St Johnstone vs Celtic Predictions

• Daizen Maeda has scored 31 times in 45 games this season
• Both teams to score has only landed in one of St Johnstone’s last seven games
• The last team that was not Rangers to beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup was Inverness in 2015

Repeat of shock looks unlikely

Celtic are the most successful team in the history of the Scottish Cup and they are a short price to reach the final for the 62nd time as they face St Johnstone in the last four.

The Saints were shock 1-0 winners when these two met in the league recently but a repeat of that in this game looks unlikely.

St Johnstone could arguably do without this test, a 1-0 defeat to Dundee United on Saturday has left them five points adrift at the bottom of the table as the Scottish Premiership reaches its conclusion.

Maeda to star

In sharp contrast Brendan Rodgers’ men are on the brink of lifting their 55th title as they sit 15 points clear of rivals Rangers. 

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda has been a tormentor of Simo Valakari’s team this season, netting in two of their three meetings, and he could continue that with a goal at Hampden Park, a place where the Japanese forward has often starred before.

Since the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi, Maeda has become the main main, netting 31 goals in 45 games in all competitions, and he could add to that tally here.

Correct score backers should note that the Bhoys have scored 16 times in the last five head-to-heads and take a 4-0 win for the defending champions.