Wright targets timely double
Tommy Wright admits a Scottish Premiership double over Celtic "would do nicely" as St Johnstone chase down a European spot.
The Perth side's surprise 1-0 win at Parkhead on March 4 is the only league defeat Ronny Deila's champions have suffered in 2015 and it has helped Saints into fifth place behind Dundee United on goal difference with two games remaining.
And with a Europa League spot on offer for fourth place if third-placed Inverness win the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Falkirk, the McDiarmid Park boss is targeting another three points from the Hoops when they visit Tayside on Friday night.
"We are the only team in the league to beat Celtic in 2015 - that was my first win over them - and over the piece we have managed to compete all right against them," he said.
"It would be nice to do a double but not because it is Celtic, but because it would mean we would get three points which would go a long way to getting fourth place.
"We were excellent at Celtic Park. We limited them to long-range shots and got an unbelievable goal (by Danny Swanson) to get a good 1-0 victory.
"So we are looking forward to this game and it is great that we still have something to play for at this stage of the season.
"It has been another tremendous season. Guaranteed to finish fifth is something to be proud of but we haven't given up hope of getting fourth place.
"But Celtic are champions for a reason.
"They go out to perform at the highest level for every game. There will be a decent crowd, it is on television and they will want to win the last two games.
"I can't see them taking their foot off the gas."
The Perth side finish off their campaign against runners-up Aberdeen at Pittodrie but that does not faze the Northern Irishman, who can also refer back to a 1-0 win over the Dons at the start of the season.
He said: "People will think on paper we have the two toughest games but we have beaten both Celtic and Aberdeen this season.
"We can go into both games with a fair degree of confidence.
"And I would rather be in this situation than playing in the bottom six."
Saints skipper Dave Mackay will miss the clash after undergoing a long-awaited hip operation last weekend but loan striker Brian Graham returns after missing the game against parent club Dundee United last week.
Celtic coach John Kennedy has revealed midfielders Nir Bitton and Stefan Johansen will be rested but insists the champions "certainly haven't downed tools".
The former Bhoys defender said: "Everyone has different needs.
"There are guys in the team who want to play as many games as possible and they want to play and perform every week.
"If you ask Scott Brown if he wants to miss a game he would probably slap you in the face.
"He wants to play every game and that is the type of character we have here. So it is a good thing
"There might be one or two changes but there will not be wholesale changes.
"Even though we are not in the Scottish Cup final and the league is won, we have players here who want to finish the season on a high."
Charlie Mulgrew will play after recovering from a hamstring tendon injury which has kept him out since December, while Virgil van Dijk will be assessed on the morning of the match after picking up a knock against Aberdeen.
Source: PAR
