Saints ready to tame Lions

Mar 13 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

LIVINGSTON have left Dunfermline’s title hopes hanging by a thread in midweek but Derek McInnes knows a St Johnstone win on the road would be another giant stride towards the championship.

The Almondvale sidecurrently sit third, 10 points behind Saints and goals have been raining in, with their last four shifts averaging nearly six goals a game.

But McInnes is demanding his players emulate the composure which hallmarked their midweek win over Clyde.

He said: “Livi have shown they’re capable of posing a goal threat, with four against Dunfermline this week.

But we travel with confidence and should have the bit between our teeth after a quality display and win at Broadwood.”

Collin Samuel is expected to train today after suffering a dead leg against Ross County and Martin Hardie, who missed the midweek game.

Assistant manager Tony Docherty said: “It was great to win at Clyde but we also got back to the level of performance we expect here. It was enjoyable for the players, and for the fans to watch.”

Target man Derek Holmes was rested but Docherty insisted Saints were expected to play a passing game, with or without his presence up front.

“Homer has been fantastic for us but no matter who plays we want them playing controlled, passing football. It is certainly no indictment of Homer.

“Liam Craig was also on the bench as we freshened things up. He will be even hungrier now.”

Winger Gavin Swankie has had to cope with flak from frustrated Perth fans recently but Docherty flagged-up an impressive individual performance against Clyde. And he believes Swankie’s flair can be the key to unlocking defences.

“Gavin was excellent. I’m a massive fan and when he’s on song there’s no one better at this level going one on one with a defender. He capped it all against Clyde with a brilliant piece of individual skill for his goal.”

Docherty said Hardie was in good shape and Jody Morris was progressing ahead of schedule. But luckless striker Andy Jackson wasn’t having his troubles to seek.

He was rushed into hospital at Murrayfield this week with a suspected deep vein thrombosis.

In plaster after tearing his achilles, the youngster was in agony over the weekend and physio Nick Summersgill accompanied him to hospital.

Nick said: “It was a precautionary measure because Jacko was in a lot of pain. He’s on a massive amount of painkillers but fortunately it wasn’t a DVT. He has been unlucky but the injury will heal and he just has to be patient.”

Another striker who has endured injury woes at Perth is Peter MacDonald and yesterday he pledged to play a part in helping Saints back to the SPL.

No Perth player has ever featured so many times as a substitute. He got 60 seconds action against Clyde and it was the 84th time he’s come off the bench for Saints.

Peaso, who urged fans to back the team in the run-in like they did at Broadwood, said: “A lot of those were in the SPL in my first year here. Hopefully we’ll be back there next season.

“Ironically I was probably fittest early in the season when we lost 4-0 at Partick!

“No one is happy not playing but you don’t go around the stadium sulking, You try to impress the manager. I was due for a game but had to admit the calf was causing problems. It wouldn’t have been fair to risk it when the club has so much to play for.

“I’m desperate to play my part over the last eight games.”

THE re-arranged St Johnstone-Dunfermline match takes place at McDiarmid on Tuesday, April 7 at 7.45pm.