It would probably have been more fitting if St Johnstone were playing Celtic at Parkhead tonight.
Just two days away from the landmark date in the club’s history, May 17 2014, Celtic Park will this evening be in the thoughts of supporters.
But McDiarmid Park will have to do as the venue for a Scottish Cup first anniversary party.
And there will be real reason to celebrate if the Perth men can claim a win that would take them a step closer to the Europa League.
Cup goal hero Steven Anderson knows the famous victory over Dundee United will take some topping, but insisted the Saints players are looking forward not back.
He said: “We won the Scottish Cup last season and that changed people’s expectations, but for me it’s always the same.
“Obviously we’d love to win another cup for the club in the next few years.
“It’s all about the memories and hopefully we can get a few more.
“Getting into the top six is already a great achievement for us. Our aim every season is to stay up, that’s it.
“I know people don’t believe us when we say that but that’s the way we look at it
“I’ve been here when we’ve struggled in the First Division so I know how far the club has come.
“The budget here is small compared to a lot of other clubs in the league, so to finish higher than a lot of them is a massive achievement.
“The club has progressed year on year and it shows it now that people expect us to get into the top six.
“I don’t think people outside the club recognise how much of achievement it is for us.”
Last season’s Scottish Cup triumph isn’t the only recent success at the Hoops’ home ground. There was a 1-0 league win there three months ago.
“We did well against them the last time,” Anderson recalled. “It was a great strike from Danny (Swanson) to win the game.
“That was our night, they missed a few chances and we took ours that’s what it comes down to when you play them.
“To beat Celtic you have to work hard and get in their faces.
“If you let them play they’re that good they’ll just pick you off.”
Back-to-back draws have stalled a final push that looked as if it might even take Saints into third place in the Premiership.
But fourth, and probable Europa League qualification, is still a realistic shot.
If they can defeat Celtic, Tommy Wright’s side will go three points ahead of United and pile the pressure on them ahead of their Saturday clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
“We felt we should have won against Dundee United on Saturday but we’re still in with a chance,” the centre-back pointed out.
“All we can do is try to pick up points and hope United struggle.
“Inverness have a cup final to play for so they’ll be desperate to impress and make sure they’re in the team for Hampden.
“Yogi Hughes always has his teams fired up for games so we’ll see what happens there this weekend.
“But we can’t influence other games, all we’ve got to do is try to pick up as many points as we can over the next two games then see where we end up.”
Ronny Deila hasn’t been impressed with some of the Premiership pitches since the turn of the year, so McDiarmid’s uneven surface might not be to his liking.
You won’t find Anderson complaining, though.
“I can kick the ball into the stand from anywhere on the park or at any time,” he joked. “So the pitch is a great excuse for me!
“I’m delighted with it. The surface is the same for both teams, we have to adjust to it like Celtic will have to.
“You could say it hands us an advantage because we’re more used to it.
“It’s difficult to play on, it’s bobbly and sometimes it takes a few touches to get it under control.
“You saw that last weekend, Steven MacLean has a great touch and even he was struggling at times.
“Hopefully it might give us a wee advantage but Celtic have loads of quality and I’m sure they will be able to adjust to it.“
In-form Leigh Griffiths will be a handful for Anderson this evening, having scored 10 goals since the two sides last met.
“Celtic have a lot of quality and Leigh Griffiths has delivered for them,” he said.
“I played against him when he first came through at Livingston and you could tell he was a really good scorer.
“He’s got goals wherever he’s been and is a confident boy.
“When Derek McInnes was here he wanted to sign him for us but money talks and Dundee came in with the cash to get him.
“He would have been a great signing for us but that’s football.”
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