Scottish Premiership Preview: St Johnstone v Celtic

St Johnstone take on Celtic on Boxing Day and having dropped points against St Mirren during the week, this looks like a must-win fixture for the Hoops.

Favourite backers fingers were burnt on Wednesday evening when Celtic failed to justify odds of 1/8 when held to a 0-0 draw by a spirited St Mirren side.

And Celtic are once again long odds-on to win on Sunday against a St Johnstone side that have lost their last seven straight league games.

Callum Davidson’s side crashed to yet another defeat against Ross County in midweek, and there’s now a real danger the Saints could follow up last season’s incredible domestic cup double with relegation to the Scottish Championship.

I highlighted on Wednesday that Celtic rack up the corners and they once more obliged in Paisley, notching up a staggering 16 against St Mirren, including seven in the first half alone.

That was the fifth time in their last six domestic matches that Celtic have hit double figures on corners and they look excellent value to hit another high number against a struggling St Johnstone side on Boxing Day.

Over 7.5 Celtic corners is a very backable 17/20 with Betfair but I’m again tempted to side with Celtic hitting at least nine – over 8/5 corners is 7/5 also at Betfair.