Samuel Stanton ↑63′ · Ruari Paton ↑63′ · Kai Fotheringham ↑74′ · Danny Schmidt ↑74′ · Macaulay Tait ↑87′ · Morgan Boyes · Matty Foulds · Ross Sinclair · Liam Smith · Jamie Gullan
Coach · Simo Valakari
Match Preview
St. Johnstone vs Celtic Match Preview
AI-written editorial preview · updated 2026-09-07 19:14 UTC
St. Johnstone and Celtic clash in Premiership midweek action
St. Johnstone enters this midweek encounter at McDiarmid Park buoyed by a hard-fought victory over Hibernian, a result that injected momentum into their early Premiership campaign. Celtic arrives in Perth following a consistent run of domestic form, looking to maintain their rhythm as they navigate the early stages of the league season.
St. Johnstone's quest for consistency
Having navigated a challenging start to their competitive calendar, St. Johnstone has shown flashes of resilience, particularly in their recent 2-1 win against Hibernian on 6 September. The side has had to balance a mix of results, including a draw at Dundee FC and a narrow defeat to Heart of Midlothian, as they look to solidify their defensive structure. With Jamie Gullan sidelined due to injury, the onus will fall on the expected attacking trio of Josh Fowler, Taylor Steven, and the midfield support of Kai Fotheringham to disrupt the visitors' rhythm.
Celtic's dominant domestic momentum
Celtic has enjoyed a prolific spell in the Premiership, marked by a clinical 3-0 win over Aberdeen and a narrow 2-1 success at St. Mirren on 5 September. Their domestic form has been spearheaded by the exceptional output of Camilo Duran, who has netted 8 goals in his last 9 appearances. Despite the absence of Kieran Tierney and Kasper Waarts Hoegh, the squad remains deep, with Benjamin Nygren providing a creative spark that has seen him involved in 11 goals during their recent 10-match stretch.
Team news and expected lineups
Both managers are expected to field strong sides as they look to secure points in this third matchday of the season. St. Johnstone is expected to line up with Toby Steward in goal, protected by a defensive line of Enes Alic, Cheick Diabate, Zach Mitchell, and Liam Smith. Celtic’s expected XI features Viljami Sinisalo between the posts, supported by a back four of Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Colby Donovan, with Callum McGregor anchoring the midfield.
Historical context and the road ahead
Meetings between these two clubs have often been one-sided in recent years, with Celtic recording a 5-0 victory in their April 2025 FA Cup clash. However, St. Johnstone proved they are capable of an upset when they secured a 1-0 win over the visitors in their Premiership meeting on 6 April 2025. As both teams take to the pitch on 9 September, the history of these fixtures serves as a reminder that domestic points are rarely guaranteed regardless of previous form.
The tactical battle at McDiarmid Park
With Celtic’s attacking players showing such high levels of involvement, the primary tactical question for St. Johnstone will be how to contain the space between their defensive and midfield lines. The hosts will likely look to exploit transitions through the energy of their midfield, while Celtic will aim to control possession and feed their in-form strikers. The outcome at McDiarmid Park will likely hinge on whether the home side can withstand the pressure and capitalize on their limited opportunities.
Celtic
4-2-3-1
● Confirmed
9
↓86′
Waarts Hoegh
17
↓73′
Tounekti
18
↓67′
Soerensen
23
↓73′
Hassan
22
⚽
Baur
42
McGregor
47
Murray
5
↓87′
Scales
6
Trusty
51
Donovan
26
Johnstone
Bench (14)
Benjamin Nygren ↑67′ · Camilo Duran ↑73′ · James Forrest ↑73′ · Shumaira Mheuka ↑86′ · Kieran Tierney ↑87′ · Kieran Tierney ↑87′ · Viljami Sinisalo · Jordan Lotomba · Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain · Joel van den Berg · Kasper Waarts Hoegh · Alistair Johnston · Callum Osmand · Jota
Coach · Martin O'Neill
Confirmed by FIFA officials.
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