Celtic VS St Johnstone Match Prediction

  • Logo2018-02-18
  • Logo15:00:00
Celtic
VS
St Johnstone

Our Prediction Tip

Celtic will win this match.

Even after grabbing a draw from the match at Celtic Park in August, Celtic remain well ahead of St. Johnstone in terms of results with 39 wins, six draws, and eight losses in 53 meetings. Here's a look at the last five results:

Nov 4, 2017: Saints 0-4 Celtic
Aug 26, 2017: Celtic 1-1 Saints
May 6, 2017: Celtic 4-1 Saints
Feb 5, 2017: Saints 2-5 Celtic
Jan 25, 2017: Celtic 1-0 Saints

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Celtic vs St Johnstone Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Celtic are at 1/6 to win, a draw is at 13/2, and a St. Johnstone win is at 12/1.

Celtic enter this match on the back of a Europa League fixture with Zenit- they will also have one on Thursday with them as well. They could be a bit distracted by that, so this could be a good time for St. Johnstone to meet them. With that said, they are the leaders and have 60 points after 26 matches to put them a full eight ahead of Aberdeen and 11 ahead of arch-rivals Rangers. They did lose their last Premiership match, though, so that will be firm in their minds at kickoff.

St. Johnstone will begin play in eighth place with 26 points. They have played just 24 times, two less than some of the other sides in the league. If they were to win both of their games in hand, they could jump inside the top six if results went their way. They, though, are not on a good run of late with only one point to show from their last five matches and are on a four match losing run.

At home, Celtic have been the best team in Scotland by far. They have yet to lose, despite having drawn four times in total, but they have won four of their last five and have 13 points over that stretch to show real dominance. They have only given up eight goals at Celtic Park thus far. St. Johnstone have been a middling side away from home. They have 14 points from 12 games, a decent record, but they have lost half of those matches. They are on a two match losing skid and haven't won any of the last three, but they have seven point from the last five to show improvement in that stretch.

Sinclair to score anytime, via Ladbrokes, is set at 5/4.

Celtic vs St Johnstone Prediction

Celtic, if they are smart at least, will be looking to keep their eyes set on Zenit and the chances of progressing in that competition as they have a bit of a gap to second. So they will likely rotate and will not have the same kind of performance this time around.

Correct Score Prediction: Celtic 1-0 St. Johnstone

 

Team News

Brendan Rodgers has injuries that will keep goalkeeper Craig Gordon, right back Anthony Ralston, midfielders Patrick Roberts and Jonny Hayes, and striker Leigh Griffiths out of the lineup here. He might look to rotate where he can as well as they travel to St. Petersburg for the second leg of the UEL round of 32 tie next Thursday, and he will want to have the freshest group possible to defend a narrow one goal lead in Russia.

Key Man

Perhaps one of the most disappointing players in Scottish football this season, and unfairly so, has been attacker Scott Sinclair. The Englishman has nine Premiership goals already, yet he has not lived up to the ridiculous standard that many set for him after last season. He will be fresh for this match having sat the bench on Thursday night, and he will be keen to stake out his place in the second leg clincher in Russia with a good showing.

Team Form

Celtic have four wins and a loss in their last five matches:

1-0 home win vs Zenit (UEL)
3-2 home win vs Partick Thistle (FA Cup)
1-0 loss at Kilmarnock
3-1 home win vs Hearts
1-0 home win vs Hibernian

Celtic Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-5-2

Team News

Tommy Wright has injuries to left back Brian Easton, forwards Callum Hendry and David McMillan, and attacking midfielder Stefan Scougall ahead of this tough trip to Celtic Park. Midfielder Chris Millar also looks to be an injury doubt after coming out early against Hearts.

Key Man

Saints have a big job to do in order to stop the rot of their recent form. They have lost three in a row and four of the last five, and they have got to improve on the attacking side of things to stand a chance. Only one goal in the last five matches is not good enough, so they need someone to step up and score the goals.  Right midfielder Murray Davidson is one option.  He has scored three times so far to be amongst his team's best.

Team Form

Saints have four losses and a win in their last five matches:

3-0 loss at Hearts (FA Cup)
2-0 loss at Motherwell
1-0 loss at Hearts
0-4 win at Albion Rovers (FA Cup)
1-3 home loss vs Partick Thistle

St Johnstone Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 5-4-1

After taking an absolute hiding from Celtic in November, many would feel that St. Johnstone are due for an even worse beating at Celtic Park. However, with the Europa League firmly in the minds of the Hoops, this match represents a chance for the Saints to pull an upset. They should keep it close, but whether or not they can get the job done is the question.
Johnstone are winless in six Premiership matches (2D, 4L).