St Johnstone

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Since that potentially priceless league win at McDiarmid Park earlier this month, many feared for St Johnstone in this semi-final. Simo Valakari's side had poked the bear.

Though they expected Celtic to be fuelled by revenge, they couldn't have prepared for the utter shellacking they suffered.

To put it simply, St Johnstone were outclassed and punished for any mistake they made on the few occasions they were in possession.

There will be moments in which Valakari and his players will have wanted to do better – intercepting the second and building out from the back better for the fourth – but all told, they were overwhelmed.

Though shipping five is far from ideal, there were genuine fears at half time that the scoreline could have read much worse for a side who have five games left to try and save their Premiership status.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "That's what Celtic can do to any team in Scotland, they are relentless. No hard feelings, no excuses, we didn't do enough good things to get anything out of it.

"I'm proud of my players, of course it wasn't what we wanted but that was our 2025 cup journey.

"We can't give silly goals away, because we don't have the time or points to do it. That's what we are working on.

"In the second half we showed character to express better than what we did for the last 15 minutes of the first half.

"There is no opponent who will help us. We own our own performance - there is no fear, we will go with full attack and see where we are."

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Graham Carey has warned St Johnstone to be ready for a fast start from a Celtic side seeking revenge in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.

Despite Saints propping up the Premiership, they ended a nine-year wait to beat Celtic with a 1-0 home victory two weeks ago thanks to Daniels Balodis' early header.

"I'm probably a bit more relaxed, knowing that it's a cup weekend and kind of taking my mind off the league a little bit," said midfielder Carey.

"It's a big occasion. We've got a lot of fans coming to the game and a lot of players have family coming up for it because it's such a big game.

"We can go there with a relaxed attitude, but knowing it's going to be a difficult game. We're all excited.

"I expect them to make it harder for us. I think the way we played that game, we kind of caught them off guard the way we set up.

"They'll probably come out of the traps quickly. We'll need to be a lot better than we were that day.

"They'll try to use the pitch to their advantage, move it a lot quicker and make it a lot more difficult for us. We have a gameplan and we'll stick to it."

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Callum Davidson hopes St Johnstone can take inspiration from Rory McIlroy's win at The Masters when they face Celtic in this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final.

Davidson, who famously won both domestic cups with the Saints in 2020-21, knows his former side are in for a daunting task and hopes they didn't "poke the fire" too much in beating Brendan Rodgers' side 1-0 recently.

"I think it's going to be a tough game for them," he said. "I think they kind of poked the fire a little bit there with the performance against them, a few wee tactics they had in the game.

"I hear they've got a few wee niggly injuries, they've got a few guys who might be missing. So I think it's going to be really tough.

"They've got to take confidence from last week in what they can do. But I think all things have to align for them a little bit to get through."

After Rory McIlroy's heroics at Augusta on Sunday evening, Davidson, who is an avid golf fan, would like to see similar grit and heart from the Saints side in their own attempt to make history.

"But they'll be going into it thinking, you know, it's one game, we have a chance. We have an opportunity. It's all about creating history. We talk about Rory McIlroy a little bit and creating history," he added.

"You have to be brave enough to go and try and get the job done. And I think that'll be the message; that certainly was the message last time we played them.

"Go and have the courage and go and be brave to try and achieve something.

"And if you don't, at least you give it a go, and you can bounce back again and then go and try again."

As Johnstone prepare to face Celtic at Hampden on Sunday, relive the Perth club's 2014 Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen as a Stevie May double downed Aberdeen. (Available to UK users only)

Will the lack of pressure on St Johnstone help them stun Celtic again this weekend?

Simo Valakari's side go into the Scottish Cup semi-final as huge underdogs as the Premiership bottom club look to follow up their shock 1-0 league win with another slaying of Brendan Rodgers' runaway leaders.

"It's a tough one as Celtic, since that shock defeat, have tightened the screw a bit. They've not exactly had a bad patch, have they?" said Saints fan and former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Fay added: "But it's St Johnstone in the cup. We've got to remember back to season 2021, we're not supposed to do anything in it, and when you're not supposed to do something in it and you're a complete underdog, we like that.

