Del: Let’s get back to winning ways

Mar 10 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ST Johnstone manager Derek McInnes yesterday told his players they’re facing a 10-game mini-league to clinch the title.

While Saints actually stretched their table top lead to four points at the weekend, a run of six draws in seven games has prevented the Perth side opening-up a more comfortable gap on their rivals.

Tonight, they head to Broadwood to face a relegation threatened Clyde side which stunned second placed Partick Thistle at Firhill.

McInnes said: “I’ve told the players to forget about the four point lead. We aren’t looking at other teams.

“We have five games at home and five way and we are aiming to start winning football matches again. That’s what we are here to do.

“We are anxious to get all three points at Broadwood. That will get us going again.

“Given the tightness of a league where teams either have one eye on the title or an eye on relegation, wins are vital.

“It’s great to have gone 21 games unbeaten but we want wins.

“And I don’t doubt the ability of my players for one minute.

“We have the players to get us the points which will win this league.”

McInnes freely admitted the quality of fare on offer against Ross County at the weekend fell short of the standards set by his squad.

“The over-riding feeling was one of disappointment. Ross County came with a system designed to stop us but when you are top you have to expect that and be better at breaking it down.

“We have to get the ball down and pass it and get crosses into Derek Holmes from the right area of the pitch. We need more creativity to build on the platform we’re being given by our defensive qualities.

“That’s eight clean sheets in our last 11 games and that gives us a base to go on and win games.

“But it only takes you so far. We are well aware of that.”

Attacker Collin Samuel is out of the Clyde trip, after sustaining a last minute thigh injury against the Staggies.

McInnes explained: “It was a bad dead leg and he was in real pain over the weekend. But Sammy should be fit for the weekend trip to Livingston.”

With a defeat and a draw against the Bully Wee this term, McInnes is well aware his players will have their work cut out at Broadwood.

He said: “They had a great result against Partick and we know to our cost what they are capable of.”

Midfielder Paul Sheerin admitted the players were frustrated by the spate of draws but he observed: “We are top and favourites for the title with a four point lead – and that’s the first time in my five years at the club. I’d have bitten your hand off for that at the start of the season.

“In the past we’ve always been playing catch-up and trying to hunt down leaders. This season, teams haven’t been able to cash in when we have slipped up. I bet Partick are kicking themselves after losing to Clyde.

“But we are desperate to get back to winning ways so this is a game of massive importance. Rather than a single point we want all three.

“We have strikers here in abundance and they will score goals.

“The onus falls on strikers but midfielders like myself have to create chances and chip in with goals.”

THE St Johnstone-Dunfermline game re-arranged for next Tuesday has fallen victim to the Fife club’s Homecoming Scottish Cup replay. The clubs are talking over alternative dates with the SFL.

TONIGHT’S game against Clyde at Broadwood kicks-off at 7.45pm.