St. Johnstone Faces Celtic in Crucial Match for Survival

DUNDEE, Scotland — St. Johnstone manager Simo Valakari expressed confidence ahead of a pivotal clash against Celtic this Sunday as his side aims to climb out of the relegation zone in the Scottish Premiership. Valakari stated, “We’re playing against a very, very, very good team, but our team is good as well. We need to find the balance right with how we defend, what we do when we have the ball and after we lose it. I’m confident as always, let’s go out and play and see where it takes us.”

Currently, Celtic sits atop the league, and a win could extend their lead over Rangers to a commanding 16 points following the latter’s loss to Hibernian. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers emphasized the importance of replicating their earlier strong performances this season, asserting the need for a dynamic and aggressive approach, particularly in counter-pressing. He remarked, “I prefer a left-footed centre-half; it felt natural to put Auston Trusty back in. Every game is different; we played really well here earlier in the season. We want to be able to bring that performance again today.”

In preparation for the match, Valakari made three changes to his starting lineup after last weekend’s defeat against Hibernian. Adama Sidibeh, Graham Carey, and Stephen Duke-McKenna were included in the starting XI, while Barry Douglas, Sven Sprangler, and Jonathan Svedberg were dropped. St. Johnstone continues to deal with long-term injuries to Uche Ikpeazu, Bozo Mikulic, and Sam McClelland.

Celtic, meanwhile, made just one change from their decisive 3-0 victory over Hearts last weekend. Maik Nawrocki was replaced by Trusty, who returns from a month-long absence. Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo will continue in the role, filling in for the injured Kasper Schmeichel.

The stakes could not be higher as St. Johnstone looks to reduce the gap with Dundee, who currently sits five points ahead in 11th place. The match will be crucial for both teams: Celtic aims to secure its title ambitions, while St. Johnstone fights to avoid relegation.

Fans can tune in to live commentary and build-up starting at 11:30 BST on BBC Radio Scotland. The match is set to take place at McDiarmid Park, offering a stage for both teams to showcase their abilities and ambitions for the rest of the season.