da dobrowin： Celtic’s unbeaten domestic record is now so long that it’s actually easy to take for granted. There isn’t much fanfare when the Bhoys pick up a victory in the Scottish competitions these days but that betrays the enormity of what Brendan Rodgers is achieving week-to-week.
da realsbet： The Hoops have now gone an incredible 52 matches without tasting defeat in domestic football. That’s every match since Rodgers arrived at the club last summer and one solitary match from the end of Ronny Deila’s reign.
However, as we know, all things must come to an end at some point and whether it’s this weekend, in a month’s time or even a year’s time, the Hoops’ unbeaten run will be ended by a plucky Scottish side and it will be big news.
This Saturday that record is a little more precarious that most weeks with St Johnstone making the visit to Celtic Park to face the Scottish champions. With three wins from three of their at the start of this league season, Tommy Wright’s side are perhaps better placed than most to end that epic unbeaten streak.
Here are THREE reasons why…
St Johnstone were the last Scottish team to beat the Hoops
Yes, it happened so long ago that you may not remember it, but it was Tommy Wright’s St Johnstone side that were the last to bruise the Hoops in domestic competition. That win came way back in May of 2016.
It was a match Celtic should have won after taking the lead through Leigh Griffiths in Perth, but goals from Steven Maclean and Graham Cummings, capitalising on mistakes from Stefan Johansen and Efe Ambrose, delivered a 2-1 win.
They have recent history of tasting victory at Celtic Park too, with a 1-0 win in March 2015 a rare reminder that the Hoops are not invincible on their own patch.
Of course, this Celtic side under Brendan Rodgers are more resilient that those Ronny Deila outfits, despite having much of the same personnel. It will be hugely difficult for Wright’s team to get anything from Celtic Park on Saturday.
Wouldn’t it be poetic though, for St Johnstone to be the team that bookends Celtic’s unbeaten run?
Michael O’Halloran is in blistering form
If the Saints are to get anything from Saturday’s match then it will almost certainly come through the good work of Michael O’Halloran. The on loan Rangers man returned to the club this summer and has had made an instant impact at the club he initially made his name at.
He’s scored four goals in St Johnstone’s opening three fixtures, the man has who has inspired them to the three wins that sees his side keep company with the Hoops at the top of the table.
On the big stage at Celtic he’ll be looking to hit the headlines and serve a reminder to Pedro Caixinha what he is missing out on at Ibrox after their high profile fall-out.
Even if he doesn’t get any goals on the day, he’ll be vital to the way Tommy Wright’s side play. They’ll almost certainly have to resort to playing on the counter and the pace and dribbling ability of O’Halloran means he’ll be their most effective out ball from defence.
Can he inspire his side to a famous victory against the Hoops?
Celtic have just made a 6000 mile round trip
Another huge factor on Saturday could be the fact that Celtic have had to travel to a different continent and back this week to play a competitive match. In fact, the trip to Astana in Kazakhstan is a 6000 mile round trip by air, a tiring distance for anyone to make in a matter of days, nevermind professional athletes who have to keep themselves in peak condition.
Brendan Rodgers kept the Bhoys on British Summer Time during their trip, so he’ll be hoping jetlag hasn’t been an issue but regardless, it isn’t ideal when you’re playing mid-week to weekend matches.
Whether they’ll show that tiredness remains to be seen but it’s something St Johnstone will be looking to capitalise on with their week’s rest since last week’s win at home to Partick Thistle.