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St Johnstone vs Celtic: Saints Face the Premiership’s Most Efficient Early Pace-Setters. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Celtic’s dominant attack and consistent wins face a St Johnstone defence conceding 4.2 shots on target per game. St Johnstone’s home scoring and Josh Fowler’s form support both teams scoring, while Celtic’s away defensive lapses make a Celtic win with both teams scoring a plausible outcome.
A 3-1 score fits Celtic’s strong attack and St Johnstone’s home scoring, with Celtic conceding in five away matches and key defensive absences. Josh Fowler’s form supports St Johnstone scoring despite limited chances. The scoreline is vulnerable to a Celtic clean sheet or extra goals.
Compare form, H2H, goals trends and key data for ST Johnstone v Celtic.
St Johnstone’s return to the Scottish Premiership has produced enough encouragement to suggest they can compete, but Celtic represent a substantial rise in difficulty at McDiarmid Park.
St Johnstone vs Celtic — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
Celtic’s perfect recent wins contrast with St Johnstone’s mixed form, favouring the visitors.
St Johnstone hold the stronger winning edge, while Celtic still offer enough threat for BTTS.
Celtic carry the stronger defensive profile, while St Johnstone remain vulnerable in the likely scoreline.
St Johnstone hold the stronger overall profile, leaving Celtic needing a sharper performance.
Three Punchy Stats
- Celtic have scored 13 goals and conceded only three across five Premiership matches, giving them both the division’s highest scoring total and lowest concession figure.
- St Johnstone have allowed opponents an average of 4.2 shots on target per league game; Celtic have generated 7.0 per match across their last 10, a significant increase in the attacking pressure the Saints are likely to face.
- Josh Fowler has scored four of St Johnstone’s eight league goals. Half of their Premiership output has come from one player, underlining how important his finishing could be if chances are limited.
Scoring Consistency
Recent attacking records for St Johnstone and Celtic are shown below.
Clean Sheet Frequency
Recent defensive records for St Johnstone and Celtic are shown below.
The newly-promoted Saints have taken seven points from five league matches, including home victories over Kilmarnock and Hibernian. Celtic arrive with a perfect 15, having scored 13 goals and conceded only three. That contrast matters more than the bare positions of seventh and first: St Johnstone have been competitive, while Celtic have so far combined greater attacking output with considerably stronger defensive control.
St Johnstone Have Made Home Advantage Count
Simo Valakari’s side have already shown that McDiarmid Park can give them a platform. Their two league matches there have produced a 4-3 win over Kilmarnock and a 2-1 victory against Hibernian, with Josh Fowler scoring twice in the latter.
Fowler’s four league goals make him particularly significant. St Johnstone average 1.6 goals from 3.6 shots on target across their opening five matches, so their attacking return has been respectable without being built on overwhelming chance volume. Against Celtic, efficiency may need to compensate for any reduction in opportunities.
There is a less comfortable side to those figures. The Saints have also conceded 1.6 goals per game, with opponents averaging 4.2 shots on target. Celtic are producing seven efforts on target and 2.7 goals per match across their last 10 league outings, which creates an obvious pressure point.
Jamie Gullan is unlikely to feature after going off against Hibernian, with Kai Fotheringham capable of replacing him on the left. Gullan’s two assists make his potential absence more than a simple personnel change.
Celtic’s Domestic Control Has Survived a European Shock
Celtic’s league record is difficult to pick apart. Five matches, five victories, 13 scored and three conceded is a level of early-season balance St Johnstone have not matched.
Their wider recent league numbers strengthen the picture. Celtic have won 10 league games in succession while averaging 18.5 attempts, 7.0 shots on target and 61.1% possession. They have also allowed only 2.8 shots on target per game during that run.
The 5-1 defeat away to LASK, which overturned a 4-0 aggregate advantage and ended their Champions League playoff campaign, demonstrated that Celtic are not immune to a defensive collapse. Their domestic response has been convincing, though: three successive league wins followed that elimination.
Martin O’Neill does have selection problems, with Callum Osmand, Kieran Tierney, Kasper Hogh, Alistair Johnston and Jota among the injury concerns. Shim Mheuka could make his first start since joining on loan, while Benjamin Nygren may again carry considerable creative and scoring responsibility after four goals and three assists across Celtic’s previous 10 league games.
The Saints Need More Than Survival Without the Ball
The central challenge for St Johnstone is not simply stopping Celtic from shooting. It is finding enough attacking possession of their own to prevent the game becoming one long defensive exercise.
Celtic average 61.1% possession and eight corners across their last 10 league matches, compared with St Johnstone’s 52.4% possession and 3.8 corners from their first five. Those figures suggest Celtic are accustomed to spending longer in attacking territory and repeatedly renewing pressure.
There is at least evidence that St Johnstone can hurt them. Celtic have conceded in five consecutive away league matches, while the Saints have scored six goals across their two Premiership home victories. St Johnstone also won Celtic’s last league visit to McDiarmid Park 1-0 in April 2025, even though Celtic have won eight of the previous 10 meetings overall.
