Scottish Premiership: Reaction after Celtic win 2-0 at St Johnstone to go six points clear

Summary

Weah concludes flowing Celtic move to seal points
Forrest jabs in Weah cross to score, then limps off with hamstring injury
Ajer dismissed after receiving second yellow card as Celtic finish with nine
St Johnstone's Clark makes series of fine saves
Substitute Edouard off injured within eight minutes
Toljan on for Lustig at break to make Celtic debut
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Live Reporting

Thomas McGuigan

'Great season for Wright'published at 12:08
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland
Quote Message
It's been another great season for Tommy Wright. It was that 6-0 mauling they received by Celtic that set them off on their good run and they have tightened up at the back. The change this season is they have energy, youthful enthusiasm and skill as well
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Image caption,
Tommy Wright's St Johnstone have "energy, youthful enthusiasm and skill" in abundance
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Get Involvedpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2019
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How do you see the game at McDiarmid Park going? Care to share your tactical thoughts ahead of the 12:30 klick-off?
Anything else to get off your chest? You know the drill: tweet us using #bbcsportscot or visit our Facebook page.
We'll use the best comments on our live coverage throughout the day.
How they'll line up in Perthpublished at 12:00
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
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Elsewhere in the Premiership...published at 11:55
Yesterday witnessed victories for Rangers, Aberdeen and Motherwell in the Premiership. Hamilton Accies, under new boss Brian Rice, netted a late equaliser to rescue a point against Dundee.
Rangers' win at home to St Mirren also saw the hosts awarded four penalties.
Steven Gerrard believed two were definite spot kicks and two were debatable.
"There could've been five penalties, which is very strange," Gerrard told Rangers TV afterwards.
"We feel as if the officials have missed a clear one on Alfredo [Morelos]. Some you get, some you don't."
St Mirren manager Oran Kearney agreed the first was a "definite penalty" but quibbled over the other three.
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Image caption,
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said there could have been five penalties awarded
Jonathan Sutherland and the Sportscene team will analyse all the weekend's Premiership action on BBC Two Scotland at 18:15 tonight...
Recent clashespublished at 11:50
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
The last time the sides met? It was last Wednesday...
Goals from Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie secured three points for Celtic at Celtic Park.
When the sides last locked horns in Perth - October 2018 - the hosts found a James Forrest firing on all cylinders too hot to handle - as the Celtic winger netted four goals in a 6-0 mauling.
Danny Swanson was also sent off three minutes into the second half to compound St Johnstone's agony.
Stat attackpublished at 11:46
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
Some statistics for you to chew over with your bacon roll:
- St. Johnstone are winless in nine league games against Celtic (D2 L7)
- Celtic have won each of their past four Premiership trips to Perth, scoring 19 goals
- Tommy Wright's troops have lost two of their past three home league games - as many as their previous 15 McDiarmid Park gigs combined
Celtic unchanged; Toljan named on benchpublished at 11:45
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
Brendan Rodgers names an unchanged side following last midweek's victory against St Johnstone, with new signing Jeremy Toljan earning a place on the bench.
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Image caption,
Loan signing Jeremy Toljan is on the bench for Celtic
Goss debut in four Saints changespublished at 11:42
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright rings the changes after the midweek defeat at Celtic Park.
Sean Goss, the midfielder who ended last season with Rangers, is handed his debut on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
Also starting are three players who came on as substitutes on Wednesday - midfielder Ross Callachan, winger Matty Kennedy and former Celtic striker Tony Watt.
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Image caption,
Saints debutant Sean Goss was on loan to Rangers last season
Liam Craig, David Wotherspoon and Michael O'Halloran drop to the bench, while Blair Alston, who went off late on in Glasgow, misses out.
Goalkeeper Cammy Bell is among the substitutes after signing on loan from Partick Thistle.
Gearing up for kick-offpublished at 11:40
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
The visitors, including new loan signing from Borussia Dortmund Jeremy Toljan, have arrived in Perth.
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Premiership tablepublished at 11:37
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
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LINE-UPS FROM McDIARMID PARKpublished at 11:35
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
St Johnstone: Clark, Foster, Tanser, Shaughnessy, Kerr, Goss, Callachan, Davidson, Swanson, Kennedy, Watt.
Subs: Bell, Wotherspoon, O'Halloran, Hendry, Gordon, Craig, Keown.
Celtic: Bain, Lustig, Simunovic, Ajer, Izaguirre, Brown, McGregor, Christie, Forrest, Sinclair, Burke.
Subs: Gordon, Bitton, Toljan, Hayes, Weah, Edouard, Johnston.
Sunday's Premiership crackerpublished at 11:31
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
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All roads lead to Perth...published at 11:30
St Johnstone v Celtic (12:30)
We finish the weekend of Premiership action in style with St Johnstone hosting Celtic at McDiarmid Park.
Victory for the home side would see them narrow the gap on fifth-placed Hearts to two points, while league leaders Celtic are aiming to move six points clear of Rangers.
The stage is set. Ready? Let's get things under way...
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