Think Of The Future Not The Past

Last updated : 19 February 2013 By Ed_Scottishfitba

stjohnstoneSteve Lomas knows his St Johnstone side has a good SPL record against Celtic this season but is not counting any chickens as he prepares for tonight's visit from the Parkhead side. The Saints won 2-1 at McDiarmid Park in September and grabbed a 1-1 draw when they returned to the east end of Glasgow in November. However, St Johnstone will not be thinking of the four points won in the past against a side who are fresh from a 6-2 hammering of Dundee United at the weekend.
 
Lomas said: "
We are not looking at it like that, we are looking at playing a very good Celtic team. They have players like Gary Hooper, Kris Commons, Joe Ledley, Victor Wanyama, Anthony Stokes - the list is endless. We will go into the game massive underdogs and it will take another mammoth effort from everyone if we are to get anything. When you play the Old Firm you have got to be at your maximum. You have to be disciplined, be brave in and out of possession, have a little bit of luck and take your chances when they come along. If Celtic get their noses in front then it is very difficult. They bounced back from the Juventus defeat to thrash Dundee United and they can do that against anybody on their day. But we are one of eight or nine teams who want to be up there behind them and we are looking forward to the game."
 
Lomas is still puzzled by Ross County manager Derek Adams' analysis of the home side's 1-0 win over Saints in Dingwall on Saturday, which left the Perth side in sixth place. The former West Ham and Manchester City midfielder said: "
I read some of Derek's quotes and he said his side dominated. I'm not sure where he got that from. I suppose football is all about opinions but their keeper was man of the match. On any other day we could have got three points and it just goes to show you that stats can lie. On every stat we were ahead but in the one stat that mattered, they got the goal. Their keeper made a few good saves, they had defenders getting blocks in and so all credit to them but I thought we were the better team."