St Johnstone

Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: “We didn’t keep our improvement going. I was hoping we could continue in the same vein as the last two matches. Today we made too many mistakes.

"Killie are very good at keeping the pressure on. If you make mistakes, they've got guys who can take advantage of that. They might also be a bit better than us at the moment. The frustrating thing for me was that I was hoping for the momentum to continue. Overall, an overriding feeling of disappointment.

"I’m more frustrated that we had been very good the last couple of weeks and I was hoping to continue that. It’s two steps forward, then one back. We need to try to get two steps forward again.

"We are not going to be playing any teams as strong as Kilmarnock in the last five games so we need to bear that in mind. The other teams are scrapping for their lives just like we are. We have to make fewer mistakes and take our chances when they come around to see if we can get any momentum back again.

"We had some good passages of play and some good chances, we just didn’t take them. That just heaps more frustration onto my already-existing frustration. We just need to get back on the training ground, roll our sleeves up and work really hard."

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A slow start from St Johnstone cost them dearly. Craig Levein's side never looked in it during the first half; mustering up just one shot on goal and failing to hold back waves of Kilmarnock attacks.

Dimitar Mitov, while flailing at dangerous deliveries and looking slightly uneasy at times, kept out a number of the visitors' efforts as his defence failed to withstand Killie's fearsome front four.

The real issue came in attack, as a handful of great chances passed the home side by. Clark and Keltjens both failed to convert decent opportunities, while Adama Sidibeh failed to take a single shot in the game.

St Johnstone boss Craig Levein names an unchanged XI following his side's victory over Hibernian last weekend.

Cammy MacPherson is named on the bench after recovering from injury, but there is no return for club captain Liam Gordon after he missed the Saints' win at Easter Road.

Forward pair Drey Wright and Diallang Jaiyesimi also remain out.

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St Johnstone: Mitov, McGowan, Considine, Robinson, Keltjens, M Smith, Phillips, Kucheriavyi, Gallacher, Clark, Sidibeh.

Substitutes: Richards, MacPherson, May, Carey, Crawford, Kimpioka, Franczak, C Smith.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Armstrong, Watson, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Ndaba, Deas, McKenzie, Lyons, Balagizi, Stewart, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.

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Daniel Phillips says St Johnstone's win over Hibs last weekend has given the squad a "massive boost" ahead of the split.

Phillips captained the side for his 50th league appearance as they beat Hibs 2-1.

The midfielder is hopeful the win can kick them on before Saturday's visit from Kilmarnock.

"Everything seemed to fall into place," he said.

"Before the game I wasn’t aware it was my 50th league appearance and that is a big achievement for me.

“I was really happy with it, but the result was the most important thing of course.

"Being captain was a nice touch. I feel privileged to be captain at any opportunity and to top things off my family were at the game as well.

“The celebrations last weekend showed how much it means to us.

“After the disappointment against Dundee, it was important to show some resolve and come away with a big three points.

“It was a massive boost. There are six games to go and we know we can get a result at home now."

Good form for St Johnstone has put Adama Sidibeh on the radar of Senegal, who the Gambian-born forward is eligible to represent. (Courier, external, subscription required)

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

St Johnstone captain Liam Gordon remains a major doubt after missing the victory over Hibernian. Drey Wright, Cammy MacPherson and Diallang Jaiyesimi are edging closer to comebacks while Sven Sprangler (knee) remains out.

Brad Lyons is back in the Kilmarnock squad after recovering from a knee operation. Fellow midfielder Kyle Magennis (hamstring) is almost certainly out for the rest of the season while full-back Tom Davies (ankle) should be back for the post-split games.

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Why should Scottish football fans care about Czech side Viktoria Plzen drawing with Italian heavyweights Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League?

The result on Thursday night has serious consequences for the Premiership, with the Czech Republic now having leapfrogged Scotland in the coefficient standings.

Not only will the winners of the top flight no longer gain automatic qualification to the Champions League from 2025/26, but there's also a knock on effect for those finishing further down the table.

