St. Johnstone v Celtic: Hoops backed to triumph but Saints can score
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Brendan Rodgers’ all-conquering Celtic side travel to Perth this Sunday with the chance to extend their unbeaten run to 29 games and increase their Ladbrokes Premiership lead to 27 points. Standing in their way? The last team to beat them in domestic action.
St. Johnstone are the outfit in question and recent history suggests they’ll certainly be no pushovers at McDiarmid Park.
Celtic had to survive a late scare before running out 4-2 winners when these sides last faced-off at the aforementioned venue back in August.
And the Hoops were made to work for their 1-0 home win over the Saints on January 25.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Tommy Wright’s side were the last to beat the Bhoys in Scotland, way back in May 2016.
Of course, pulling off a similar result will be no mean feat. The visitors may be record-breakers but it’s their ruthless efficiency and focus on each individual game – not to mention supreme skill – that’s helped keep the momentum going.
Rodgers and co. certainly aren’t going to take the next contest lightly.
And with the Glasgow giants in such form we can’t look past another success here. However, there is better value to be had than the 4/9 on offer for an away win. And no, we’re not talking about the 6/1 for a home victory or the 10/3 for a draw.
Fifth-placed Saints have scored in 18 of their 23 top-flight games so far and our Result Rush Boost of Celtic to win and Both Teams to Score – was 9/4, NOW 11/4*, looks the one to be on.
Meanwhile, it’s 10/11 just for Both Teams to Score, an outcome witnessed in four of the previous six meetings.
As far as goalscorers go, Rodgers is still sweating on the fitness of Moussa Dembele, Leigh Griffiths, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic so the 7/2 for Scott Sinclair to score first could be the way to go.
The classy midfielder has netted four times in his last five games in all competitions while Dedryck Boyata made himself a hero against Aberdeen in midweek and also proved to be the difference between these sides less than a fortnight ago.
If you fancy the Belgian to get on the scoreshehet again then jump on the 5/1 for Boyata to net at any time.
For the hosts, joint-top scorer Steven MacLean is 14/5 to be an anytime scorer.
*Maximum bet £50. Available from 8am on Sunday February 5.
Click here for the latest St. Johnstone v Celtic odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
