Sick Saints battle for a derby start

Nov 2 2007

OWEN Coyle yesterday sent four first team players packing from McDiarmid after they reported with flu-like symptoms 48 hours in advance of the crucial derby clash with Dundee.

The Saints manager refused to name the players, who must now be rated doubtful for the trip to Dens Park, where the third placed Perth side are determined to eat into the locals’ four point advantage.

Coyle relishes these derby occasions and he believes there’s an air of anticipation in the dressing room.

He said: “Dundee are a good side with some fine individual players but we are on a terrific run. These matches tend to be keenly fought affairs but we are on a 10-game unbeaten run and want that to continue.

“Of course we’d all like to be in Hamilton’s shoes at the top of the table. Their run of form would have them top of any league. They have recovered well after we beat them in Perth.

“But last year we trailed Gretna by 15 points. We are only 11 games into the season and there are 25 left. We started slowly with four points from our first five games but our form has picked up.

“But this isn’t about Hamilton. We just have to concentrate on ourselves and the game in Dundee. They will be given respect but as ever we will go there trying to win the match. That is the way we have operated here since day one.”

In-form striker Andy Jackson failed to extend his remarkable scoring run to seven games against Clyde but Coyle believes that could work in the youngster’s favour.

“The last thing we wanted was for a kid like Jacko to be under pressure. He is a resilient lad but this will have taken the pressure off him to keep it going. He has had a great run but now he can go out, relax and play without all this talk of records. He also knows there are good players pushing him all the way.”

Saints had to settle for a point in the McDiarmid derby earlier this season after midfielder Martin Hardie was red carded.

Coyle said: “Dundee are a big, physical side but we will be trying to take the game to them.

“The usual suspects will be missing and now we’ve had to send some lads home to bed as a precaution,” he admitted.

Kevin Rutkiewicz and Andy Lawrie have trained this week but the long-term injury victims will be posted missing.