Weather affects St Johnstone training sessions

Dec 4 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE weather washed out plans carefully prepared by manager Derek McInnes in advance of tomorrow’s clash with second bottom Kilmarnock.

Yesterday, the Perth squad was forced to seek an alternative training ground after rainswept Stirling University turned into a no-go area.

McInnes was also denied a closed doors game earlier in the week to give fringe men a run out.

He said: “It is frustrating and I always view Thursday as the chance to bed-in ideas with the weekend game in mind. You need a full-size pitch for that obviously. We also have three or four players who can’t train on the artificial surface.

“The news from the university was a disappointment but not a catastrophe.”

On the plus front defender Graham Gartland is back in contention for a start after injuring his shoulder at Aberdeen. The only players posted missing are Stevie Milne, Martin Hardie and Andy Jackson.

Kilmarnock have scored just once and picked up only one point from 18 on the road this season.

Four of their nine goals have come from highly paid Scotland squad striker Kevin Kyle and McInnes is well aware two were netted against Saints at Rugby Park.

“Kyle is an important player for them and last season his goals helped keep them in the league. He is a real threat. But Killie are not a one-man team.

“Graham Gartland is back so we have four quality options to pick from. He has improved this season after coming in from the Irish league last term.

“The more players we have fit to provide competition the better. We have guys knocking on the door but they are aware of the problem posed by the U21 rule. I can only list 14 outfield older players.”

Looking ahead to the Killie game, McInnes said his players should be harnessing any pressure and expectancy to produce the rewards offered by SPL football.

He observed: “Killie are an experienced, established SPL team. It could be a scrap but while there might have been doubts at the start of the season, now we expect to win every home game. It was the same for much of last season.

“There are three points up for grabs and we are looking to keep them in Perth.”

TICKETS go on sale on Monday at McDiarmid Park for next weekend’s Rangers game at Ibrox. They are priced £22.50 and £6.50 for U16s and over 65s. The ticket office opens daily next week from 9.30am to 5pm.