St. Johnstone vs Celtic. Viaplay Cup Quarter Final.
McDiarmid ParkAttendance5,635.
Wednesday 26 September 2018 22:33, UK
Brendan Rodgers insists there is unity in the Celtic camp ahead of Wednesday's Scottish League Cup clash away to St Johnstone.
Celtic's 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday left them with 10 points from six Ladbrokes Premiership games and confirmed their worst start to a league campaign in 20 years.
"When teams lose games, the logic used to be and clearly still is, there is a split in the dressing room," Rodgers said.
"We've set such a high standard over these last couple of seasons. Yes, we haven't started as well as we wanted in our season but we are very much together.
"It is something I am very calm with. Sometimes we won't win games and we have to accept that.
"We have a blueprint which is very stable in terms of the way we play football and normally when we execute that we have a winning strategy."
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has backed Rodgers to turn things around, but Saints will not fear a backlash on Wednesday having drawn twice in Glasgow last season.
Wright said: "My job is to try to make it after Wednesday night that they are still indifferent. But I have watched them a couple of times, I watched them in the Old Firm game and in Europe.
"The Old Firm game in particular they were outstanding, totally dominated it. I think when a team is successful they are going to hit a period where their form is a bit indifferent."
Wright reported after St Johnstone's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Rangers: "Danny Swanson has a problem with his calf, which he picked up in a foul we didn't get just before Rangers' fourth goal.
"Drey Wright was taken off as a precaution and Matty Kennedy has an ankle knock but they should both be fine."
Rodgers must decide if he is to recall Scott Bain in goal after he played in the previous round against Partick.
Jozo Simunovic remains the only injury absentee but the centre-back is close to returning from a knee problem.
Emilio Izaguirre, Cristian Gamboa and Kristoffer Ajer might freshen up the defence, while Lewis Morgan's lively cameo against Kilmarnock could lead to a first domestic start since his move from St Mirren.