The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Saints due change in fortunes
St Johnstone are due a change of fortune against Celtic, according to manager Tommy Wright – and Saturday afternoon would be the perfect time to get it, writes Eric Nicolson.
Saints are pointless against the Premiership champions in 2016-17 but can point to gamechanging moments that have gone against them in two of the fixtures. So there will be no inferiority complex for Wright’s men, who are in top form themselves, for the Parkhead trip.
“I don’t think you ever get a free hit at anyone in football because if we don’t get anything this week I’ll see it as three points lost,” said Wright. “I believe we can win every game we play.
“In certain games against Celtic this season we have been extremely unlucky and decisions have gone against us.”
“We have had penalties given against us and penalties denied,” added Wright.
“I’m not saying Celtic didn’t deserve to win against us because they’ve played well in the games.
“But over the piece, I don’t think the scorelines reflect how we’ve done in the matches.
“With a couple of decisions different, we might have picked up a few points.
“Someone might beat them this season so why can’t it be us?”
He added: “We’ll go there trying to get a result because we’ve done it before.
“Obviously it’s different circumstances under Brendan because they have improved so much, but we’ll give it a go.
“We won’t be reckless, mind you, because they can go through the gears in a 10 minute spell and score three or four against you.
“But our away record is good, I think it’s the best this club has ever had in the top flight this season.
“So we’ll set up in a way to get the three points if we can.”
Celtic are coming off backto-back Old Firm games and, with the league long since won, Brendan Rodgers may decide to start tinkering with his team in the run-up to the Scottish Cup final.
Wright won’t be second guessing the Celtic starting line-up but he does believe that securing a treble rather than preserving an unbeaten record will be his fellow Northern Irishman’s priority.
“I don’t know if Brendan will change his team but he can because he’s got so many quality players,” said Wright.
“He has two teams he could field in the league and win most weeks. That’s the level of quality he’s got.
“Scott Brown is suspended and he might look at making a change or two with the Scottish Cup final in mind later this month.
“But regardless of what team he puts out they will have loads of quality.”
He continued: “Celtic’s priority is the treble.
“Staying unbeaten will be something they want to do, but the treble is the really big thing for them because it doesn’t happen very often.
“I was speaking to Brendan last week and mentioned it to him.
“He knew straight away who had done it and the years it happened.
“Jock Stein and Martin O’Neill did it in the past so of course he’ll be desperate to join them in the history books.
“If they do it, it would be a huge achievement.
“But hopefully their unbeaten run will come to an end this weekend.”