"We've got echoes of the 2021 season, the famous double, and that will live long in the memories.

"You've got nothing to lose in this situation whatsoever. I think Simo Valakari will use this as a welcome distraction and say, go and enjoy it. You know you can beat them, they have that in their back pocket, they've done it recently.

"You know you've got a way to beat this team, and that level of confidence to players to go, we've had a really hard season, it's not over yet, just take a departure from the league, go and enjoy this and anything can happen."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before St Johnstone face holders Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Perth boss:

• Zach Mitchell and Drey Wright are both out but striker Uche Ikpeazu is available for his debut and first appearance of the season.

• Everyone at the club knows this is a "special week" and Valakari says it is a day "where miracles and heroes can be born".

• Saints' recent league win over Celtic provides "confidence that it's possible" but the Finn insists his side will need an even better performance at Hampden.

• He adds: "I've said it all the way and nothing has changed. We have good players and I wish, bottom of my heart, that we can go in this game and show how good we are."

• Valakari says his side "deserve" to be at this stage as they have come through some tough games and are yet to concede a goal. He wants his team to play their normal game and not the occasion.

• Valakari has watched Saints cup triumphs in recent years and has trophy-winning experience of his own, twice lifting the Finnish Cup with KuPS in his homeland and last year leading Riga to Latvian Super Cup success.

• He adds: "I remember this feeling when you lift that trophy for maybe 24 hours, you have no worries in the world. You have just this euphoria... that's why we do this business."

Fourth round: St Johnstone 1-0 Motherwell (18 Jan)

Makenzie Kirk's early goal earned St Johnstone their first win over Motherwell in three years - and a place in the Scottish Cup last 16.

At the time, Simo Valakari's side had lost seven of their previous nine matches before turning things around in the cup.

Fifth round: St Johnstone 1-0 Hamilton (8 Feb)

It took a late goal from Adama Sidibeh to overcome Championship outfit Hamilton.

Saints could have been ahead in the first half, but Accies goalkeeper Dean Lyness kept his side in the game.

However, Sidibeh reacted quickly to Graham Carey's strike from distance with four minutes to play to guide a header beyond Lyness and send the Perth men into the last eight.

Quarter-finals: Livingston 0-1 St Johnstone (10 March)

Another narrow win over second-tier opposition. Graham Carey's spectacular 30-yard strike secured a hard-fought victory.

Saints had been dominated by their Championship hosts, who spurned a number of first-half chances.

But Carey's brilliant goal in the 73rd minute proved the difference and set up a semi-final against holders Celtic.

• Celtic beat Rangers 1-0 in last season's Scottish Cup final to lift the trophy for the second season in a row and 42nd time overall.

• This is St Johnstone's first semi-final since lifting the trophy for a second time in 2021, when they defeated St Mirren 2-1 to reach the final.

• Celtic last lost in the semi-finals in 2022, when they were beaten by Rangers.

• Celtic have won seven of their eight Scottish Cup meetings with St Johnstone.

• St Johnstone's only Scottish Cup victory over Celtic was a 2-1 victory in February 1936, Jimmy Beattie scoring either side of a Willie Buchan equaliser in the second-round tie at Celtic Park.

• Ryan Christie scored the only goal - for Celtic - in the latest Scottish Cup meeting between the sides, in a March 2020 quarter-final at McDiarmid Park.

• Celtic won the only previous Scottish Cup semi-final between the sides, 2-1 in April 2007, when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored either side of a Martin Hardie equaliser.

• Celtic won their latest semi-final meeting with Saints, in the League Cup in November 2021, with James Forrest scoring the only goal at Hampden.

• St Johnstone have only won one of their past four outings, but that came two weeks ago at home to Celtic, Daniels Balodis scoring the only goal.

• Scottish Premiership leaders and reigning champions Celtic have won two and lost two of their latest four outings, the other defeat coming at home to Rangers.

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Are St Johnstone losing the "ethos" that led them to achieving a domestic cup double and maintaining their top-flight status?

