Celtic really can’t afford anymore slip-ups as they tackle St Johnstone at Parkhead on Boxing Day. Three successive home draws currently see Neil Lennon’s misfiring side seriously playing catch-up on Old Firm rivals Rangers ahead of their Ibrox showdown next week. In between times, Celtic face a fifth straight home game against Motherwell on Wednesday evening, when Rangers will be travelling to the Hoops’ latest opponents St Johnstone.
Vital Quotes:
“They gave as a lot of problems in the cup game,” Neil Lennon told Celtic’s official website. “Derek [McInnes] has done a great job on a limited budget and he has good experience there with Duberry and Morris, and Parkin can be a handful on his day as well. We have to win these next two games going into the Glasgow derby. You have to win your home games and that remit doesn`t change. We have drawn the last three for various reasons and it`s difficult to put your finger on it. We just have to get back to winning ways and on Tuesday night`s evidence we are not far away from it.”
“It would’ve been a real frustration if we had only drawn,” Saints boss Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland following their latest win at St Mirren. “We were the better team, we created the better chances, especially in the second half. Seven points from nine on the road in the last three games. I’m really pleased with that. It’s something to build on.”
Celtic Team News:
Celtic are without top scorer Gary Hooper for the next six weeks due to an ankle problem, while Shaun Maloney is sidelined with a similar injury for even longer. Skipper Scott Brown is pushing for his first start in more than two months after his recent return as a substitute, with Beram Kayal, Mark Wilson and Efrain Juarez also back in contention. Otherwise Cha Du-Ri and Ki Sung-Yueng are both available for the last time before departing for the Asian Cup.
Celtic (from): Forster, Cha, Majstorovic, Rogne, Ledley, Ki, Murphy, Stokes, Samaras, McCourt, Forrest, Zaluska, Kayal, McGinn, Izaguirre, Brown, Wilson, Juarez
Player to watch: James Forrest
Talented teenager back in the mix and from whom really big things are expected in the future.
St Johnstone Team News:
Saints midfield duo Jody Morris and Jamie Adams are both suspended, but Murray Davidson should recover from a knock to his ankle received in training.
St Johnstone (from): Enckelman, Grainger, Duberry, MacKay, Anderson, Craig, Davidson, Taylor, Millar, MacDonald, Samuel, Parkin, Maybury, May, Durnan, Duffy, Caddis, McIntosh
Player to watch: Liam Craig
Stylish midfielder who scored a last-minute winner at St Mirren in their most recent outing.
Match Facts & Stats
Three successive home draws for Celtic have left their fans feeling deeply frustrated over their side’s faltering title bid. Saints have done considerably better in their last three games, winning at both St Mirren and Aberdeen while drawing at Hibernian.
Next Fixtures:
Celtic – Motherwell (H); St Johnstone – Rangers (H)
