James rallies from sidelines

Apr 24 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

HE’LL look on enviously from the Dens Park stand tomorrow and St Johnstone club captain Kevin James is urging his Perth comrades to savour every moment of their title bid.

The championship is tantalisingly close, with two wins from three games guaranteeing SPL football next season, after seven years in the wilderness.

Sidelined skipper James is convinced Saints have the resolve and capability to bounce back from the disappointment of a rare home defeat to Queen of the South.

And he shares manager Derek McInnes’ conviction that an all-ticket derby clash with Dundee is the perfect platform to close in on the silverware.

The centre-back, who was summoned back from a successful loan spell with Ayr United to provide defensive cover, played through the pain barrier at Dens earlier in the season but he’s resigned to a spectating role this weekend.

James has endured the trauma of previous seasons, when Saints trailed home behind St Mirren, infamously Gretna, and Hamilton.

He is accustomed to talking-up Perth comeback prospects at this stage of the season. Now he sees Perth rivals playing similar mind games - and it’s water off a duck’s back.

James declared: “I was in this situation twice with Falkirk and went on to win the title. We are in a great position, pure and simple.

“Sure there was a disappointing result against Queens but the lads showed real spirit coming back from two down.

“We are still in a really good position. We are four points clear with three games left. We’d have taken that at the start of the season and we wouldn’t swap with anyone.

“It’s in our own hands and that’s the best situation to be in. When we were chasing teams in previous seasons we’d have loved to be in their position.

“There is a lot of positivity about the club and that’s down to the manager and the players he has at his disposal.

“I’m telling the lads they should be enjoying themselves. This is nice pressure. Imagine what it must be like at Clyde. They are battling for their place in the division, jobs are on the line and they came close to being thrown out of their stadium. In this economic climate that is pressure.”

James said manager of the year contender McInnes would exploit the experience of August, when he ensured an air of calm enveloped McDiarmid Park after a string of poor results.

“He didn’t panic then and he had confidence in his players. That was the sign of a good manager and he has been proved right.

“Apart from Jody Morris no one here has played at the level Derek McInnes experienced at Rangers and West Brom. He has played at the top level and he knows how to win.

“The application and attitude of the players has been consistent throughout the season.

“It’s only outsiders that are looking for a chink in our armour. Any team will have a blip but we have bounced back from any previous setbacks and we will do it again.

“Our position should be a pleasure for the players. We aren’t chasing someone else and worrying about their results.

“We aren’t over confident or bragging. We know we are top of the league on ability. If anything we are angry at ourselves after last week’s defeat. There has been no loss of confidence.

“Everyone looks forward to a derby and we will have our fans right behind us. They have been brilliant at places like Dunfermline. We are going to Dens Park to win.”