St Johnstone are one of Scottish football’s older fixtures, founded in 1884 and long settled at McDiarmid Park. They are not a club Celtic supporters need introducing to, but their current position gives them a little more immediate interest than usual.
Their 2026-27 Premiership campaign has opened sharply: one round played, three points taken, and second place on the table. The 4-3 win over Kilmarnock showed a home attack already in working order, though conceding three at home keeps the praise sensibly qualified.
The wider league run is strong, with recent wins over Kilmarnock, Ayr United, Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic, Airdrieonians and Arbroath. Kai Fotheringham and Jamie Gullan have started as the main scorers, with two goals each, while Cheick Diabate, Josh Fowler and Reece McAlear have also contributed.
The squad is a young one, averaging 24 across 28 players, and is valued at around £4m by Transfermarkt. They also competed in League Cup Group F, but the league table is where the immediate picture is clearest.
For Celtic, St Johnstone currently look like an established domestic opponent in good early form: organised enough to merit attention, productive at home, and still early enough in the season for the picture to remain provisional.
📈 Key stats and insights
⚔️ How they compare to Celtic
Compared with Celtic, St Johnstone look more explosive but far less controlled. They have the attacking edge on early home output, while Celtic have the clear defensive advantage and sit fifth with a cleaner underlying profile; this is a contrast between St Johnstone's chaos and Celtic's control.