Other opportunities in this market: Match Result (Celtic to win) settles purely on Celtic leading after 90 minutes regardless of whether St Johnstone score, offering lower volatility. Over 2.5 Goals wins if three or more total goals are scored by either team, trading exact score precision for wider scoreline coverage across draw and defeat scenarios.
📊 Market Explainer
Win & Both Teams to Score
Selection: Celtic to win and Both Teams to Score. The selected team must win in normal time and both teams must score. If the selected team draws or loses, or either side fails to score, the bet loses.
Correct Score Market
Selection: St Johnstone vs Celtic 1-3. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: Celtic to win and Both Teams to Score @ 17/10
Celtic arrive at McDiarmid Park with five consecutive league victories, scoring 13 goals and conceding three. Their broader domestic pattern shows ten straight league wins, underpinned by averages of 18.5 attempts, 7.0 shots on target, and 61.1% possession. That high offensive volume gives the Premiership leaders a primary platform to secure three points against a newly-promoted St Johnstone side allowing 4.2 shots on target per game.
While Celtic’s offensive statistics dominate the division, their away defensive record reveals a recurring opportunity for hosts. Martin O’Neill’s team have conceded in five consecutive away league matches, a vulnerability that aligns with St Johnstone’s productivity in Perth. Simo Valakari’s side have won both home league fixtures this term, scoring six goals across victories against Kilmarnock and Hibernian. With Josh Fowler responsible for four of the Saints’ eight Premiership goals, the home side possess a focal point capable of converting limited chances, even if Celtic control overall territorial possession and corner counts.
The absence of Jamie Gullan removes two assists from St Johnstone’s setup, while Celtic contend with injuries to Kieran Tierney, Kasper Hogh, and Alistair Johnston. St Johnstone did win Celtic’s previous visit to McDiarmid Park 1-0 in April 2025, but Celtic have taken eight victories from the last ten meetings overall. St Johnstone’s defensive concession rate of 1.6 goals per match makes holding off Celtic’s attack unlikely, but Celtic’s away concessions make the combined win and goal for both sides a defensible selection.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Celtic have won five consecutive league matches while averaging 7.0 shots on target per game across their last ten domestic outings.
- Celtic have conceded at least once in five consecutive away league fixtures despite their perfect domestic winning start.
- St Johnstone have scored six goals across two home league victories this season, with Josh Fowler providing four of their eight total league goals.
Risk Factor: If Celtic keep their first away league clean sheet or St Johnstone fail to register a shot on target, this selection will lose.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Averaging 7.0 shots on target and 18.5 total attempts per match across their last 10 domestic league fixtures.
Conceding an average of 4.2 shots on target and 1.6 goals per game in their first five Premiership matches.
⚔️ Pick 2: St Johnstone vs Celtic 1-3 @ 9/1
A 3-1 scoreline in Celtic’s favour aligns directly with the offensive differential between these two clubs. Celtic average 2.7 goals and 7.0 shots on target per match across their previous ten league fixtures, scoring 13 times in five Premiership outings this season. St Johnstone allow an average of 4.2 shots on target per game, which provides Celtic’s forward line with enough volume to hit three goals, particularly with Benjamin Nygren contributing four goals and three assists over his last ten league appearances.
The single goal for St Johnstone is supported by Celtic’s defensive record outside of Glasgow. Celtic have conceded at least once in five consecutive away league fixtures, and they recently conceded five goals in a 5-1 Champions League playoff defeat against LASK. Meanwhile, St Johnstone have averaged 1.6 goals per match at home this season, scoring twice against Hibernian and four times against Kilmarnock. Josh Fowler’s individual form, with four goals in five matches, gives St Johnstone a realistic route to breach a Celtic backline missing Kieran Tierney and Alistair Johnston.
St Johnstone’s lower shot generation of 3.6 on target per game means their scoring chances remain restricted, leaving this scoreline vulnerable to a Celtic clean sheet or a fourth visiting goal. Additionally, St Johnstone won the last meeting at McDiarmid Park 1-0, demonstrating that past fixtures can defy expectation. Nevertheless, Celtic’s ten-game domestic winning run and St Johnstone’s home scoring form make 3-1 a coherent precise scoreline.
Risk Factor: Correct score predictions are sensitive to single goals; a late goal can invalidate this exact scoreline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Celtic to win and Both Teams to Score market settle?
Celtic must win and St Johnstone must score at least one goal for this market to win.
What needs to happen for the 1-3 Correct Score selection to win?
The match must end exactly St Johnstone 1, Celtic 3 after normal time plus stoppage.
Why is Celtic’s away defensive record relevant to this match?
Celtic have conceded in five consecutive away league matches, showing vulnerability despite wins.
How many goals has Josh Fowler scored for St Johnstone this season?
Josh Fowler has scored four goals in five Premiership matches this season.
What is St Johnstone's recent home record at McDiarmid Park?
St Johnstone have won both of their home league matches this season.
What alternative market offers coverage if St Johnstone fail to score?
The straight Match Result market for a Celtic win covers clean-sheet victories.
