Wright feels visit of champions is ideal game to revive Saints
S t J o h n s t o n e m a n a g e r To m my Wr i g h t f e e l s t h e v i s i t o f C e l t i c i s t h e i d e a l game to ease the pressure on his team.
S a i n t s h a v e t a k e n o n e p o i n t f r o m a p o s s i b l e 1 5 without scoring a goal but t hey remain i n t he top six of the Ladbrokes Premiership and have already drawn with the champions this seas on. Wright f e el s t he l ack o f e x p e c t a t i o n s wi l l h e l p his side when they take on a t e a m f r e s h f r o m a n a r - row defeat against Bayern Munich.
“It is ideal from that point o f v i e w, a l t h o u g h s e e i n g t h e m o n Tu e s d a y n i g h t make s i t e ve n mor e d i f f i - cult,” Wright said.
“It’s a game we are looking for ward to – a good atmosphere and under no pres - sure because, let’s be honest, nobody expects us to get a result, particularly when you l o ok at how well t hey p l ay e d a g a i n s t A b e r d e e n and Bayern Munich.
“They dismantled the second- best team in the country by far over the past few seasons and they were incredible against Bayern Munich and probably should have won. We are cer t ainly not s i t t i n g h e r e t h i n k i n g we can’t get anything from the g a me. We b e l i e ve we c a n b e c a u s e h i s t o r y w i l l t e l l you we’re always capable of throwing up results.
“We were the last team to beat them and l ast season we were unf o r t unat e i n a c o u p l e o f g a me s : we l o s t 1- 0 there, we were 2- 1 up at h o me a n d f e e l we s h o u l d have had a penalty then they get one at the other end, we drew with them this year. So we have proved we can get results but ever yone has to do their jobs well.”
Celtic can break their own 100 - year- old record and go 63 domestic games unbeaten since Saints secured a 2- 1 win in Ronny Deila’s penultimate game as manager.
“If you go back to that season, on their day that team could play some really good football and maybe nearly be on a par with this team,” Wri g h t s a i d . “B u t t h e d i fference is the consistency. While Ronny’s team could play particularly well, they never showed the consistency and hunger t hat t his team has.”
Wr i g h t i n s i s t s h e i s n o t t h i n k i n g a b o u t b e i n g t h e team to stop Celtic’s run.
“That would be nice after it,” he said. “Our motivation is to stop the wee run we are o n a n d t o l o o k a f t e r o u r - selves.”
Saints will have to do that wit hout up t o f ive i mp or - tant players. Brian Easton a n d C h r i s Mi l l a r a r e o u t , while Murray Davidson i s “ex t r e mely doubt f ul” a nd b o t h S t e f a n S c o u g a l l a n d Mi c h a e l O ’ H a l l o r a n o n l y have an outside chance of playing.
“If we can get two of the five on the pitch I will be slightly happier,” Wright said.