CELTIC are aiming for the perfect dozen when they take on St Johnstone at Parkhead tonight.
Brendan Rodgers has seen his Hoops side win all 11 of their previous Premiership tussles in the east end of Glasgow this season.
This evening’s encounter is the champions’ game in hand over Rangers and Kilmarnock and a victory will stretch their lead at the top of the league to six points in their quest for their eighth successive crown.
James Forrest was the Celts’ hero in the league match at McDiarmid Park earlier in the campaign when he fired in an unstoppable four-goal salvo in the first-half as Rodgers’ outfit romped to a 6-0 triumph.
However, the home side will have to hit the ground running on this occasion because Tommy Wright’s Perth team have the best away record in the top flight, taking 21 points from 11 games on their travels.
Rodgers said: “We know all about Tommy’s team and they’ve always provided a difficult test.
“Of course, the last time we played them, we played very well and it was probably the catalyst for both teams. For them, they went on a great run, and before the weekend they hadn’t conceded in six away games.
FOUR-GOAL HERO…James Forrest who ran amok in Celtic’s 6-0 rout of St Johnstone in Perth in October.
“After conceding against Hearts, we know that they’ll be looking to get back on track and they’ll make it really tough for us.”
This will be the first of three games against the Saints in 12 days with a Scottish Cup-tie and another league confrontation coming up.
Like his gaffer, midfielder Callum McGregor is anxious to keep the winning home run going.
He added: “It can be a bit odd when you are playing the same team so often in a short space of time.
“But it happened last season against Motherwell and the manager shook things up a bit for every game. I think in the third game against them we won 5-0, so I think we will always look to try and keep it fresh.
“In terms of tonight, it is just a chance now to keep this wee run of form going. Hopefully, we can take all three points, but we know that it will be a tough night for us.
“St Johnstone will make it hard for us but it’s up to us to go and find a way past them.”
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