Key Points
- Valakari’s Call to Action: “Simo Valakari, who is the manager at St Johnstone, has told his players that they need to take up the fight against Celtic because they have worked hard for the club to be in the top division and not just watch Celtic.”
- Form Ahead of Match: The Perth based team comes into the match with a victory against Hibernian with a 2-1 scoreline which sees them boast a record of two victories, one draw, and two losses in the league.
- Celtic’s Winning Streak: Celtic are coming into the match after a 12-game winning streak in the Scottish Premier League which goes way back six months when Celtic lost to Dundee United at Tannadice.
- Mulgrew Discusses Tacticals with Valakari: Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew discussed tactics with Valakari and explained how St Johnstone use central midfield areas as they bring both wingers inside.
- Midfield Weakness: There has been a sign of weakness for Celtic in midfield zones this season that was already highlighted when they played European football against Austrian champions LASK in Linz even with a four-goal advantage in that tie.
- Freedom in the Final Third: As pointed out by Mulgrew’s analysis of Valakari’s tactics, the players at St Johnstone are free to be creative in the final third once they build up through the spare midfielder to get room behind with striker Josh Fowler.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) September 8, 2026 –Perth, St Johnstone FC,
Can St Johnstone turn tactical preparation into a landmark result when they host reigning Scottish Premiership champions Celtic at McDiarmid Park?
Following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hibernian on Sunday afternoon, St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has issued a firm directive to his squad ahead of their midweek fixture. The Perthshire side secured immediate promotion back to the Scottish top flight by winning the Championship last season, and they have recorded a steady start to their Premiership campaign with two wins, one draw, and two losses.
However, as reported by David Faulds of Celtic Shorts, the manager faces his sternest test yet as Martin O’Neill brings his Celtic side to Perth. Rather than watching his players allow Celtic to dominate possession and control the tempo, Valakari is demanding an aggressive approach from the Championship winners.
Speaking directly to the club’s media channel ahead of the encounter, as reported by David Faulds of Celtic Shorts, Valakari stated:
“Nothing changes. We have worked so hard to get here in the Premiership. Now we are here, we are here to compete.”
How are St Johnstone setting up tactically under Simo Valakari?
The visitor’s dominant form presents a formidable obstacle. Celtic currently sit on a 12-match winning run in the league, including seven consecutive victories at the tail end of last season which saw them secure the title ahead of Hearts on the final day at Celtic Park. The champions have not dropped points in domestic league action since a defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice six months ago.
Despite Celtic’s consistency, tactical analysts have pointed to specific structural patterns in St Johnstone’s setup that could test the league leaders. Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew, who provided co-commentary at McDiarmid Park during St Johnstone’s victory over Hibernian, offered a detailed breakdown of Valakari’s system.
As reported by The Courier, Mulgrew disclosed details from a personal conversation with the St Johnstone manager regarding his transition to top-flight management:
“I was speaking to Simo Valakari before the game about how he’s adjusting his game to the Premiership and all that stuff. He says: ‘We like to play, but in the Premiership, you get pressed a bit more so we might need to go longer a few times and spin teams in behind’.”
Mulgrew further explained how this tactical flexibility translated onto the pitch during Sunday’s match. As reported by The Courier, Mulgrew stated:
“When I’m looking at St Johnstone, I could see clearly, 20 minutes, half an hour in, what they were trying to do. St Johnstone were bringing their wingers inside and creating five in the central area. It wasn’t a coincidence that their centre-backs were having time on the ball because Hibs weren’t pressing them. They were just playing through to the spare man and they got space in behind with (Josh) Fowler. Then they get it wide and put it in the box. Valakari tells them they’ve got freedom to do what they want in the final third.”
Could Celtic’s midfield space offer St Johnstone an opportunity?
This strategic overloading of the central pitch aligns directly with an area where Celtic have appeared vulnerable this season. While Celtic’s frontline proved problematic for opponents during the previous campaign, their primary tactical weakness this term has manifested in the middle of the park. Opposing teams have consistently managed to run through central zones, a flaw that notably contributed to their exit from Champions League qualification against Austrian champions LASK in Linz, despite Celtic holding a 4-0 aggregate lead during the tie.
If Valakari’s side can replicate the central structure observed by Mulgrew against Hibernian, bringing narrow wingers into the midfield channels to create a five-man overload, they may find avenues to bypass Celtic’s pressing triggers and feed forward Josh Fowler into dangerous positions.
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What is the background to Simo Valakari’s tenure and St Johnstone’s top-flight return?
St Johnstone’s position in the Scottish Premiership follows a campaign of structural rebuilding under Finnish manager Simo Valakari. After suffering relegation from the top tier, the Perth club underwent a squad overhaul designed to establish a proactive, possession-oriented style of play suitable for securing immediate promotion.
Valakari led St Johnstone through the Championship campaign, culminating in a title-clinching victory over Raith Rovers at McDiarmid Park on April 24, 2026. The achievement restored the Saints to the top flight at the first attempt. Upon entering the Scottish Premiership, Valakari maintained that his team would retain their core principles rather than adopting a purely defensive posture against the league’s established clubs.
The midweek match against Celtic represents the first meeting between Valakari and Martin O’Neill, who returned to the Celtic dugout to lead the Glasgow club through their title run-in last season. With Celtic maintaining an unbeaten domestic record spanning six months and St Johnstone attempting to consolidate their place in the top half of the table following two wins from five games, the fixture serves as an early barometer for how the Championship winners measure up against the division’s benchmarks.
How could this development affect supporters and the Premiership table?
For the St Johnstone supporters, Valakari’s assertive stance signals a clear departure from the pragmatic, survival-oriented mindset often adopted by newly promoted clubs facing the Old Firm. Should St Johnstone successfully deploy their central overload strategy and claim a point or more against Celtic, it would confirm their capacity to compete in the top half of the Scottish Premiership rather than fighting in the lower reaches of the table.
For Celtic and their fanbase, Valakari’s tactical blueprint highlights a growing trend among domestic opponents who are actively targetting the champions’ central midfield area. If Celtic fail to adjust to St Johnstone’s inverted wingers and central numerical advantage, it could expose recurring tactical frailties that other Premiership clubs will seek to exploit throughout the campaign. Conversely, a decisive victory for Celtic in Perth would extend their winning domestic run to 13 matches, reinforcing their authority at the top of the table and dampening the momentum of one of the league’s newest additions.
