakis available once again. The Greek striker has made cameo appearances from off the bench but will be looking for a larger role going forward. Liel Abada also returns after the Israeli winger missed the Leipzig match through observing Yon Kippur.

    The Bhoys will however be without skipper Callum McGregor, after the midfielder picked up a knee injury against Leipzig, and which has been characterized as 'not a short term' situation by the manager. The Scotland International was set to miss this match anyhow through suspension, however news that this is a far more serious injury obviously has far more implications for the team going forward.

    This does however open up an opportunity for someone like Oliver Abildgaard or Yosuke Ideguchi having to deputize in McGregor's absence for however long he is out for.That is only part of the problem facing the Bhoys though, as McGregor's leadership, both on and off the park, is a massive asset and leaves a significant hole. Goalkeeper Joe Hart is expected to take over the armband

    [​IMG]
    CalMac could be out of action for a while with a knee injury picked up in midweek

    Carl Starfelt (knee) and Yosuke Ideguchi (leg) are likely to be missing once again, as is David Turnbull (tonsilitis), while hopes are being realistically managed about the possible return for Cameron Carter-Vickers and Aaron Mooy, both of whom the manager confirmed rejoined the team for training on Friday, but whether tomorrow is too soon for a return to action remains to be seen.

    As for the hosts, Tony Gallagher has finally returned from a long term injury, after sustaining a leg fracture back in April, and is likely to be included in the matchday squad.

    Referee: Euan Anderson

    This will just be Anderson's 3rd Premiership match of this season and the first involving Celtic. In the 12 previous occasions he has refereed Celtic, the Hoops have won 10. Anderson previously officiated St Johnstone on opening day (L0-1 v Hibs) and they have won just 4 of the 17 times overall.

    Celtic Record
    W10 D1 L1
    Y11 YY>R1 SR0 P2

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG] ~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~ [​IMG]

    Overall
    P: 220 W: 131 D: 53 L: 36

    Last 5 Meetings
    W W W W W

    [​IMG] ~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~ [​IMG]

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

    SPFL
    W L W W W ~ L W D W L
     
    The Prof and tarboltontim like this.