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Celtic v St Johnstone: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Celtic will look to guard their 12-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership when they welcome struggling St Johnstone to Parkhead in what is expected to be a one-sided affair on Sunday.

On Boxing Day, the Hoops thrashed mid-table Motherwell 4-0 to record their 15th victory of the league campaign, while the bottom-placed Saints slipped to their fourth defeat in five when going down 2-1 at home to Dundee United.

Celtic v St Johnstone

Celtic v St Johnstone betting tips and predictions

Celtic and both teams to score - 7/5

Sunday’s top-versus-bottom clash in Glasgow pits the team with the highest goal return in the Premiership against the club with the worst defensive record.

Celtic have hit the back of the net 48 times in their 17 league games and are on course to smash the 100-goal barrier for the campaign again. 

Saints have shipped 36 goals in their 19 games, conceding multiple times in each of their last three outings, leaving boss Simo Valakari to admit he might have tried too much too soon after the Perth side sunk to the foot of the Premiership last week.

He implemented a more expansive, possession-based style of play in his opening weeks in charge, but his squad have struggled to adapt to the change of tactics.

Still, St Johnstone are already closing in on their final tally of 29 league goals last season after hitting 22 by the halfway mark of this campaign.

Valakari’s men have scored in six of their last seven away league games and will not leave Parkhead without having had a go at the champions’ defence on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have kept five Premiership clean sheets in a row, so many will expect them to win to nil in this fixture.

However, the odds of a home win with both teams scoring are better and not without a chance of landing given Saints have scored on two of their last three trips to Parkhead.

Over 3.5 Celtic goals - 5/4

The reverse fixture earlier in the season saw Celtic run out comfortable 6-0 winners at McDiarmid Park, highlighting the gulf in class between the two sides.

And Rodgers’ side could rack up a similar number of goals against this struggling Saints team.

Celtic have scored four or more goals in five of their last 10 home games in all competitions and that looks like the sort of mark they could surpass again on Sunday.

St Johnstone have already conceded three goals on the road against Ross County and St Mirren, two teams with vastly inferior attacking records to the Bhoys, this season. 

Luke McCowan to score at any time - 9/4

Luke McCowan has not quite made the impact that he would have hoped for since joining Celtic in the summer, but the midfielder is beginning to see more action as the games come thick and fast over the festive period.

McCowan scored 12 Premiership goals in 40 starts for Dundee last season and the start of this one, suggesting he has an eye for goal and decent finishing ability too.

He has struck three times this term for Celtic with all of his goals coming in the league where he has made only five starts.

The 27-year-old started for the Hoops in last week’s 0-0 draw with Dundee United and also came off the bench against Motherwell on Boxing Day.

McCowan could be recalled by Rodgers if the manager maintains his rotation policy over Christmas and, with Celtic getting so many goals from midfield this season, he looks like a decent anytime goalscorer option.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site

Celtic v St Johnstone odds

Celtic - 1/8
Draw - 7/1
St Johnstone - 16/1

View the full market and more odds for Celtic v St Johnstone on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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