On Sunday, we saw one of the worst performances from a Celtic side in recent years. Few bhoys got pass marks as Kilmarnock dumped Brendan Rodgers’ men out of the Viaplay Cup in the second round.
Because of the defeat, the Hoops’ upcoming clash with St. Johnstone, which would previously have been seen as a routine league match, just got much bigger. Against the Perth side, the champions must get back to winning ways.
Not just a victory but a spirited performance is required from Celtic at Parkhead. Sunday’s loss sparked major concerns over the play-style of Brendan Rodgers, although with a notable win and display alike this weekend, the Irishman can alleviate such worries.
The match itself comes a week before a trip to Ibrox, too. The Bhoys want to go into that game high on confidence, off the back of a victory and with a three-point lead intact.
Team selection and consistency make this Saturday significant also. We know that the Hoops are heavily struggling at the minute with injuries, although having a settled starting lineup is crucial.
The eleven who begin at the weekend will, in all likelihood (barring any returns from injury), be the eleven who start at Ibrox. Having such consistency is vital, and if Saturday’s team scores big and starts together the following week, things will look more positive.
This weekend’s visitors to Parkhead are not in any way in good shape. St. Johnstone have conceded eight goals in their last three matches, failing to score any. This will benefit the Bhoys as they aim to return to winning ways and ensure high confidence going into their crunch tie in Govan.
