St Johnstone

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After four matches, it's still very early to be making definitive assessments of sides in the Premiership.

However, after a few seasons of struggling to find the net and going quite direct there are signs Saints are more of a threat this season as they look to keep the ball more and work it forward.

Craig Levein's side have averaged 55% of possession so far, which ranks fourth in the top flight, while only four teams have played a lower percentage of long passes and a higher rate of short ones.

Only Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, and Hearts have had more 10-pass sequences as well.

Hanging on to the ball has yielded decent results in attack too, with Saints scoring five goals so far and strikers Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka ranking highly for attacking stats.

Both are in the top 10 for shots taken so far and only Lawrence Shankland has more touches in the opposition box than Kimpioka (31).

The Swedish striker is also the most fouled player in the Premiership as a result of his seven completed dribbles, the third most of any player.

Results have not been perfect so far and there is room for improvement, but there have been glimpses of Levein and coach Andy Kirk getting more from their team with the ball than they did last season.

Trinidad and Tobago full-back Andre Raymond says he has grown mentally and tactically since joining St Johnstone this summer, but the 23-year-old admits the downside to life in Scotland is the weather. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Jackie asked: Would you consider Craig Levein as doing a better job of managing St Johnstone than previous managers Steven McLean and Callum Davidson and do you see us as favourites for relegation this season?

Tom answered: Hi Jackie, nobody in the history of the club has done a better job than Callum Davidson. The double cup win was the greatest single-season domestic achievement of all time in Scottish football, in my opinion.

I know things went pear-shaped after that, but St Johnstone fans will talk about Davidson 100 years from now.

I was a touch surprised that Craig stayed on at St Johnstone this season. He didn't look like he was enjoying it last season. The football was grim, the fans were not happy and the whole thing looked stressed.

But he's back and he has another battle on his hands. He's a glutton for punishment, the big fella. I wouldn’t make you favourites for relegation - that’s Ross County - but I can see you finishing 11th again and surviving, again, through the play-offs.

Managing 35-year-old St Johnstone midfielder Graham Carey's game time will be a balancing act, says manager Craig Levein. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Get your questions ready.

Tom English, BBC Sport Scotland's chief sportswriter, is in the hotseat and ready to offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Four games into the Premiership campaign, what would you like to ask?

Put your questions to our man here, external.

Fran Smith hopes his experience since being an international-class hurdler can help him overcome the obstacles in front of St Johnstone after he was appointed the Scottish Premiership club's new chief executive. (The Herald), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

A rare occasion where the international break has come at a good time.

Saturday's defeat against Motherwell was summed up perfectly with the viral reaction of a Saints fan after the visitors' 94th-minute winner. Frustration.

At this stage of the campaign, I shouldn't be delighted to see other teams struggling but it's given me some Heart that we aren't alone and it is once again a tricky and competitive league.

We had an urgent need for a goalkeeper and a centre-back to be brought in before the deadline, but neither materialised.

So it could be a grim September unless Craig Levein can raid the free transfer market and pull more rabbits out of hats.

Thankfully this two-week window will allow him to work his magic.

Sam Miller can be found at The Dogger Saints Podcast, external

Watch highlights as Motherwell earn a dramatic late win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

St Johnstone fans, we asked for your views after the 2-1 defeat to Motherwell on Saturday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Ian: Basic errors when defending corners cost us the points. There were of plenty warnings before the winner but for some reason no one wanted to pick up Dan Casey. You can't win games defending like that. Despite being at fault for the opener, Ross Sinclair grew into the game, hopefully he will learn from his mistake and keep his place.

Sandy: The substitutes did make a difference for the Saints but we have lacked a proven goalscorer for years, no disrespect to Adama Sidebeh, and we also now have a poor defensive set up.

Anon: Craig Levein has put together a squad that is sadly lacking in the quality or experience to survive in the Premiership. There are a few promising players who could come good if they had the experience and quality around them. Levein thinks the St Johnstone job was a project. I hate to break it to him, but he’s failed. Time for him to go, now.

Graham: We're desperately in need of a new manager and a new direction. If we are not able to compete at home, and we haven't done so for three seasons, we are always going to struggle.

Andrew: The problem is Levein. There was so much optimism with our new American owners but we all know. They’ll suss it out soon that Levein can’t coach a team and is too stubborn and myopic to realise it. Yes, we don’t tend to sack managers but if we don’t want another relegation dogfight with Ross County, we should act soon.

Motherwell snatched a late, dramatic victory over St Johnstone in Perth to win their third match in a row across all competitions.

Moses Ebiye bundled home in the 94th minute, before the hosts' defender Jack Sanders was sent off in a frenetic finale.

Motherwell had dominated much of the opening hour, Dan Casey heading them in front and Andy Halliday's terrific bending effort rule out for offside.

St Johnstone, aided by a Craig Levein triple substitution, levelled through Benjamin Kimpioka, and it looked like ending honours even before Ebiye pounced.

