St Johnstone

Andy Campbell, BBC Scotland

St Johnstone showed some resistance in the early part of the game but the lack of an out ball kept the pressure coming their way.

Captain Kyle Cameron's first-half hamstring injury added to their woes.

Aaron Essel tested Schmeichel at his near post as Saints looked for a reply at 4-0 but there would be no consolation for the Perth side, who were playing their second game under caretaker Andy Kirk following manager Craig Levein's exit.

They face an evening encounter away to Rangers next Sunday before the international break.

Interim manager Andy Kirk makes one change to the St Johnstone side that drew 3-3 away to Ross County last time out, as Graham Carey comes into midfield in place of Jason Holt.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers rotated heavily for last weekend's Scottish League Cup win over Falkirk and he reverts to a much more familiar starting XI.

Auston Trusty keeps his place in defence because of Cameron Carter-Vickers' toe injury, but Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor all return to the back line.

Arne Engels replaces Reo Hatate in midfield, while forwards Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi all start.

Hatate drops to the bench, as do James Forrest, Adam Idah, Anthony Ralston and Alex Valle but Luis Palma and Stephen Welsh miss out.

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Neilson, Sanders, Cameron, Wright, Carey, Sprangler, Smith, Raymond, Kirk, Clark.

Substitutes: Rae, MacPherson, Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Keltjens, McCrystal, Franczak, Dair.

Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Bernardo, Engels, Kuhn, Maeda, Kyogo.

Substitutes: Sinisalo, Idah, Valle, Yang, McCowan, Nawrocki, Hatate, Forrest, Ralston.

Larne manager Tiernan Lynch avoided pre-match media duties on Friday night before his side's 3-1 win away to Cliftonville in the Northern Irish Premiership as the prospect of him becoming the next St Johnstone boss grows. (The Courier), external

Ayr United manager Scott Brown has revealed that he signed a new contract amid links with St Johnstone because he and assistant Steven Whittaker are "in a good place at this moment in time". (The Herald), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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St Johnstone are still without suspended forwards Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh while Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) are still absent.

Cameron Carter-Vickers remains out for Celtic with a toe injury but Alistair Johnston returns.

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Sven Sprangler says the St Johnstone players "trust" interim manager Andy Kirk, but admits they feel "responsible" for Craig Levein's sacking earlier this month.

Levein was dismissed after four successive defeats in all competitions, before the Perth side drew 3-3 with Ross County in Kirk's first match in interim charge.

The Perth side welcome Celtic to McDiarmid Park on Saturday and Sprangler is determined to "fight" for a result against the league champions.

"He [Kirk] is very positive, he's a very good coach and we trust him. He knows his stuff because he has a lot of experience. We will see what happens," said Sprangler.

"Everyone feels responsible for the gaffer [Levein] getting sacked. It's not good when someone leaves the club like that. But we have to keep going, that's football.

"We have to focus on the next game. We are just focused on the Celtic game.

"I love to play against good teams like Celtic and Rangers because you don't always get the opportunity to play against Champions League teams.

"They are an incredible team with incredible players. The main thing is that you know their qualities, you know they are good players, but you have to focus on yourself and making sure you deliver.

"It would be a huge boost for the players, the club and the fans if we could win against the champions, but it's a tough game and you have to do everything to get the points.

"We have a chance but we have to deliver on the pitch. We have to fight for every ball, avoid mistakes and be 100 per cent concentrated from the first minute to the last."

Andy Kirk has stepped into the breach after the dismissal of Craig Levein, saying he feels ready to take the job permanently.

However, facing so-far flawless league leaders and reigning champions in only your second game as caretaker is hardly ideal when you are trying to impress.

It could work the other way, of course. As it would be some achievement if the 45-year-old former Heart of Midlothian, Dunfermline Athletic and Northern Ireland striker was to eke even a draw out of Saturday's visit by Celtic.

Kirk has already ended the run of four defeats endured under Levein, with only a late two-goal fightback by Ross County denying him more than that 3-3 draw in Dingwall last weekend.

Celtic, though, arrive having won 14 successive games, including all eight of their fixtures this season, and have won 13 in a row at McDiarmid Park since a 2-1 defeat in May 2016 - scoring 49 goals for the loss of only nine.

