Queens Park Rangers attacker Kieran Petrie, 20, is linked with a loan move to St Johnstone. (Football Insider), external
But Saints have decided against signing Petrie. (Courier - subscription), external
Defensive player Lewis Neilson, 21, is to return to Hearts from St Johnstone following a loan spell. (Courier - subscription), external
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone defender Jack Sanders is urging his teammates to move on quickly from their defeat to Celtic.
Despite going into half-time 1-0 down at Parkhead, Simo Valakari's side went on to concede three in the second half, losing 4-0.
Next up, the struggling side face Hibs and Sanders is hoping the Saints can bounce back quickly.
"I thought we were good value in the first half – they had a few chances but they weren't massive ones and we were quite solid and compact," the defender said.
"We got into the break at just 1-0 and thought there might be a little chance in the second half. But they turned it on and we found it difficult to cope.
"It's tough, physically and mentally.
"It was my first time playing there. There are always things you can learn in defeat. The way they were pressing even at the very end of the game was impressive.
"You don't brush games under the carpet but we have to move on quickly because we know our results against Celtic won't be the main thing for our season."
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have lost both of their last two league meetings with Hibernian; the Saints last lost three in a row to Hibs in the top-flight in September 2009.
Hibernian have won six of their last nine Scottish Premiership away games at St Johnstone (D1 L2), including a 3-1 victory most recently in April 2024.
St Johnstone have won their opening league game in just one of the last 11 calendar years (D3 L7), beating Livingston 1-0 in 2019.
Hibernian are winless in their opening league game in each of the last four calendar years (D1 L3) since a 2-1 win over Hamilton to start 2020.
The side scoring first has won each of the last five league meetings between St Johnstone and Hibernian since a 1-1 draw in April 2023.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, where does your club need to strengthen?
Who do you want brought in and who - if anyone - is it time to ship out?
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 4-0 defeat against Celtic.
Here's what some of you said:
Duncan: Not unexpected, nor disappointing. The gulf in resources in Scottish football is for another debate. For Saints there is still clear evidence of better technical players than previous years, but a serious lack of on field leadership and resilience. January will be crucial for additions and hopefully a better balance on the field and in their mindset.
Stuart: Another game, another goal or two conceded by a goalkeeper incapable of coming off his line. Coupled with a multi-year issue of failing to stop crosses then there's only one outcome. Manager needs backed and backed seriously in two days when the window opens. The sooner we stop gifting goals, the sooner we can start looking up the table.
Glen: I'd say we are doomed. An unbalanced squad with some good players but glaring weakness in defending crosses, nervousness in possession, lack of leadership on the field. Only slight hope is that there are small margins in most games, new blood might tip the balance.
Jimmy: Better score than I predicted, I thought it'd be worse. Still think we need a few players in: another striker, a couple more for each of midfield and defence. As to the game, we were on the back foot most of the game, sadly I think we are really looking like being relegated.
Connor: Same mistakes. Same points gone . What's new?
Mikey: At least we kept it to four than the reverse fixture at home of six. Three league home games in January that we seriously need to start picking up points. Leaking defence and want-a-way strikers is the best for a real relegation battle, the squad isn't showing they are up for it.
Simo Valakari urges his St Johnstone side to learn from Celtic's intensity following the Perth side's 4-0 loss in Glasgow. (Herald - subscription), external
Image source, SNSCeltic are undefeated in their last 27 games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 1 October 2022 to 7 May 2023.
St Johnstone failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Rangers on 18 February 2024.
Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their last six games in the Premiership, a run of 606 minutes without conceding a goal.
St Johnstone have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 13 April 2024 to 11 May 2024.
Highlights: Celtic 4-0 St Johnstone
Watch all the highlights from Celtic's 4-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
(Available to UK users only).
Celtic took another seemingly decisive step towards retaining their Scottish Premiership title with a comfortable victory over bottom-placed St Johnstone.
The win extends their domestic unbeaten run this season, having dropped points just twice at the halfway stage of the league campaign
This outcome widens their lead lead over closest rivals Rangers to 14 points before a trip to Ibrox on Thursday.
St Johnstone drop further behind those above, and are now without a win in their past five matches.
It was one-way almost throughout, with Simo Valakari's visitors initially offering stiff resistance with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo and Arne Engels all going close.
Saints fans, were you at Parkhead on Sunday or following the action from home? Either way we want your thoughts on St Johnstone's performance.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "The opponent was very good.
"From the first minute until the very last they pushed us. It was very, very difficult for us but the players put everything they had into it.
"The biggest thing we learned today is the attitude of these top players. It doesn't matter who they play, is it the first half or the second half, is the game already won? They keep pushing. If we can learn that it will help us a lot.
"Hopefully we can use this experience to our advantage in upcoming games. Everyone knows we have been playing good stuff but we haven't got the results and that takes a little bit out of you.
"It is important to get the results but the most important thing is we're not just hoping and waiting for results to come. We need to act and make these results happen - that's our job now."
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSIt proved another thankless afternoon for Simo Valakari's side, who find themselves further adrift at the foot of the table.
Not unexpected and perhaps this fixture came at a bad time given confidence is clearly low right now.
