Countdown to Tayside derby

Nov 18 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

IT was a case of good news, bad news for St Johnstone fans already counting down to the Tayside derby.

There’s a free weekend on the horizon before the trip to face a Dundee side under new management.

And while injured centre Derek Holmes is expected to recover from an ankle injury which curtailed his contribution at Clyde, midfielder Martin Hardie will be suspended after going over the points threshold at the weekend.

Yesterday, skipper Kevin Rutkiewicz admitted the Broadwood result felt like a defeat but Saints are three points ahead of their nearest rivals and stretched their impressive unbeaten run to nine games.

The defender, who thought his first goal of the season had secured victory, said: “It was nice to get the goal but we were all disappointed we didn’t go on to win. But Broadwood has always been a hard place for us to go and games there are always tight. It could prove to be a good point.

“But we are three points clear and that’s good at this stage of the season. It’s not a position we’ve been in before.

“In the past it’s us that’s been trying to play catch-up. We have to use our experience of chasing teams like St Mirren and Hamilton to hold onto our lead and keep grinding out results.

“It’s a tight league and six teams down to Dundee are still in it. Turn back the clock three months when we were second bottom and it’s a sign of how far we have come and how much hard work the manager, Tony Docherty and the boys have put in. We know we won’t get it all our own way and the Clyde result certainly gave me a wake-up call.

“But we’re top of the table and more experienced players like myself and Martin Hardie will keep the younger ones grounded. We will stay humble and respect everyone we come up against.

“It’s tight and everyone wants a scalp when you’re top. But that’s where we want to stay and we know others will take points off each other.”

Rutkiewicz admitted he passed up an easier chance to score in the first minute.

He said: “The deliveries were great but one out of two is an average I’d settle for!”

Manager Derek McInnes yesterday absolved Liam Craig of blame for Clyde’s late equaliser.

He said: “Liam was in the right position to deal with the cross but we’ve looked at the tape and it took an unbelievable bobble. There was nothing he could do about it. But the ball should not have got into the box in the first place.

“We should have won the game because we were dominant after the interval and it was a great goal from Kevin Rutkiewicz. He was outstanding and didn’t put a foot wrong.”

Preparations are already beginning for the trip to Dens on November 29.

McInnes said: “Derek Holmes would be missing if we had a game this weekend. But his ankle should be fine in seven to 10 days. We’re waiting to hear officially but Martin Hardie will be suspended for the derby.

“I’d rather keep things going but Homer has been important for us so the break buys time for him. But we do have good options. Collin Samuel came on and Peter MacDonald has had to be patient. Andy Jackson is also back in full training now.

“In fact, by the start of next week I’d expect only Euan McLean to be ruled out by injury as Stuart McCaffrey should be okay.

“We won’t bleat about Hardie’s suspension because bookings are inevitable given the type of player he is. We have good players who can come in and the boys are on a great run of form.”