Former McDiarmid Park boss Callum Davidson thinks that could be part of the reason why they are struggling at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

However, Davidson can empathise with why the club are unable to sustain the model he feels "has been built on stability".

"Again, it's turnover of players," he said. "I think when we won the cups, it was then very difficult to keep the squad together because they all left, we couldn't afford to keep them.

"[It became a] bit of a turnover of too many. I think St Johnstone's success over the years has been built on stability and that kind of ethos of bringing one or two players in every year and trying to keep that nucleus of the squad together."

Currently five points adrift at the foot of the table, Saints face Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals on Sunday - something Davidson hopes is a high point, but he worries it could hinder their survival hopes.

"Is the semi-final a help or a hindrance to them in their fight for survival? It probably is a bit of a hindrance," he adds.

"Because it's another huge game physically and mentally for the players. So it's a tough one.

"Hopefully the stability is there that if they do go down, they will be in a position where they can go back up again.

"But they won't be thinking about it like that. They'll be thinking, 'come on, let's have a go and let's see what we can do'."

Football fans heading to this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park have been handed a timely travel boost, with ScotRail confirming additional trains and extra seats to help supporters get to and from the national stadium. (The Herald), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Johnstone will find out on Tuesday if 20-year-old Zach Mitchell has played his last game for the Perth club after the on-loan Charlton Athletic centre-back was substituted with a hamstring injury during Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Dundee United. (The Courier), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

• Motherwell v St Johnstone - Saturday, 26 April 2025

• St Johnstone v Kilmarnock - Saturday, 3 May 2025

• St Johnstone v Ross County - Saturday, 10 May 2025

• Hearts v St Johnstone - Wednesday, 14 May 2025

• St Johnstone v Dundee - Sunday, 18 May 2025

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Watch as the Sportscene team analyse St Johnstone's survival chances.

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Watch the best of the action as Dundee United edge out St Johnstone 1-0 at Tannadice. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views following the loss to Dundee United that keeps St Johnstone five points adrift at the bottom.

Here's what some of you said:

Jimmy: A mistake led to the goal. Dundee United are a better team than us. We gave it a very good go and had our chances, and on any other day one or two would have led to a goal. Can't say we didn't try. I still have faith that we can climb up a spot or two.

Daniel: Not been the same since the three games in seven days at the end of February, a tiredness has ended the momentum. Need to win three at least, and I don't know if the energy is still there. Think time is up for us this time.

Glenshee: Despite the manager's comments, the players in the squad are not quite good enough to survive. They work hard to compete but make mistakes under pressure too easily. Every other team knows this and presses hard, getting several clear-cut chances each match as a result of our errors.

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• United have won their past three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winning streak was from 26 December 2024 to 2 January 2025.

• United have scored in their past seven games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 7 games from 30 October 2024 to 14 December 2024.

• United have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three games in the Premiership, a run of 304 minutes without conceding a goal.

• St. Johnstone attempted 17 crosses in this match, higher than their season average of 16.7 in the Premiership.

Dundee United edged out St Johnstone to strengthen their bid for European football as they moved level on points with third-placed Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.

Defender Emmanuel Adegboyega profited from some slack set-piece defending to tap in what proved to be the winner in the first half.

What did you make of that, St Johnstone fans? A bit harsh to lose that?

Who impressed you, and did it give you any confidence for the rest of the season?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Although they left Tannadice without any points, the Saints fans could not fault the attitude or application from the players at Tannadice.

They refused to give up until the final whistle, still creating chances despite the odds going against them.

Although plenty was made of the original strikeforce of Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh at the start of the season, they don't seem to have the clinical edge in front of goal that could save the Perth side.

Saints are the joint lowest scorers in the division and while they registered 15 shots - compared to United's nine - just two were on target.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: "Overall, we played well. We knew it would be tight margins and unfortunately the goal we concede comes from a crazy thing happening.

"The boys put everything in. We created chances and now, the regular season is done. Five games to go, the fight continues.

"We know we played well. We are in good form. We do the right things. We just need the results, that's the hardest thing.

"Everyone who watched today saw what we are all about. Our players are tough, they are good players. We have given ourselves a chance."