ONLY UP FOR BIG GAMES
raise their game against the rest of the division.
Saints have now drawn twice at Celtic Park and won against Hibs at Easter Road – while their last Premiership win was the 3-1 victory against Rangers at Ibrox.
Rodgers had no complaints about picking up just a point three days after the big Europa League night against Zenit.
But he insisted Saints boss Tommy Wright has a right to be raging at his inconsistent squad.
Rodgers said: “There’s a question there for Tommy’s players. He’s a fantastic manager and I’m sure he walks away happy with a point. But he’s probably really frustrated.
“How can you win a game at Ibrox 3-1 on December 16 and then not win again right through apart from the Albion game?
“The next big result is away at Celtic. So the question is with the St Johnstone players.
“They were committed, fighting, running. If they do that in every single match they would win a lot more games.
“But that’s the expectancy when you’re a Celtic player – everyone will come and fight to make it difficult for you. St Johnstone did that. They had good organisation, got blocks and ran their hearts out.
“We just couldn’t make the final pass. We drew against them here earlier in the season but that’s sometimes how it is.
“We scored more away at McDiarmid Park when they needed to come out a bit more. We just couldn’t break them down.”
Rodgers made seven changes to his side ahead of the return in Russia on Thursday – but the Hoops boss defended his line-up.
Skipper Scott Brown was banned while Mikael Lustig and Olivier Ntcham were out with injury and illness respectively.
Rodgers revealed both will be fit for Zenit but Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney, Jozo Simunovic and James Forrest were all left on the bench yesterday. Asked if he regretted the wholesale changes he said: “No – you have to be careful with so many big games and a big game on Thursday.
“Kieran has played nearly two seasons in one and I have to take the opportunities to give him a breather. After Thursday he has Aberdeen on Sunday and games follow from there.
“There was no need to risk it when I have other players I can give a chance to. It’s always difficult after European games. Even if I had a full side out it would have been a tough game.”
Rodgers made Callum McGregor captain in a week where he clocked his 150th Hoops appearance and grabbed the winner against Zenit.
The Parkhead boss said: “He’s been absolutely brilliant for me . If you look at his goal during the week if that’s a Spanish, Italian or Argentinian player then everyone would be lauding the quality of his touch and technique.
“He’s a fantastic talent in terms of how he takes the ball and how he has only one cap for Scotland is amazing, someone of that technique and tactical idea of the game is brilliant.
“With some other regulars out it was a nice touch for him to be captain. He’s 24 and came through the system. He understands Celtic and what it means and it was a nice day for him and his family.”
Saints boss Wright is hoping the draw will kickstart an upturn in form for his side. He said: “We’ve had performances like this, we had one at the start of the season, and not many teams are unbeaten after coming here twice.
“It hasn’t been often enough but this performance should give the players confidence to kick on for the rest of the season.
“They will deserve the plaudits this season because I thought they were excellent. I’d have liked to have taken more and with a bit more composure we might have.
“Right now we won’t worry about top six. We need to get a run of results going then take it from there.”