Football: Celtic look to bury European misery

GLASGOW - Celtic will have to put their European disappointment behind them as they get back to Scottish Premiership action against St Johnstone at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Hoops suffered heartache in the San Siro on Wednesday after they succumbed to two late goals to lose their opening Champions League fixture against AC Milan, 2-0.

The Scottish champions earned plaudits from their performance but were left frustrated when Emilio Izaguirre deflected Cristian Zapata's 82nd-minute shot into his own net before Sulley Muntari added a second soon afterwards.

Neil Lennon's side will get the chance to take their European frustrations out on St Johnstone when they visit Parkhead but the Celtic manager will be wary of the poor form his side showed immediately before and after European matches last season.

In last season's Champions League the Hoops were beaten twice in the competition - by Barcelona and Benfica - and on both occasions lost at home on domestic league duty days later.

However, defender Charlie Mulgrew said manager Lennon had instilled a belief in his players that made them positive about what they can achieve this season.

"I thought we played well and maybe just couldn't take our chances," the Scotland international said.

"We never deserved a 2-0, but we know that's what AC Milan can do.

"It felt quite comfortable and maybe, if we had taken one of our chances, it would have been a different result.

"But that's the Champions League for you and we have to pick ourselves up.

"We've got to be positive. The next game comes around in a couple of weeks and we've got to be ready for that and quickly put this result out our system.

"I think we're growing well in the competition. There's a lot of belief in the squad - the manager installs that in us - maybe just a bit of belief missing in front of goal."

St Johnstone arrive in Glasgow sitting in sixth place in the Scottish Premiership, four points behind Celtic in second.

Tommy Wright's side have lost two of their last three but will take heart from the fact Celtic only managed to claim one win in their four meetings last term.

The St Johnstone manager says he hopes his side can use the lessons of their own European run, where they notched up away wins against Rosenborg and FC Minsk in the Europa League, can help them pick up a positive result in Glasgow.

"We have been to Celtic Park before and got a couple of good results. We've had a few tankings as well down there and that can happen," Wright said.

"But we can use our own experiences from Europe of going away to a place like Rosenborg and getting a result. We know the underdog can often cause an upset.

"We respect Celtic and know they are the best side in the country. We know

Neil can change four or five positions without even weakening it. It will be a difficult game but they players like to test themselves against the best."

Elsewhere on Saturday, league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle will attempt to continue their unbeaten start to the season with a trip to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen.

Financially-stricken Hearts continue their quest to pick up the points needed to stave off relegation with a trip away to Ross County.