St Johnstone

St Johnstone fans, with the final top and bottom six spots yet to be decided, we asked who you'd least like to face post-split.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Roy: I'd probably prefer Hearts to make the top six, although I don't think their defence is very good. They showed at McDiarmid Park recently that their front three can be very clinical. We have a relatively decent recent record against Motherwell, and if we get St Mirren at home, there's some unfinished business from earlier in the season when we couldn't hold on to a lead in a game we shouldn't have lost.

James: Ideally, we avoid Hearts. We've lost 2-1 to them three times this season, two of which when they were rooted at the bottom of the league. Motherwell, on the other hand, is a team we've been successful against this season, so I would choose them as I believe St Mirren have just a little more about them.

John: We don't want Hearts, our record against them is appalling. Motherwell is a more compelling prospect.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says his side cannot afford to drop below the standards they set against Celtic last weekend as they fight to avoid relegation from the Scottish Premiership.

The Saints remain five points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership, but their 1-0 win over the league leaders last time out provided a welcome boost before this Saturday's trip to Dundee United.

Valakari says they must rise to the occasion again in order to narrow the gap to Dundee in 11th.

"The main message to our players has been we need to play better than we played against Celtic because history tells me when you play these big matches and you get the result, the next game is always the most difficult," he said.

"After a performance like this, expectation of the outside people, expectation on our players go higher, but we have set the standard now.

"The main message is we need to do it all over again and a little bit better."

Saints will have to do so without Drey Wright, who damaged ankle ligaments against Celtic and could miss the rest of the season.

"I have used him everywhere. He has started maybe left-back, he ends up right winger, he has played centre-back and ended up left winger," Valakari said.

"You know every game he gives you the performance, so it is a huge huge blow for us."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership trip to Dundee United.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• After beating Celtic last weekend, Valakari says they "need to play better", adding that after a result like that "the next game is always the most difficult".

• He says a result and performance like that raises expectations and his team "have set the standard now".

• Valakari was asked if the result has sent a warning to the teams above them in the table – he said they can't control what other teams do. He wants his team to "fight" and see where it takes them.

• With the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic looming, Valakari was asked if the lure of being in the team at Hampden could spur his players on at Tannadice? He said a "good performance" and "showing the big character" could only help players' chances of being in the team at the national stadium.

• He is expecting a tough challenge against a United side that have achieved the "huge success" of securing a top-six finish, describing them as a "versatile strong team".

• Valakari has confirmed versatile player Drey Wright is likely to be out for four to six weeks after injuring his ankle, calling it "a huge blow".

• Striker Uche Ikpeazu, who has been sidelined all season through injury, is back training with the group – it remains to be seen if he will feature before the campaign is over; Barry Douglas returns from injury.

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• Dundee United have won both of their league meetings with St Johnstone this season, but haven't won three in a row against the Saints in the top-flight since January 2002 under Alex Smith (run of four).

• St Johnstone have lost each of their past four league games against newly-promoted opposition (two v Dundee last season, two v Dundee United this season), as many as their previous 29 beforehand (W10 D15 L4).

• Dundee United have 47 points in 32 Scottish Premiership games this season (W13 D8 L11); since the competition rebrand in 2013, only four newly-promoted sides have had 50+ points from 33 games when the division splits into the top and bottom halves: Hearts in 2015-16 (60), Rangers in 2016-17 (58), Hibernian in 2017-18 (59), and Hearts in 2021-22 (57).

• After only winning four of their first 23 league games this season (D3 L16), St Johnstone have since won four of their past nine (D2 L3), beating league leaders Celtic 1-0 last time out.

• St Johnstone have 29 points in 32 Scottish Premiership games this season (W8 D5 L19); since the competition rebrand in 2013, only four sides have had fewer than 30 points when the league splits into two halves after 33 games and avoided relegation: Hamilton Academical in 2018-19, St. Mirren in 2018-19, Ross County in 2020-21, and Ross County in 2022-23.

With one round of pre-split fixtures remaining, the final position of three teams is yet to be finalised.

So, with every post-split game crucial to your side's survival, who would you rather avoid in the bottom six: Hearts, St Mirren, or Motherwell?

Tell us why via this link and come back later in the week to see what your fellow fans are thinking.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

There are some certainties in life. Death, taxes and St Johnstone pulling off a result nobody, and I mean literally nobody, saw coming.

Watching the results unfold on Saturday was painful when the realisation hit that the fat lady was singing and our goose was cooked.

