St. Johnstone vs Celtic. Scottish Premiership.
McDiarmid ParkAttendance6,800.
Saturday 4 November 2017 12:03, UK
Celtic are aiming to break their own unbeaten domestic record with a 63rd game without losing when they travel to St Johnstone, live on Sky Sports Football from 12pm on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers' side matched the 100-year record set by Willie Maley's side when they drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock last weekend with 62 games unbeaten in domestic matches and they can break it at McDiarmid Park this weekend.
But Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney says the team are not focusing on the record, and only want to win three points during Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash.
"It's a great run and some achievement from the boys to go that long. It's been great for us but we have not set out to break any run or record. We have set out to play the way we play, to work hard and press high, and we go out there to get the win in every game, so we will look forward to Saturday," he told a press conference.
"It will be a tough game. They gave us a tough game at Celtic Park. We're training hard for them and we're looking forward to the game and playing our way."
However, St Johnstone were the last side to beat Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-1 victory back in May 2016 but are winless in their last five league matches, although manager Tommy Wright is not too concerned.
"The morale is very good. We're all aware that we're not on a particularly good run at the minute but we've been here before - probably every season we've been at the club," he told the club's official website.
"We're not in the last two places of the league and having the run we're in but we do know that we need to get better and we've got to make sure that we get a positive result on Saturday heading into the international break and before Hibs."
Celtic have no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's game. Patrick Roberts is sidelined for a few weeks with a hamstring injury which meant he missed the midweek Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich.
Anthony Ralston remains out with a knee problem while fellow defenders Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko are still working their way back from respective hamstring and knee injuries.
St Johnstone also have a number of players out of action. Brian Easton and Chris Millar are certain omissions while Murray Davidson is a major doubt.
Stefan Scougall and Michael O'Halloran could make the visit of Celtic, but are touch and go.
St Johnstone have won just two of their last 20 Scottish Premiership matches against Celtic at McDiarmid Park (D4 L14), failing to score a single goal in nine of those matches.
Since the start of their 50 game unbeaten run in the league (W43 D7), Celtic have in fact beaten St Johnstone on four occasions in the Scottish Premiership (P5 D1). The only two sides they have beaten more during this run are Hearts (5) and Aberdeen (5).
Celtic have conceded just six goals in their opening 11 league matches this season, their best defensive start to a season since 2003/04 (three goals conceded after 11 games).
St Johnstone have failed to score in each of their last five league fixtures; they have only gone longer without a goal once in the Scottish Premiership, a six game run in April 2011.
Celtic's Callum McGregor, who scored in the Champions League against Bayern Munich in midweek, has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last three Scottish Premiership meetings with St Johnstone (two goals, one assist). Against no other side has he been involved in more league goals for the Hoops (three goals, two assists in eight encounters).
