St Johnstone vs Celtic preview

Jan 22 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SAINTS finally return to action at McDiarmid Park on Sunday in an all-ticket SPL clash with Celtic which will be broadcast across Britain on Sky.

It’s the first time the Hoops have visited the Fair City since Saints exited the SPL in 2002.

The Glasgow club are in a transition phase and under fire from fans frustrated by points dropped in the customary title joust with Rangers.

But Perth manager Derek McInnes is thirsting for football in front of home fans, and the opposition is incidental.

Saints last made an appearance at McDiarmid on December 19 but finally got the year under way with an Active Nation Scottish Cup win over Forfar on Monday.

McInnes admitted: “We needed the outing. I was a bit concerned that people were saying we needed it as a warm up for Celtic but in my book it was never that.

“I always anticipated it would be a typically difficult cup tie. And if our approach hadn’t been spot on then they’d have caused us problems.

“So to come through it with the win, no injuries and to be back up and running after a lay-off was great.

“I certainly feel better going into the Celtic game now we’ve had a match ahead of it. Now we have to pick up the reins and getting going again in the league.

Opposite number Tony Mowbray has been feeling the heat but McInnes observed: “There is always pressure on the Old Firm when they aren’t winning. Whichever half is behind the other has the spotlight on them.

“That’s par for the course and it can easily change. And Tony Mowbray certainly portrays a confidence in his team. He has a set way of playing and they were very impressive against us at Parkhead. They demonstrated that day that they have a standard of player that can be difficult to stop.’”

Saints have been preparing indoors at Toryglen and will be at Stirling today. McInnes is hopeful that winger Fil Morais will make the weekend squad after treatment to a hamstring injury sustained in training last week.

Defender Stuart McCaffrey has been suffering from a bug but should be okay.

Full-back Gary Irvine reckons Saints are in good shape to pull off a third successive SPL win.

Things didn’t work out for him on his return to Parkhead earlier in the campaign as Saints crashed to a 5-2 defeat.

But he stressed: “I feel myself and the other boys are better prepared for this game with Celtic than we were the first one. We knew going into the match at Parkhead that it would be tough. But what happened was still a wake up call.

“I look back and know I didn’t do myself justice that day. It was a big occasion going back for the first time. When the fixtures came out in the summer that was the one I was looking for. But maybe I put too much pressure on myself. It was disappointing.

“But that’s in the past and I’m just looking forward to getting another crack at them. Confidence is high after some good results and conceding just one goal in the last three games. We’ve worked hard on the defensive side of things both as a team and as a unit at the back. And we’ve got our rewards for that.”

THE big games are coming thick and fast for Saints and the Perth ticket office is busy. First up is Sunday’s all-ticket clash with Celtic on Sunday with a 3.30pm kick-off. The Perth club co-operated with Celtic for the return of 400 tickets which paved the way for a general sale of tickets. The McDiarmid office opens today from 9.30am to 5pm and tomorrow from 10am to 12 noon. St Johnstone supporters are advised to purchase their tickets quickly because in the event of the 400 “away” tickets selling out, the general sale will come to an end. This is aimed at ensuring segregation.Season tickets are valid.

Saints face Dundee United in the Active Nation Scottish Cup on February 6. Season tickets are not valid for this game and admission prices to all areas of the ground will be adults £20 and under 18/over 65 £10. Saints will occupy the East and West Stands.