St Johnstone

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Nicky Clark is confident St Johnstone can lift themselves out of the relegation zone after they held on for a point against Hibs.

Despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half, Clark's penalty put the hosts in front before the break and they led until Dwight Gayle's strike 11 minutes from time.

Saints are still bottom of the Premiership table, now five points adrift of Hearts above them, but Clark isn't panicking.

"Overall it was probably a good point for us," the striker told BBC Scotland.

"We scored at a good time, that gave us a wee lift and something to hold on to. I thought in the second half we dug in really well and it just showed the determination and grit in the side.

"We stuck together, it was backs against the wall towards the end. Once Hibs got the goal it would have been easy to collapse but I thought defensively we were excellent and held on really well.

"It's not nice being down at the bottom of the league but there's still a lot of games coming.

"We were probably in a worse situation last year, showed what we had and got out of it. There's good experience in the side, we know how to get out of that situation."

Watch the best of the action from McDiarmid Park as 10-man St Johnstone draw 1-1 with Hibernian.

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• St Johnstone have lost 15 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (16) have lost more.

• Hibernian have won 9 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Nicky Clark has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

• Dwight Gayle has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hibernian player has more.

• St Johnstone have failed to win in their last seven games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 5 August 2023 to 28 October 2023, a run of nine games.

• Hibernian are undefeated in their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 17 February 2024 to 16 March 2024, a run of six games.

• St Johnstone have conceded 10 goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

Kyle Cameron is set to have his St Johnstone loan cut short, with Notts County expected to send the centre-back to Barrow for the second half of the season after Saints manager Simo Valakari decided the 27-year-old would not be part of his plans in 2025 and that he could better use the funds freed up by his wages. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Hibernian rescued a draw at 10-man St Johnstone to extend their unbeaten run to five games and leave the Perth club five points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men in 41 minutes when Jason Holt's sliding challenge on Chris Cadden was upgraded from a yellow card to red after referee Lloyd Wilson was sent to the monitor to review his decision.

Hibs had the better of the chances in the first half and forced Saints to clear off the line twice.

But Simo Valakari's side stunned the visitors in first-half stoppage time when captain Nicky Clark sent Jordan Smith the wrong way from the spot after Rocky Bushiri fouled Jack Sanders in the penalty box.

Martin Boyle thought he had got the visitors level when he fired beyond Josh Rae, but the goal was disallowed because Junior Hoilett, who was in an offside position, got a touch on the ball before it fell to Boyle.

With time running out, Dwight Gayle hauled Hibs level when he sidefooted Nectarios Triantis' header beyond Rae.

St Johnstone fans, were you at McDiarmid Park or following the action from home? Either way we want your thoughts on the performance.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "The situation we are in, we need to win football matches.

"The performance, attitude, desire, I can't ask more from the players. Today we couldn't hold it but this gives us confidence.

"I'm disappointed it was only one point because we need three points. The players are disappointed with the point because they felt we were holding on well to the lead.

"We will take the positives, learn and be ready for Sunday.

"It might feel slow and frustrating for people outside the club but we need to do the right moves inside the club to build up the squad.

"We have clear targets, we know what players we need in the future. We have been working hard and I know soon we'll see the results."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Simo Valakari's side are now six games without a win but put in a solid shift, particularly in the first half, and looked like a side with renewed confidence.

Despite Jason Holt's sending off, the hosts found themselves in front at the break and it was probably deserved for their performance in attack and defence.

They clung on to that lead until the closing stages and showed plenty of fighting spirit.

Although Hibs created the better chances in the second half and substitute Dwight Gayle eventually found the leveller, St Johnstone at least ended their four-game losing run.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Benjamin Kimpioka was tipped to become one of the Premiership's hottest properties in his first full season in Scottish football.

The 24-year-old Swede looked to be repaying the undisclosed fee St Johnstone paid AIK for the striker in January 2024 by scoring seven goals in his first nine appearances this season.

However, he has found the net just once in his latest nine under the system adopted by new manager Simo Valakari, who admitted last week that Kimpioka has refused to even enter negotiations about extending his stay, leaving "where next?" as the only unanswered question.

With Saints sitting bottom of the table, other offers will likely be delayed amid a relegation battle.

Other contracts expiring: Sam McClelland, defender; Bozo Mikulic, defender; Barry Douglas, defender; Cammy MacPherson, midfielder; Matt Smith, midfielder; David Keltjens, midfielder; Maksym Kucheryavyi, midfielder; Sven Sprangler, midfielder; Alex Ferguson, midfielder; Drey Wright, midfielder; Graham Carey, midfielder; Nicky Clark, forward.

Read more: Premiership summer free agents facing uncertain January

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

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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St 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."

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• St 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?

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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

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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• Celtic 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.

Watch all the highlights from Celtic's 4-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

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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.

Have your say here, external.

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St 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

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It 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.

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Celtic 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.