Two Scottish Premiership teams in contrasting form face off at McDiarmid Park on Thursday afternoon, as St Johnstone play host to Hibernian.
A four-game losing run has coincided with St Johnstone falling to the foot of the Scottish top-flight table
Simo Valakari’s side were cut further adrift at bottom of the standings when losing 4-0 to Celtic on Sunday, on an afternoon where our man Mark Walker delivered a clean sweep of winners at Parkhead.
The Saints will now look to put the brakes on their alarming slump when high-flying Hibs come to town this midweek.
Following a wretched start to the season, the Hibees look like a rejuvenated outfit under David Gray heading into 2025.
In fact, the capital club are closing in on the top-six after claiming a fourth league win in succession when edging out Kilmarnock 1-0 last time out.
How the bookies view it: Hibees hot streak to continue
Hibernian make the trip to McDiarmid Park as even-money (1/1) favourites on BoyleSports. Having won away at both Aberdeen and Hearts either side of Christmas, the visitors merit support to rack up another victory on the road here.
St Johnstone will be desperate to stop the rot but a home win is an unfancied 12/5 on Boylesports, while the draw is also deemed unlikely at 9/4 with the same firm.
Head to head: Hibs hunting three in a row
Hibernian have claimed top honours from each of their last two meetings with St Johnstone. The previous meeting this season saw Hibs claim a 2-0 win – the same scoreline here can be backed at 9/1 on Boylesports.
Players to watch: Campbell to sink Saints?
Josh Campbell’s two Scottish Premiership goals this season have arrived across his last six outings for Hibs. The 24-year-old is 10/3 on Boylesports to put the ball in the back of the net in Perth.
Makenzie Kirk has made the net bulge in each of St Johnstone's last two home games. The Saints striker has been priced up at 19/5 on UniBet for an anytime strike on Thursday afternoon.
Predicted line-ups
As was the case at Celtic Park last time out, St Johnstone will again be unable to call upon the services of Cameron MacPherson, Sam McClelland and Uche Ikpeazu.
Elie Youan missed out against Kilmarnock on Sunday with a knock but he could return to the matchday squad this midweek. However, Hibs boss Gray will definitely be without injured quartet Kieron Bowie, Marvin Ekpiteta, Mykola Kuharevich and Rudi Molotnikov.
St Johnstone: Rae; Sanders, Mikulic, Cameron; Keltjens, Wright, Spranger, Carey, Holt; Kirk, Mbunga-Kimpioka
Hibernian: Smith; O'Hora, Kiranga, Iredale; C. Cadden, Triantis, Newell, N. Cadden; Campbell; Boyle, Gayle
Anything else catch the eye?
Hibernian look well placed to score a minimum of two goals at McDiarmid Park on Thursday at even-money (1/1) on Boylesports.
While the Hibees failed to strike twice against Kilmarnock last time out, they had racked up multiple goals in five of their six league games prior to that, including away wins at Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hearts.
That doesn’t augur well for a struggling St Johnstone side that have shipped two or more goals in each of their last four Scottish Premiership assignments.
This Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Hibernian will be played on Jan 2, 2025 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best St Johnstone vs Hibernian prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
