St Johnstone keeper Graeme Smith ready to face former team Kilmarnock

Dec 4 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

GOALKEEPER Graeme Smith goes head to head with his two former clubs in the space of seven days.

Smith spent eight years at Kilmarnock but he’ll be trying to shut them out tomorrow in Perth and savour his first clean sheet since ousting Alan Main - 42 tomorrow - in the aftermath of Saints’ last defeat, at Rugby Park in October.

And Smith is well aware next weekend sees Saints squaring-up to Rangers, the club he left over the summer.

He has nothing but fond memories of his time at Rugby Park, with long-standing manager Jim Jefferies playing a key role in his career development. Loan seasons at Queen’s Park and Stenhousemuir provided valuable first team experience on his development programme.

“Kilmarnock is where it all started off for me and I had many good years with the club. I came through their youth system,” Smith recalled.

But there’s no room for sentiment, with goal-shy Killie enduring a string of disappointing results since posting a 2-1 win over Saints in Ayrshire. The Perth team, on the other hand, have picked up points to open-up a four point gap on tomorrow’s rivals.

Smith, fit again after a pre-season thigh injury, got the nod after that defeat and he’s determined to retain the number one jersey.

He said: “It’s great to be back playing, especially in the SPL. I was on the bench at Rugby Park and when I arrived over the summer I was well aware I wouldn’t walk into the team. Alan Main is a very good goalkeeper. But I wanted to force the issue and make it hard for the manager to chose between us.

“It has taken time but I’ve finally got into the team. The most important thing is that the side has been producing good results, with the exception of the defeat in Aberdeen. But as a keeper clean sheets are the icing on the cake.

“I was watching Arsenal up 4-0 against Wolves recently when they lost a goal in the final minute. Manuel Almunia was doing his nut. As a keeper I know where he’s coming from. You never want to lose a goal, no matter what the score is.

“After games I don’t think about the saves I’ve made. I dwell on any goals I’ve lost. So it has been irritating not to have had a clean sheet yet. Mind you, I’d be happy if we won 4-3 every week because the result is all-important.”

Smith has been playing in front of various central defenders but he stressed: “There have been changes but I have good players in front of me.”

Killie manager Jefferies has attracted stick from frustrated fans and, ironically, has also found himself linked with the vacant Scotland post.

Smith rates him highly - but he’s hoping to add to his one-time mentor’s woes at McDiarmid Park tomorrow.