Simon Murray FC - sorry 'Dundee' - were at it again, and with the gap at eight points no-one saw us getting anything against the champions-in-waiting.

The spirits of St Johnstone past decided to inject some of our current crop with the energy, determination and belief that we could get the result and upset the odds like so many former Saints teams.

What an absolute incredible shift put in by every single one of the players. The backline, who have been gifting howlers all seasons, put their bodies on the line and showed (finally!) that we aren't going down without a fight.

All of this means nothing unless we can back it up against Dundee United on Saturday. But with the confidence gained from this match, the goose may remain uncooked.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external

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Andy Fisher hopes St Johnstone's stunning 1-0 win over Celtic will be the catalyst for achieving Scottish Premiership survival.

Defender Daniels Balodis scored with a header in the fourth minute at McDiarmid Park before 27-year-old goalkeeper Fisher pulled off a string of fine saves to ensure victory.

The shock win, which was the Perth club's first victory over Celtic since 2016, moves Simo Valakari's side to within five points of second-bottom Dundee with six fixtures remaining.

Fisher, who arrived on loan from Swansea in January, said: "It's massive. I'm incredibly proud of everyone - the players, the staff, the fans, everyone behind the scenes.

"It shows we've bounced back from last week (a 3-0 loss to Hibernian). That wasn't the result we wanted or the performance we wanted.

"But we came out and got a clean sheet and got a win against Celtic, which shows we can beat anyone. Everyone wrote us off before the game. To get the win is like a bonus three points in a way.

"It gives us a better chance to now hopefully go out and get another three points and claw back a bit of that points difference going into the split.

"There's still belief within our squad we can stay up. Next week [away to Dundee United] is a big game, it's a must-win."

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Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson thinks St Johnstone can do enough to avoid the drop after their superb 1-0 win over Celtic on Sunday.

Daniels Balodis' early goal secured a vital three points for Simo Valakari's side, who trail Dundee in 11th by five points.

There are six league matches remaining and Saints will face the teams around them after the league splits this weekend.

"Naturally you're playing against the teams over the course of season that have not managed to squeeze into the top six," Thomson said on the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"You could argue that the fixtures are slightly easier, albeit you're down there yourself. They are obviously going to be really competitive, but looking at the table, I think they can all beat each other. I genuinely do.

"That result, everybody was probably looking at St Johnstone thinking they're down and out. You're not expecting them to get anything off Celtic, they're not going to get three points.

"St Johnstone are more than capable of picking up seven, eight, nine points out of 15, the other three or four are more than capable as well. If you're in that mix, you've got a wee bit of squeaky bum time."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Johnstone gave their Premiership survival hopes an enormous boost with a shock win over league-leaders Celtic at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.

They have three players in my team of the week as a result.

Goalkeeper Andy Fisher exuded confidence and capability at the heart of a resolute performance. A number of vital interventions to keep Celtic out.

Daniels Balodis gets the nod over Zach Mitchell - who was also superb - due to his match-winning goal.

Mr Versatility Drey Wright also makes it. He played as part of an impressive back three against Celtic and was superb. Sticking him in as a wing-back here.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 1-0 win against Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Robin: Safe to say many didn't see that one coming! The team showed that they can be direct and effective when they need to be. The main thing is we now have the chance to be within two points at the split and the rest of the bottom six will be very concerned if that happens.

Paul: What a performance! I feel the manager deserved that, he's stayed true to his principles and tried getting the team to play good football. It's not always worked but that was the complete performance and a thoroughly deserved victory.

Gordon: Incredible. It shows we have a team in there. Delighted for everyone at the club. Now though we have to replicate this effort six more times and maybe, just maybe we can conjure up a great escape. Cue the music.

Les: What a result, there wasn't a failure. Praying Drey Wright isn't serious with his knee, what a game set up at Tannadice now.

Sam: The great escape is well and truly on. I see another 11th place finish and relegation play-off in our near-future. Regardless of if we stay up or go down, I really hope Simo Valakari gets the opportunity to build the squad up over the summer. He's the most optimistic I've felt about a Saints coach in a long while.

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• Graham Carey has assisted three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other St Johnstone player.

• Adam Idah has attempted five shots, the first time he has attempted at least five shots in a match in the Premiership since facing Dundee United on 15 February 2025 (seven shots).

• St Johnstone have beaten Celtic for the first time in the Premiership since 11 May 2016, a run of 27 games without a win.

• Reo Hatate has attempted five shots, the first time he has attempted at least five shots in a match in the Premiership since facing Kilmarnock on 4 August 2024 (eight shots).

