Johan Mjallby sets target with Celtic a point from title

Georgios Samaras (right) scored Celtic’s opening goal yesterday (Reuters)

Celtic moved to within a point of clinching the Scottish Premier League title yesterday, after beating St Johnstone 2-0. According to the assistant manager, Johan Mjallby, they hope to eclipse last season's points tally of 92.

Georgios Samaras's header and a second-half own goal by Chris Millar moved Celtic to 78 points. A draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday will be enough to make them champions.

"We are delighted," said Mjallby. "We are even closer to clinching the title. There's six games to go and we want to win it. But we have a target to improve on last season's points tally. We achieved 92 points and we want to go at least one better so we can say there has been an improvement of the team. Our main target is try to pick 15 points from the last six league games."

The players warmed up wearing No 19 shirts, as a tribute to the former Celtic star Stiliyan Petrov, who has acute leukaemia. "It was terrible news," said Mjallby. "We give him our best and our love. I hope he is going to beat this. I'm quite sure he will."