St Johnstone drop to eighth place, and face a trip to struggling Hibernian after the international break, while Motherwell clamber up to fourth with an enticing visit to Pittodrie next on their agenda.

St Johnstone fans, let us know your thoughts on the performance here., external

Motherwell fans, you can get in touch and share your views with this link., external

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: “We’d been working very hard on trying to do better with the ball and that side of things was good today.

“Ninety percent of our defending was good, our defending from set-pieces was woeful. That’s why we didn’t get anything from the match. It comes down to work in training and desire.

“To lose today and have a bit of time before our next match is going to hurt a bit.”

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After “a couple of errors”, Craig Levein opted to remove first-choice goalkeeper Josh Rae from the firing line, taking the stopper not just out of the starting XI, but out of the matchday squad altogether.

Ross Sinclair had not played in over a year as he battled back from an elbow injury, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the opening throes were laced with moments of uncertainty, brought into sharp focus by Dan Casey’s goal. Sinclair’s resilience is not in question, after so long deprived of football, and to give him his due, he finished the game in inspired form, a trio of excellent stops coming just before the cruel blow of Moses Ebiye’s winner.

At the other end, St Johnstone wielded two adept strikers, even shorn of suspended fulcrum Adama Sidibeh, but for an age, they toiled to involve either Nicky Clark or Benjamin Kimpioka where they could influence proceedings. Reasonable spells of possession; little dynamism, verve or promise of an end product.

Levein’s substitutions changed the game, but in truth, a draw would have felt harsh on Motherwell.

Levein takes his team to face his old foes Hibernian in a fortnight. How he’d love to jolt St Johnstone back to winning ways against the side he enjoys beating most.

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Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.

From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.

Listen to the full episode here.

Craig Levein makes three changes to the St Johnstone side which lost at Tannadice last weekend, including a switch between the sticks, as he targets a first home league win of the season.

Long-term injury absentee Ross Sinclair plays his first match since July 2023 in goal, replacing Josh Rae. Sinclair has been sidelined with an elbow injury suffered in a behind-closed-doors match a year ago.

Graham Carey drops to the bench, with Cammy MacPherson taking his berth in midfield. Striker Adama Sidibeh starts a four-game ban after being red carded against Dundee United.

Jason Holt, who sealed a deadline-day return to the club, is among the substitutes.

Image source, SNS

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Jason Holt has re-joined St Johnstone on a two-year deal.

The midfielder returns to Perth having spent a season on loan from Rangers back in 2019-20 under Tommy Wright.

The 31-year-old, who most recently racked up over 100 appearances with Livingston, links up again with Craig Levein who was manager of Hearts when he came through as a youngster.

Holt said "it's great to be back" at McDiarmid Park.

"I have had a spell here before, it was a short one, but it is now great to be back for a longer spell.

“I have really good memories of the club, it is a real family club and the supporters were always brilliant with me.

“It is an exciting time to be at St Johnstone and I look forward to meeting all the players and getting to work.”

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone are close to agreeing a deal with former Rangers and Livingston midfielder Jason Holt.

The 31-year-old is a free agent after his contract with Livingston expired at the end of last season.

As Holt is a free agent there is no urgency to rush this deal through before the 23:00 BST deadline.

However, if the relevant paperwork is completed in time, Holt’s arrival in Perth could be confirmed tonight.

We asked for your views on where St Johnstone still need to strengthen and what deals you would like completed before the transfer window closes.

Here's what some of you said:

Perry: We need a strong midfielder and an experienced goalkeeper, and we need to get more players out on loan who are not in Craig Levein’s plans moving forward.

Paul: After watching the first few games of the season, I think we need a more experienced goalkeeper. Joshua Rae has the potential but I don’t think he is ready to be first choice. I would also like to see a holding midfielder. Aaron Essel is young and will pick up bookings and needs someone to guide him and someone he can learn from.

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Taylor Steven has joined Cliftonville on loan from St Johnstone for the remainder of the campaign.

The attacker, 19, has made 11 appearances for the Saints, including six this season.

Steven impressed on loan at Alloa last season, scoring 10 goals in 32 games.

St Johnstone forward Adama Sidibeh, 26, has been given a four-game ban following his red card against Dundee United. (Sun), external

Liam Gordon departing St Johnstone for Motherwell was the 28-year-old defender's choice, says Saints manager Craig Levein. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

As Friday's 23:00 BST transfer deadline edges closer, where do St Johnstone still need to strengthen and what deals would you like completed before the window closes?

Have your say here, external.

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• St Johnstone have only lost one of their last nine league meetings with Motherwell (W4 D4), going down 2-0 in May 2023.

• Five of Motherwell's last seven league visits to St Johnstone have been drawn, including both of the last two, with each side winning once each in this time.

• St Johnstone are winless in 10 home league matches (D4 L6), their longest such run in the top flight since another run of 10 from April to November 2001.

• Motherwell have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 league games, with that coming in a 0-0 draw with Ross County on matchday one this season.

• Dan Casey has recorded more interceptions (8) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, while he has also made more tackles (9) and blocked more shots (4) than any other Motherwell player.