St Johnstone’s run without a goal has hit the six-game mark but Blair Alston insisted that they will hit the “red button”.
Failing to score against Celtic is no disgrace given the Parkhead side have just clocked up a British record 63 matches unbeaten.
And Alston is convinced that for Saints the chances (and wins) will soon be flowing again.
“The team has been through runs like this in the past,” said the former Falkirk man. “Last season it wasn’t as bad as this, but we have the experience to get through it.
“We started the season well so we know this run won’t go on forever, we will start picking up points again and winning games again.
“Of course it’s poor to have not scored in so many minutes but we know there is enough quality to turn it around.
“We have been working on it. We have been working on creating and finishing.
“A few weeks ago we didn’t look like scoring but in the last few games we have created chances, we just haven’t put them away.
“We just need something to fall for us, maybe even going in off the back of someone, and that will turn it around.
“It’s not long ago we were winning games so we are sure we’ll get back to that.
“There is no reason to panic and hit the red button, we just have to stop talking about it and do it on the pitch.
“There are no nerves, we know the chances will come and we will start winning games again.”
This game played out as many would have scripted.
The effort and defensive shape were there for Saints but the pressure that Celtic are able to build is always likely to result in a lapse in concentration.
That lapse came when Scott Sinclair’s run from the edge of the box wasn’t checked and he was picked out by Stuart Armstrong from a corner for the visitors’ 29th minute opener.
What has also been seen time and time again is that this Celtic side jumps on chances missed by their opponents.
In the second half Steven MacLean scuffed a good opportunity and within seconds Moussa Dembele was side-footing home the salt-in-the-wound response.
The third and fourth goals – a Steven Anderson own goal and an Olivier Ntcham 18-yarder – were the consequence of tired Perth minds and bodies.
Alston said: “You know what you’re going to get when you play Celtic, they are going to have the majority of the ball and you have to create opportunities when you can.
“We are disappointed with it in the end, I felt we did OK in the first half.
“Obviously possession-wise they were miles on top but until the second goal we were okay, but we lost our shape after that.
“Once they got the second and third it was game over, so we have to be disappointed by the final scoreline.
“It’s one of those, I’m not saying we don’t try in these games but these are not the ones our season is defined by.
“We need to turn it around against the other teams and pick up a few points.”
Manager Tommy Wright added: “It was a difficult day for us but we knew it would be.
“I don’t think we helped ourselves with the first two goals but I can’t be too critical of the players because they gave me everything.
“We worked off a decent shape but when we had one or two opportunities to put pressure on the Celtic goal.”
For Wright the best thing his players can do regarding the 500-plus minute goal drought is “not read what’s written about them or listen to people who want to criticise them”.
He noted: “With all due respect those people can’t help them. The only people who can help are me and the staff and the rest of the players.
“We’re working hard, we’re on a difficult run but we’ve had difficult runs like this before.
“I believe the squad is good enough to get out of it and get back to winning ways.
“To judge them on today’s game is a bit harsh.”
Celtic may have bagged another record but Sinclair does not view it as a book-end.
He said: “We need to keep improving, not get complacent and keep moving in the right direction.
“It is down to us and taking every game as it comes. That’s what we’ve done.
“We really have just looked at things game by game, we have beat the record now so we want to go on and keep breaking our own record.
“It’s great and the run just shows the team spirit, the hard work we have put in and the mentality we have.
“You saw against Bayern that everyone gave it 100% but we went to St Johnstone and gave it the same amount of effort because the confidence and mentality is there to make sure our standards drop.”
