Milestones for Saints duo

Oct 28 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THEY might not have a permanent manager installed yet but the weekend home clash with St Mirren is a red letter day for goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and skipper Jody Morris.

St Johnstone are determined to consolidate their place in the top four of the SPL, heights undreamt of since their Euro qualification more than a decade back.

Enckelman clocks-up his 50th start since arriving from Cardiff City and midfield general Morris makes his 100th appearance in a Saints jersey, while continuing to share managerial duties with youth coach Alec Cleland.

The giant Finnish international has posted 26 clean sheets in 49 starts but yesterday admitted he didn’t keep count.

“I wasn’t aware this will be my 50th start for Saints. The last 15 months seem to have flown by. I had no idea how many shut-outs I’ve had but those stats are quite surprising. It’s not bad but it just tells you how good we are defending as a team," he said.

“Everyone deserves credit for that. You don’t keep clean sheets with just a goalie or the back four.

“It is a team effort and with the goal threat we are carrying it’s a good place to be."

While striker Fran Sandaza is aiming at third place in the SPL, Enckelman is more conservative.

“We can probably give any team a game in this league when we are on top form but our first target still has to be getting away from any threat of relegation. That eases the pressure and the earlier we can get those points on board the better. The main target is still to make sure we are in the SPL again next season and if we achieve that early enough we can start looking at fresh targets,” he said.

The keeper added: “Funnily enough, we have got more points away from home so we want to rectify that and we have games against St Mirren and Aberdeen here. But our focus is on Saturday not next week.

“St Mirren held us at Paisley and put us out of the cup with good football and possession. We have to counter that.”

Reflecting on the managerial conjecture he said: “There is nothing we can do about it. We don’t know what is happening.

“Alec and Jody know how we prepared for games before so nothing much has changed. They have seen what Del was doing and at the moment there isn’t any point in changing things.

“It is a new situation for me. I have been without a manager before but only for one game.

“But when you cross the white line you focus on your performance. That is all anyone can ask.

“Alec and Jody are making sure we do that and if we keep winning it might strengthen his hand.

“I have been in football long enough to know that nothing surprises you.

“We know at some stage there will be an appointment.”

The Saints game at Inverness on January 2 will kick off at 2pm.