Things are starting to look very bleak for St Mirren who sit at the foot of the Scottish Premiership. The Paisley club are four points adrift of second bottom Motherwell having lost five of their last seven games in the league. Finishing bottom in Scotland’s top league results in automatic relegation whilst second bottom enters a play-off system with clubs from the Championship. For St Mirren manager Gary Teale – who only took over after Tommy Craig was sacked in December – an 11th placed finish would be considered success considering their current situation. With eight games to go and the clubs above them beginning to pick up points on a consistent basis, even leapfrogging one team, let alone two, is looking rather unlikely.
After facing Dundee United four times in succession, including in the League Cup final, Ronny Delia’s team will be glad of playing a different opponent on Friday night. Following their series of matches against United, the prospect of landing a first domestic treble since 2001 is beginning to look very real. With a Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness in a fortnight, and a five point lead (with a game in hand) over second placed Aberdeen, the odds are very much in the favour. The only blot on their form book in domestic football in 2015 was a surprise defeat to St Johnstone at the beginning of last month which serves as an indication of how dominant they have been since the turn of the year.
Since being promoted to the top flight back in 2006, St Mirren have never finished in the top six. In truth, they have flirted with relegation on numerous occasions having finished second bottom on numerous occasions. It was the reason the board relieved Danny Lennon of his duties last summer but the change in manager has certainly not had the desired effect. Their struggles have continued, particularly in front of goal. They are the lowest scorers of all 42 clubs across the four divisions in Scotland which is the main reason they find themselves in such bother.
Scoring goals is certainly not a problem for Celtic who average more than two goals a game in the league. They also have by far and a way the best defensive record in the league (and the whole of Scotland) conceding just 14 goals in the 28 matches. In 2015 they have shipped three goals, all of them scored by St Johnstone in the two games they have played against them. It is a remarkable record when you consider their inconsistency earlier in the season, and a one which will delight the manager who suffered a lot of criticism during that period.
This one looks a bit of a mis-match on paper but it is dangerous to write off a club who are fighting for their survival as St Mirren are. Taking everything into consideration, though, it is very difficult to make a case for anything other than an away win, which is reflected in the odds. It is unusual for a team to be 1/5 to win an away game but that gives us a chance to find value elsewhere. Taking into account the home side’s dearth of quality in attack, and Celtic’s mean defence, take the league leaders to win without conceding.
Celtic to win to nil 4/5 @ Sportingbet
