These Bhoys just don’t know how to lose

Celts out to break Maley record but Davies says it’s not a factor

CHRIS DAVIES insists Celtic are not being driven by the desire to make history – but the determination to stay top dogs in the present.

The Parkhead side can set a new British record of 63 domestic games unbeaten at St Johnstone today – and break the previous best achieved by the club under Willie Maley a century ago,

Assistant boss Davies admitted continuing the run would be a huge achievement – but the Hoops main priority is remaining clear at the Premiership summit.

He said: “We’ve got to make sure we stay at the top of the league. That’s our motivation. To make sure we stay on top.

“When it comes to the record, I think everyone was privately aware it was happening.

“But we don’t talk about that.

We’ve had other objectives to be honest in terms of getting to the League Cup Final, making sure we’re top of the league and dominating. Europe’s different.

“It won’t be something that’s our single motivation for this game. What’s got us to this point is ‘win the next game – focus on that’. And giving everything and doing your best.

“Hopefully the record is the consequence. That will be our mentality, no doubt about that.

“We’re going to a team which has been in the top-six for a few years and are still in the top-six now and it’s away from home. It’s always going to be a difficult game.”

Davies admitted he has had Willie

Maley’s record in his sights for months but the Hoops are not going to stop at 63.

He said: “It would be us stepping past the previous one that we’re now joint with.

“To be honest, we won’t talk about it before the game. We haven’t spoken about it at all.”

St Johnstone will be without Chris

Millar against Celtic after he pulled up in training.

Celtic’s Erik Sviatchenko remains short of fitness, while fellow defenders Jozo Simunovic and

Anthony Ralston, plus winger

Patrick Roberts, remain out for Brendan Rodgers’ men.