Preview: Celtic vs. St Mirren - prediction, team news, lineups

Celtic will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Wednesday when they host St Mirren after being held to a draw in their most recent outing, which opened up the door to Rangers in the title race.

The visitors were beaten at the weekend in their recent fixture, but a victory in midweek has the potential to take them into the top half of the Scottish Premiership.

Match preview

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Celtic will have breathed a sigh of relief at the weekend after their goalless draw went unpunished by their Old Firm rivals as Rangers also shared the points in their match, which left the Hoops sitting top of the Scottish Premiership.

Ange Postecoglou's men could not break the deadlock against the Hibees despite their best efforts, and it meant they went back-to-back games without a victory for the first time this year.

It has been a tough period recently for Celtic after they were handed defeats in both legs of their recent Europa Conference League fixtures with Bodo/Glimt, and they will be hoping to get back on track immediately.

Despite the difficult run they are having, the Hoops have not lost in the league since September when they faced Livingston, which is why they have taken control of the title race.

Celtic have not conceded a goal in the two matches that they have had so far against St Mirren this season, winning their first meeting 6-0, but the Buddies were able to hold them to a goalless draw in December, providing them some confidence.

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Steve Robinson is still searching for his first win since taking over from Jim Goodwin after a disappointing 2-0 loss at the weekend against Hearts, which was made worse by Connor Ronan being sent off.

This result followed a 1-1 draw with Livingston in their previous outing, which also saw the Buddies end the game with 10 men, as discipline has proven to be an issue as of late.

That is not something that they will want to repeat on Wednesday, especially against a team that has been as prolific as Celtic have throughout this campaign.

Right now the club sit in eighth place, and they have the opportunity to climb into the top half of the table with a victory, if other results go their way, providing plenty of motivation.

St Mirren have been reasonably strong away from home, having only lost four times on the road, but only Dundee have conceded more goals outside their own stadium, which will be a concern.

Team News

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Giorgos Giakoumakis missed out at the weekend despite his recent strong form due to an illness, but he is expected to make a return on Wednesday, and he could slot straight into the starting lineup.

Matt O'Riley could also be preferred over Tom Rogic after he was dropped out of the team for the 0-0 draw, while Jota will likely keep his place as the creative spark for the Hoops.

St Mirren will be forced into making at least one change following Ronan's red card against Hearts, despite Robinson naming an unchanged team heading into that match.

Ryan Flynn is expected to find himself slotting into the midfield for the Buddies, while Eamonn Brophy could also make his return from the first whistle after being used as a substitute in the past couple of fixtures.

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Harts; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; Rogic, Hatate, McGregor; Jota, Abada, Giakoumakis

St Mirren possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne, Tait; Flynn, Gogic; Kiltie, Brophy, Jones; Greive

We say: Celtic 2-0 St Mirren

Celtic may have slipped up at the weekend, but they were still able to keep a clean sheet and maintain their high standard of performance, which they shall take into Wednesday.

St Mirren have been out of form in their past couple of games, and facing the Hoops who are hungry to get back to winning ways might be a tough test.

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