Preview: Celtic vs. St Mirren - prediction, team news, lineups

Celtic will be looking to claim their sixth successive win across all competitions when they host St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

The Hoops have scored at least twice in seven of their last eight meetings against the Buddies, who surprised everyone by claiming all three points at Parkhead last season.

Match preview

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Celtic moved one step closer to securing European football this season after claiming a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Wednesday night.

Summer signing Kyogo Furuhashi scored his sixth goal in as many matches to fire the Hoops into a 12th-minute lead before a second-half strike from James Forrest deflected off Timo Letschert, giving the hosts a two-goal advantage heading into next week's second leg.

This victory made it five in a row for new boss Ange Postecoglou, who praised his side's perseverance at Parkhead as they took control of their crucial European tie.

Celtic have enjoyed the start of the new campaign on home soil, winning their last four matches by an aggregate score of 14-2.

They can also take confidence into their Premiership encounter against St Mirren, having won 21 of the last 24 meetings against them, scoring 61 goals and keeping 18 clean sheets in the process.

The Hoops did, however, lose their last game at home against the Buddies, who claimed a surprise 2-1 win in January.

Postecoglou now seems to have Celtic on the right track and will be looking to build on their good form with another three points on Saturday.

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St Mirren, meanwhile, are still searching for their first league win after they followed up a 2-2 draw against Dundee on the opening day with a 2-1 loss at home to newly-promoted Hearts.

Since then, Jim Goodwin's men also suffered defeat in the second round of the Scottish League Cup, losing 4-3 on penalties to Livingston after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.

The Buddies lost to the Lions in the semi-finals of this competition last season, and they were unable to get revenge as spot-kick misses from Curtis Main, Cameron MacPherson and Kyle McAllister condemned the visitors to defeat.

St Mirren have won just two of their last 15 league matches, including results from last season, and Goodwin will been keen for his side to get back to winning ways, as they now concentrate on a challenging run of league fixtures which will see them face each of last season's top six in their next seven matches.

Their first encounter in this run is against a Celtic side who they beat at Parkhead last season for the first time since January 1990.

Only two Scottish sides in the 21st century have won back-to-back away league games against Celtic – Aberdeen in 2004 and Rangers in October 2020 – but another surprise win for the Buddies on Saturday would make them the third team to achieve such a feat.

Team News

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Celtic boss Postecoglou has confirmed that defender Christopher Jullien will remain on the sidelines for some time as he continues to recover from a knee injury which he picked up at the end of 2020.

Attacking midfielder Ryan Christie – who has missed the last two matches – picked up a knock in training last week and is a doubt for Saturday's game.

Joe Hart has made the number one spot his own since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the summer, and the 34-year-old is expected to keep his place ahead of Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain.

In midfield, Tom Rogic will be hoping he can keep his place ahead of Ismaila Soro and James McCarthy, who both began as substitutes in the last game, while Odsonne Edouard may have to settle for a place on the bench once again due to the fine form of Furuhashi in attack.

As for St Mirren, Goodwin made just one change to his side at the weekend and he is unlikely to make many alterations to his team on Saturday.

Ethan Erhahon was brought in at the expense of Alan Power against Livingston but the latter could be recalled to the centre of midfield against Celtic to start alongside Jamie McGrath.

Main has failed to score in each of his last four appearances across all competitions, but he is set to start again up front alongside Eamonn Brophy.

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Ralston, Starfelt, Welsh, Taylor; McGregor, Soro, Turnbull; Abada, Edouard, Furuhashi

St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne; Tait, McGrath, Power, Tanser; Kiltie; Main, Brophy

We say: Celtic 2-0 St Mirren

Celtic have found their groove in recent weeks and confidence among the players is high, with another victory on Saturday expected in front of their supporters.

St Mirren are sure to put up a fight, but the Hoops should have no problems in claiming a routine win at Parkhead.