Watch the highlights from St Johnstone's 1-0 win over league leaders Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

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Did you take in St Johnstone's 1-0 win over Celtic or were you following from home?

Have your say on the match

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Big win. My players wanted to show that they are good players, we are a good team and there's no better place to show that than against Celtic at your home stadium. Very proud of the performance.

"There were a lot of good performances, starting from the striker all the way, of course, to our goalkeeper. You need in these matches to make saves and Andy Fisher made those saves.

"Our players, mentally, they were switched on all the time. Early goal helps because then you have even more to hang on to. Our players, they can defend.

"We give ourselves the fighting, fighting chance. Where it takes us? We don't know but we need to stay there until the end. We keep going."

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Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

St Johnstone's set-up was bold and their bravery was rewarded.

Not only did they take the lead against a team who had previously put them to the sword this season with an aggregate of 10-0, they defended the predictable Celtic response brilliantly.

Celtic piled on the pressure in the second half, but St Johnstone held firm, while Andy Fisher made some vital saves.

The points could be vital too as they try and stave off the threat of relegation after 16 years in the top flight. It was a brilliant display and one that psychologically could be huge for the league run-in.

Although, it must be a tad frustrating for manager Simo Valakari that performances like this have been so rare this term. Still, he will be focusing on the positives and hoping the result will spark something.

Andy Fisher was outstanding in goal as St Johnstone recorded an unlikely but potentially huge win against Celtic.

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Barry Douglas has recovered from a knock while long-term injury victims Uche Ikpeazu, Bozo Mikulic (both knee) and Sam McClelland (achilles) are still missing for St Johnstone.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel faces five to six weeks out with a shoulder injury but Liam Scales returns from a facial injury.

Barry Douglas, 35, says St Johnstone are adopting a "nothing to lose" attitude in their fight against relegation. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Simo Valakari knows how Celtic will play against St Johnstone on Sunday, but admits it doesn't make his side's task any easier.

The Perth men are bottom of the Premiership, five points adrift of Dundee and six behind Kilmarnock and safety, while runaway leaders Celtic are closing in on the title.

"Sometimes – and understand me right – it's easier to play against the top teams because it's so clear what they are doing," Valakari said.

"I can say when the ball goes there, what's happening there. It's so clear but then how do you stop that because they do it and do it and they have the quality.

"But for the players, it's very clear. This will happen, so how can we manage to stop that? But that's our job.

"I'm a football fan, I'm a football romantic and when I see a team playing like Celtic do, to be that far ahead and still executing the principal of their game identity, this makes me feel 'Wow, this is a top, top team' and it's a big credit to the manager.

"But as I said, it's our job. It's still football. It's 11 versus 11. We have good players out there.

"Yes, we need some moments, maybe that the ball will bounce our way, but we know what we're going to do. We need to execute it, and it's not enough that we execute it the first 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes. It needs to be spot on all game."

Given six months to live six months ago, St Johnstone fan Stewart Falconer is living on borrowed time but it has not stopped him continuing his usual Saturday routine with his daughters Louise and Gillian.

The family shares the importance of spending time and creating memories with one another in the face of the inevitable.

This segment is taken from the Friday, 4 April episode of A View From The Terrace. Watch on iPlayer or BBC Scotland at 22:30 BST.

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• St Johnstone are winless in 31 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D4 L27) since a 2-1 league win in May 2016 under Tommy Wright.

• Celtic have won each of their past 15 away games at St Johnstone in all competitions by an aggregate score of 48-9. Only at Partick Thistle (18 – Nov 1995 to Jan 2020) and Queen's Park (19 – Oct 1904 to Sep 1923) have they ever enjoyed a longer away winning run against a particular opponent.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their past six league games (D2 L3), failing to score in their past two. The Perth side last went three successive league matches without scoring in August 2023.

• Celtic's 3-0 win over Hearts last time out was their 20th Scottish Premiership clean sheet of the season in 31 games. Only in 1913-14 have they ever reached 20 clean sheets sooner from the start of a league campaign (27th match).

• Thirty one per cent of Daizen Maeda's Scottish Premiership goals have come in 2025 (11/35). The Japanese forward is looking to become the first player to score in six successive league appearances for Celtic since Odsonne Edouard in February 2021.

Former midfielder Murray Davidson believes poor recruitment and "panic buying" in recent years is a key factor in St Johnstone's current plight at the bottom of the Premiership.

Read more: Why is 16-year top-flight stay at risk?