Time to home in on the title

Apr 3 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PAUL Sheerin admits a four goal defeat at Firhill eight months ago still rankles – but all the memory will finally be erased if Saints cap a remarkable turnaround by repelling Partick Thistle’s title challenge.

Perth management and players held their nerve after an awful August and now stand on the brink of hauling Saints back to the SPL after a seven year exile.

Beating second placed Partick tomorrow on home soil, where they have a defensive record which rates the Best of British along with Chelsea and Liverpool, would stretch their lead at the top to six points, with a home game up their sleeve against Dunfermline on Tuesday.

It’s shaping-up as a huge weekend for the Perth club, with fans and former players likening it to a win over Airdrie 19 years ago which propelled Saints towards the SPL. McDiarmid should be welcoming its biggest crowd of the season as occasional fans and the merely curious join hardcore supporters for the event.

Midfielder Sheerin admitted: “It’s nice to be looking forward to such a massive game after the international break. We’ve re-charged the batteries and the boys have been upbeat going about their business this week.”

Local rivals Dundee have slipped off the pace after three late equalisers leaked six points and Sheerin admitted: “Results have gone for us and it has given some of our players another week to advance their fitness.”

Saints underlined their championship credentials last time out, beating Airdrie with an impressive display.

Sheerin said: “The gaffer, Derek McInnes, had stressed to us how important it was to bounce back from that defat at Livingston, which ended a 22-game unbeaten run. It was important to right a wrong and brush aside any doubts.”

Sheerin isn’t surprised the Jags have emerged as their closest challengers, saying: “Ian McCall has a proven track record and they will see it as a massive game as well and certainly one they can’t afford to lose. They might fancy their chances.

“But we beat them 3-0 last time here and that was some compensation for the August result at Firhill. That was a bad place for us but we got together after a defeat from Clyde - our last at home - and got it right.

“We had a bad time of it in August but I’d rather we got it out of the way back then. No one wants to see it repeated at this stage and it’s started to get exciting for us.”

Sheerin is aiming to build on the tap-in against Airdrie and weigh in with a few more goals in the last seven fixtures.

But he paid tribute to the Perth defence. He said: “Kevin Rutkiewicz stepped up to the plate as skipper when Kevin James was injured and he has been excellent. Stuart McCaffrey and Dinky have become a great unit with a real understanding.

“I’ve read that we have a problem at left-back but whoever has stepped in must have done a pretty decent job. Now we have to finish off all the good work.”

Midweek recruit Steven Kinniburgh is listed in the squad after sealing an emergency loan from Rangers. The six-foot left-back was farmed out to Queen of the South and his brother Willie is a Jags player. The new arrival, just 19, may have to be patient but McInnes said: “Steven gives us options, he is tall, quick and aggressive. I have seen him for myself and he will be a good addition.”

Assessing tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated clash, the Perth manager insisted: “It’s an important game with an edge to it because it’s first versus second.

“At the start of the season I though it would be a race involving four or five clubs. Partick are now our nearest rivals and we lost out to two players given better offers from Partick. They have some experienced players and a big support with huge expectations.

“But for them it’s a must-win game because the matches are running out. And we have a strong home record. Only Rangers have beaten us in Perth since August. I see this game as a huge opportunity for us. It’s all about what we do. It’s now we have to earn the prize and finish off all our good work.

“The players here have shown grit, determination and workrate to get us this far and we are determined to finish off the job.”

Striker Peter MacDonald misses out with a hamstring injury but Martin Hardie features in the squad.