Here's everything you need to know.

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• St Johnstone have won seven of their last 10 meetings with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L2). Prior to this run, they had failed to score in each of their six previous league games against Kilmarnock (D2 L4).

• Kilmarnock have lost their last four away league games against St Johnstone. Stephen O'Donnell scored in a 1-0 victory in August 2019 the last time they won at McDiarmid Park.

• After beating Hibernian 2-1 last weekend, St Johnstone could win back-to-back league games for the first time since October/November 2022 (run of three). The first two wins of that run were against Hibernian and then Kilmarnock.

• Kilmarnock have drawn their last four away league games. The last side to draw five top-flight away games in a row were Dundee United between November 2010 and January 2011.

• Adama Sidibeh has scored in both of his last two league games. The last player to score in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances for St Johnstone was Michael O'Halloran in August 2017.

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein says the reason he gave Dan Phillips the captain's armband against Hibernian is the same reason the 23-year-old midfielder will be tempted away from the Perth club this summer. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

St Johnstone welcome Kilmarnock in their final pre-split fixture on Saturday as Craig Levein looks to haul his side further away from relegation trouble.

Who should he select in his XI? Pick your team here.

Liam Gordon and DJ Jaiyesimi should be available for St Johnstone's first game under after the split, with team-mates Sven Sprangler and Drey Wright not far behind in terms of fitness. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Craig Levein will always split opinions amongst Saints fans.

I don't quite get the negativity towards him either. He comes across well and seems a different fella nowadays. It's obvious that his tongue is in his cheek with a few of the comments he makes, but if he keeps us up this season then it's job done. We were already cut adrift by October.

The football can be a tough watch but what are we honestly expecting? He was appointed with one goal. Survival.

It was never going to be all guns blazing. His strategy was to make us harder to beat, stay in games and then try to nick the odd win.

He inherited an unbalanced squad, clearly identified an issue with the lack of pace up top and has addressed that. A massive win against Hibs should now see us stay up.

I look forward to seeing what he will do when given a bit more time and money to spend in the summer.

Sam Miller can be found on the Dogger Saints podcast, external.

Former Rangers winger Josh McPake is training with St Johnstone after signing a short-term deal with Stirling Albion as the 22-year-old is keen to maintain a full-time routine. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Adama Sidibeh has been named in Sportscene presenter Jonathan Sutherland's Team of the Week for his role in St Johnstone's crucial 2-1 win over Hibs.

Plucked from English non-league football, he showed his credentials with an excellent finish at Easter Road.

On today's episode of the Scottish Football Podcast, Liam McLeod is joined by Kenny Miller and Alan Stubbs.

They discuss Sunday's Old Firm thriller and look back on an action-packed Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Listen to the episode in full here.

The Sportscene team run the rule over an important win for St Johnstone at Easter Road.

(Available to UK users only)

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• St Johnstone have scored in their last five games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Hibernian have scored in their last nine games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Tony Gallacher scored his first goal in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Hibernian have scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (13) and Hearts (8) have scored more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Graham Carey has assisted his seventh goal this season, more than any other St Johnstone player in the Scottish Premiership.

Were you at Easter Road or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

St Johnstone boss Craig Levein

"It is all down to the willingness to do the work on the field and I thought the players were outstanding. Last week we had a really good performance and we didn't manage to get the points we deserved. Today was even more pleasing because we had the performance and managed to get the three points.

"There were a lot of really good things, I thought defensively we were really solid. Dimi [Mitov] made a few really good saves, making up for his rare mistake last week and I'm thrilled for him because he deserves to get credit for what he did.

"I do expect Tony Gallacher to be on the scoresheet sometimes because he's had chances but I'm just pleased he's managed to score the winner.

"It will do his confidence the world of good. I'm pleased for our supporters as well, they came down to supporters in numbers and today went some way towards alleviating some of the pressure at the club given the league position.

"Our aim is to see if we can catch some of the teams above us. We've got a lot of tough matches coming up, really important matches and if I can get that type of performance I'll take it."

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