Indeed, having won and kept a clean sheet in all five of their games so far means Brendan Rodgers' side are one short of matching Celtic's best-ever start to a league season - way back in 1906-07.

Saints, in contrast, have not won in 11 home league games and have lost their latest two meetings with Celtic 3-1, home and away.

Kirk's experience before becoming Levein's assistant was limited to being interim boss with Hearts, a year in charge of their women's team, then leading Brechin City to the Highland League title before losing to Spartans in the Pyramid Play-offs.

New Saints owner Adam Webb might want more of a statement appointment with his first choice of manager.

However, if Kirk was to lead his team to a first win over Celtic in 30 meetings since that 2016 victory, or even match the 0-0 draw at Celtic Park last August, he could make his candidacy difficult to ignore.

Read all of this weekend's Premiership picks here.

Larne manager Tiernan Lynch spoke to St Johnstone about their managerial vacancy on Thrsday. (Belfast Telegraph - subscription), external

Former St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has been given a touchline ban for post-match comments in the wake of Saints' recent loss at Motherwell. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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• St Johnstone are without a win in 29 meetings with Celtic across all competitions (D4 L25) since a 2-1 victory in May 2016 under Tommy Wright.

• Celtic have won each of their last 14 away games against St Johnstone in all competitions; only at Queen’s Park (19 ending in 1923) and Partick Thistle (18, ongoing run) have they ever had longer away winning runs against a single opponent in major competitions.

• St Johnstone are winless in 11 home league games (D4 L7); the last side to go 12 straight Scottish top-flight home games without a win were Dundee from December 2018 to September 2021 (15).

• Celtic have won and kept a clean sheet in all five of their league games so far this season.

• The Hoops have won their opening six matches of a top-flight campaign on 11 previous occasions, but only in 1906-07 have they achieved this while also not conceding a single goal.

• In all competitions, Celtic are currently enjoying a 14-match winning run, including all eight so far this season - this is their longest win streak from the start of a campaign since 2000-01 under Martin O’Neill, when they won their first 12 competitive fixtures.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone interim boss Andy Kirk believes he is ready to take on the job on a permanent basis but admits he has not had a conversation with owner Adam Webb about his future.

Kirk was handed the interim role after previous boss Craig Levein was sacked with the club in tenth position in the Premiership table.

“I feel like I’m capable at working at this level of football," Kirk said.

"Absolutely. I had a taste of it at Hearts under Daniel Stendel.

“I’ve managed for two and a half seasons at Brechin City where we won a league title. And obviously in the past 11 months working with the first team group at St Johnstone.

“There is a lot of experience there I have gained in how to deal with people and build relationships. All these things are important but absolutely feel I’m capable of working at this level of football."

The former Hearts and Dunfermline forward added he has had "no further information" on his future, but views his job as leaving the team in a better place for the next person to come in.

“The team need guidance and organisation so while that’s the case me and Alex [Cleland] have to make the best of it and be as professional as we can.

"If we leave and that's the case, then we leave the new manager in a good place."

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St Johnstone interim manager Andy Kirk has been speaking to the media before Saturday's visit by Celtic. Here are the key points.

• Kirk says he feels he is "capable" of managing at Premiership level, but concedes he has "no further information" from the owner on the managerial vacancy

• There have been no conversations between Kirk and owner Adam Webb about the Northern Irishman being considered for the role

• Kirk says his job at the moment is to "leave the team in a good place" if he is to depart the club under a new manager

• There are no fresh injury concerns for the Celtic game, but Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka are still suspended

• The team have been working hard on "certain details" to ensure they stop conceding set piece goals

Scott Brown has pulled out of the running to be the next St Johnstone manager, opting to remain with Ayr United after talks with Saints owner Adam Webb (Mail), external

Brown was not offered the job, but was one of a number of candidates interviewed on Wednesday before ruling himself out. (Courier - subscription), external

The Saints job is a "really, really good job", says out of work manager Ian Murray. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Callum McGregor believes it is only a matter of time before his former Celtic captain Scott Brown is managing in the Scottish Premiership.

Ex-Scotland midfielder Brown kicked off his managerial career with Fleetwood in 2022 and is now thriving in charge of Ayr United, who are top of the Championship after seven games.