For the first third, they produced a stoic, structured performance that restricted Celtic but as they began to tire, their opponents mercilessly overran them.
They were chasing shadows come the end.
They hold the worst defensive record in the Premiership and can take some positives from this but not too many.
With a resurgent Hibernian the visitors next, they need to find some way, any way, to take something from that fixture to avoid becoming detached.
Image source, SNSCeltic right-back Alistair Johnston is trying to shake off a minor hip issue, while winger James Forrest is out until January with a foot complaint.
St Johnstone remain without Barry Douglas, Uche Ikpeazu, Cammy MacPherson and Sam McClelland.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari sees Sunday's trip to Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership as a great opportunity despite the Perth side's predicament.
The Saints are bottom of the league after three successive defeats, but Valakari expects his players to compete against the champions and league leaders.
"It's a great opportunity," Valakari said. "Nobody is expecting anything from us in that match.
"Firstly we will need to see who is capable of playing with games coming so quickly.
"But we compete in every match. It doesn't matter if we go to play Celtic or go to play at Ibrox or play in front of our home fans, we want to compete, and nothing changes. We go on Sunday and we compete."
Image source, SNSCeltic have won 26 of their last 30 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (D4) since a 1-2 defeat in May 2016 under Ronny Deila.
St Johnstone are winless in 16 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D4 L12) since a 1-0 win in March 2015 under Tommy Wright courtesy of Daniel Swanson's goal.
Celtic have won their final league match in each of the last four calendar years - including a 3-1 win over St Johnstone in 2021 - since losing 2-1 to Rangers in 2019.
St Johnstone have only won their final league match in one of the last nine calendar years (D3 L5), a 2-0 win over Dundee in 2018.
Kyogo Furuhashi has been directly involved in nine goals in his last six league appearances against St Johnstone for Celtic, scoring six and assisting a further three.
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari admits there is an urgency to get some of the Perth club's recruitment business done at the start the January. (The Courier), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSJason Holt admits it is "going to be difficult" for St Johnstone
Jason Holt admits St Johnstone are "going to have a big fight on our hands" to lift themselves off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, but the midfielder insists "we are more than up for it".
Saints' 2-1 home defeat by Dundee on Boxing Day means they have now lost seven points from winning positions in their past four matches.
"If we get into winning positions, we need to start keeping hold of that and turn it into three points," Holt told Saints TV.
"As soon as we concede the first goal, they get a bit of confidence and put a bit of pressure on. We have to hold on to that position, even if it's a drawing position, longer. We have got to do more to stay in the lead for longer."
New manager Simo Valakari's side have taken one point from five matches and their run is highly likely to get worse before it improves given they travel to Celtic Park on Sunday.
"It's going to be difficult," Hold added. "We need to take responsibility as players and we need to be better.
"The games are coming thick and fast and it's just about staying together as a team and staying strong and believing in what we are doing and that things will turn and results will get positive again.
"The dressing room is more than together and we are ready for whatever lies ahead."
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 Boxing Day defeat by Dundee United.
Here's what some of you said:
Dunc: If Celtic score less than 10 we will have done well. We are awful. Doomed.
Mikey: Lose matches from winning positions regularly. Gutless squad who have no interest in digging in to do the hard yards and hard tackles. United time wasted a lot but we accepted it without a whimper. Naivety all over the pitch. Simo Valakari wants fans to attend and watch, not like this. Failure to do the simple things means relegation is imminent.
Ally: Absolutely shocking display. That squad should hang their heads in shame and the manager has talked a good game up to now, time to stop talking and start delivering.
Roy: I'm not sure if the film about St Johnstone's season is still being made. If it is, at the moment it feels like the bit in the Shawshank Redemption when the tunnel is being crawled through. That film ended well. My fear is that by the end of the campaign our film will be more suited to the horror channel.
Watch highlights of Dundee United's 2-1 win at St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNSSamuel Dalby has scored nine goals in the Scottish Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee United player.
Benjamin Kimpioka has assisted two goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.
Vicko Ševelj has assisted three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Dundee United player has more.
United won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 15 April 2023 against Motherwell (10 games without a win).
Saints have lost their past three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 30 October 2024 to 9 November 2024.
Dundee United won after trailing at half-time in the Premiership for the first time since 15 April 2023 against Motherwell (five games without a win after trailing at half time).
St Johnstone have lost 13 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (16) have lost more.
United have won eight points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (nine) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.
St Johnstone felt sorry for themselves in Thursday's 2-1 home defeat by Dundee United, admits McDiarmid Park boss Simo Valakari. (Courier - subscription), external
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It's a big disappointment. In key moments, not doing well enough. We don't defend when we should, and when you are bottom of the league you feel a bit of fear.
"But it's up to us, we need to fight our way through it. It's easy to say to the players to be confident but it doesn't work that way.
"We just need to keep going and do the simple things, and focus on every moment. Then you can start getting your confidence.
"But it's a tough moment. The players are feeling a lot of pain, the supporters are feeling a lot of pain, everyone is feeling a lot of pain.
"But we stick together and keep going. I said to the players it's not good enough. We have good players, but we need more [from them].
"The players know it, they are honest and brutal about themselves. They know nobody is feeling sorry for you, we need to get ourselves out of it."
