CELTIC are going through a sticky spell and St Johnstone will be looking to follow the blueprint of the Paisley Saints as they bid to spring another shock in the SPFL Premiership.
Since battering Rangers 4-0 at Parkhead a month ago, Ange Postecoglou's side have won just once in five matches, although three of those games were tough Champions League fixtures.
RB Leipzig were the latest European team to punish the Hoops for wasteful finishing and slapstick defending, with two of my bets landing as the Germans claimed a deserved 3-1 victory.
Those Champions League travails seem to have dented Celtic's confidence domestically, with a shock 2-0 loss at St Mirren followed by an unconvincing 2-1 home victory over Motherwell last weekend.
That will give St Johnstone hope of shocking the Premiership champions in Perth, especially after finding their shooting boots this season.
A chronic lack of goals saw Saints flirt with relegation last term but it looks like they will have the firepower to be more comfortable in this campaign.
Inconsistency remains a problem, however, with a 2-1 midweek loss at Kilmarnock ending a three-game run without defeat, and Callum Davidson's men will need to be at their best to stand a chance against Celtic.
How the bookies view it
Despite their shaky form, Celtic remain hot favourites for this one and their best price is just 2/9 with SBK. St Johnstone are a massive 14/1 with Paddy Power and the draw pays 32/5 at VBet.
Recent head to head
McDiarmid Park has been a happy hunting ground for Celtic and they've won on their last 11 visits to Perth. The Hoops have gone 23 matches unbeaten against Saints at any venue, with 21 of those matches ending in victories.
Players to watch
Stevie May has been a player reborn for St Johnstone this season with manager Davidson singling him out for praise after last weekend's 2-1 triumph over Dundee United. The experienced forward is 5/1 with William Hill for a goal against the Hoops.
I'd expect Postecoglou to freshen things up for Celtic after that Euro defeat but Jota remains his key creative force on the left wing. The Portuguese scored in Leipzig and is 11/10 at Bet365 for another goal here. It might be better backing him for an assist once that market is priced up.
Anything else catch the eye?
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been a big miss at the back for the Hoops who have conceded in every game since the American picked up an injury. If he sits this out as well then BTTS stands a chance at 15/13 with SportNation.
Oliver Abildgaard is set for a run in the Celtic side after Callum McGregor picked up a injury against Leipzig. The Dane looked rusty in Germany and might be a good candidate for a card at here if he starts ahead of James McCarthy. I've yet to see a market for cards but will keep my eyes peeled.
Celtic are always good value in the corner markets and should rack up a few in Perth. It ended 9-3 in Celtic's favour on their last trip to McDiarmid Park so over 11 corners appeals here at 5/4 with Bet365.
The Hoops are usually speedy starters so the 13/8 on offer at Unibet for a goal inside the first 15 minutes also appeals.
This Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Celtic will be played on Oct 8, 2022 and kick off at 12:30. Check below for our tipsters best St Johnstone vs Celtic prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