The 39-year-old, who spent 14 years as a Celtic player, is reportedly one of the leading contenders for the current vacancy at top-flight strugglers St Johnstone, who host Brendan Rodgers' league leaders on Saturday evening.

Whether with the Perth club or not, McGregor is confident his predecessor as skipper at Parkhead will soon be a Premiership boss.

"I know Scott really, really well from my time here," the 31-year-old said.

"We played in midfield together for a number of years, and when you do that you understand what makes people tick, how good they really are and how much they understand the game.

"It's no surprise that he's gone into management and he's started really, really well. And I see him having a Premiership job before too long."

McGregor is now forging a strong midfield relationship with new recruit Arne Engels, who has started his Celtic career in fine form following his move from Augsburg last month.

The former Scotland midfielder added: "I saw him on the first day and thought: 'He's a player'. He's a real powerhouse and good on the ball, but you still have to go and deliver when the game kicks off."

St Johnstone will seek permission from Ayr United to talk to Scott Brown about their managerial vacancy and the 39-year-old is keen to hold discussions with the Scottish Premiership club, who have also considered Larne boss Tiernan Lynch and Aberdeen coach Peter Leven. (Daily Mail), external

Ayr United manager Scott Brown, Aberdeen assistant Peter Leven and Larne boss Tiernan Lynch are all on St Johnstone's shortlist and official approaches are likely to be made to speak to several candidates over the next 24 hours as they seek a new team boss. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Sam Miller
Fan writer

It never rains but it pours.

It's been a turbulent week with the departure of Craig Levein and the announcement new owner Adam Webb is being treated for cancer and taking an immediate step back.

One constant remains, however. A solid inability to defend set-pieces.

To lose two goals and two points in the dying minutes in Dingwall was tough to take, but the post-match views of interim boss Andy Kirk and free-kick hero Nicky Clark suggests the problems are glaringly obvious and they aren't happy to accept it.

This is a mentality that needs to breed through the team, and quickly.

Tiernan Lynch, who has guided Larne to back-to-back Premiership titles in Northern Ireland, is a potential candidate for the St Johnstone job along with Scott Brown and Peter Leven. (The Courier)

Falkirk's Finn Yeats says he is "not surprised there is interest" in John McGlynn, with the Bairns boss linked with vacancies at St Johnstone and Heart of Midlothian. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

Watch the best of the action from Dingwall as Ross County and St Johnstone share six goals in a Premiership thriller.

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We asked for your views on managerless St Johnstone's 3-3 draw against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Gus: How to turn a game won into two dropped points in three easy stages - nonsensical substitutions, retreating en masse into our own half after the third goal, suicidal defending at routine set-pieces. We need a new coaching team pronto please.

Steven: We're a real mess and in desperate need of leadership. The sooner the manager situation gets sorted out the better.

Willie: If you play against our team just put high balls into our box and you find our Achilles heel, inexperienced goalkeepers and poor defending. No experience at the back costs you and unless this is addressed it's relegation for this team.

Daniel: Kyle Cameron going to go down as one of our worst captains ever, sums this whole team up. Soft when it matters, can't organise themselves, then blame everyone but themselves. New manager, that can't be Andy Kirk, and huge task sorting the defence out.

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Andy Kirk says he "can't fault" the St Johnstone players but lamented the late lapses that cost him a winning a start as interim boss.

The Perth side were 3-1 up after 86 minutes away to Ross County, but had to settle for a draw after conceding twice late on.

"Their second goal comes from our possession," Kirk said.

"We have it in the corner, and we don't keep it there. It's a long diagonal, and then a free header at the back post.

"Teams will always concede goals, and you will always find mistakes in there, but at this moment in time we can't afford to make the mistakes we have for those last two goals.

"I've told the players that until we fix this, it's going to be a problem, because the teams we play against will put good balls into the box.

"I actually thought we defended balls into our box pretty well, but at a key moment when we have to go man for man it has cost us.

"I can't fault the players for the work they've put in, but it's that lapse of concentration that cost us.

"On another day we might get away with it, but we still have to deal with the situation."

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• St Johnstone have conceded four goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Ryan Leak attempted 60 passes in this game, the highest total for a Ross County player in the Premiership this season.

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

• Ross County have won two points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (three) have recovered more.