St Johnstone

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It was a big win. This match was our most must win game for our hopes for the rest of the season.

"Yes we needed the win but I'm most happy with how the players performed in this high pressure game. We kept our heads, we were well balanced in transition and defended when we needed to. To win the game in this circumstances, I'm very happy.

"We needed this win but I'm most pleased that it gives us the confidence we can play like we played in these circumstances.

"We didn't score early, we couldn't score in the first half but we kept going then we got our goal. It would have been nice to score more goals, so it wasn't so nerve-racking at the end but I think we deserved this win.

"It's hard to explain to outside people because they don't see what I see everyday in my players - there is desire to get results.

"We have not been good enough, we have not deserved to win in some matches. But today we won the match and these three points are so massive.

"Nothing has changed, we didn't get too low after the Hearts match and now we are not going to get too high. We recover and it's a very big match again at the weekend."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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This feels like a big few days for St Johnstone in terms of their hopes of avoiding automatic relegation.

A healthy haul of points from their home date with County, and their massive trip to face second bottom Dundee, appeared a pre-requisite with regards to their aim of trying to dodge the dreaded drop. And they have achieved the first part of that.

After back-to-back defeats, the victory over County will have everybody at McDiarmid Park feeling a bit better about themselves.

Valakari's side remain bottom of the table and they still have plenty of work to do, but if they can back this victory up with another at Dens Park on Sunday, the Perth side will definitely believe they can pull off a relegation great escape.

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Makenzie Kirk scored the only goal in what could prove to be a massive three points for St Johnstone in their fight for survival.

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St Johnstone centre-back Bozo Mikulic's season is over after suggering an ACL injury in training.

Manager Simo Valakari confirmed the defender will be sidelined for at least nine months.

"Sad news, he [Bozo] will be out for a long time," Valakari said.

"That's a big loss for the player and the club but that's part of football. It's great to see him walking today with a smile on his face, wishing everyone the best. That shows his character.

"He has done his ACL in training yesterday. That's his season over. It's close to nine months he will be out but he'll come back stronger."

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• St Johnstone are unbeaten in five league meetings with Ross County, winning three of those (D2), which is as many as their previous 18 games against the Staggies in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W3 D10 L5).

• Ross County lost 3-0 away to St Johnstone in October this season, but have never suffered successive away defeats to the Saints in the top fight before.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their last nine midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L4), a 2-0 win at Aberdeen in February 2024.

• Ross County have won four of their last five away league games (L1), as many as their previous 41 beforehand (W4 D11 L26).

• St Johnstone's Nicky Clark has scored nine goals against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, the joint-most any player has against the Staggies in the top-fight (Kris Boyd also nine).

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St Johnstone hope to have Benji Kimpioka (illness) and Victor Griffith (ankle) back soon. They remain without long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Ross County welcome back Zac Ashworth after injury, but Michee Efete (knee), Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh) and Will Nightingale (knee) are set to remain sidelined.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has opened the door for Benjamin Kimpioka to return to the first team after the striker turned down a move to Polish side Widzew Lodz. (Courier), external

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Stephen Duke-McKenna insists he is still "confident" of Premiership survival with St Johnstone as two "massive" games loom.

With 11 games left, Simo Valakari's side are six points adrift at the bottom after following back-to-back league wins with two defeats on the spin.

Saints host Ross County on Wednesday night before a weekend trip to second-bottom Dundee.

"The next couple of games are massive," said on-loan Harrogate winger Duke-McKenna.

"We need the points. It would have helped us a lot if we got three points against Hearts on Sunday. But we've just got to reset, be positive and tackle each challenge and game as they come.

"I feel confident, still. Obviously losing makes it that little bit harder for us now with another game gone. These next two games are really crucial to us.

"We will continue to carry out the plan that the manager gives us and hopefully we can be more ruthless. It's the little fine margins at the end of the day in these games."

Sam Miller
Fan writer

The visit of Hearts was a similar story to a lot of games this season. We played well, made chances but ultimately ended up with zero points.

The goal we scored was brilliantly worked. Great build-up play, a sublime cross and Adama Sidibeh there to knock it in.

We have been playing good football but it's a results business and that's all that matters now.

I don't care if we launch long balls all match or win with a scrappy own goal or a penalty. Two wins this week has to be the target but beating second-bottom Dundee on Saturday is a must. That's our cup final.

The picture will be a lot clearer this time next week.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external

St Johnstone received a bid for striker Benjamin Kimpioka from Polish club Widzew Lodz on Monday, but the deadline for transfer deals in Poland has now passed. (Courier), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 defeat against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Willie: I'm fed up of Simo Valakari and his boring passing football. This will never work in Scotland. Saints need to start planning for next season now with a seasoned Scottish boss in charge. Someone like John Hughes.

Brian: VAR robbed St Johnstone of the points. Really shocking decisions.

Ellie: Despite the result there is definitely still hope - we dominated the first 25 or so minutes, responded well after the break and had a few good chances. If our strikers can be more clinical - especially in the next two matches against Ross County and Dundee which are vital - I think we have every chance of avoiding the drop.

Neil: Saints controlled the first half an hour, then a stupid mistake lead Hearts to score. Too slack in places, also not sharp enough. Playing from the back is no good and there's too much hesitation when passing. Hearts took the ball far too easily from us just like Kilmarnock did. Saints were good at times though, our goal was a joy to watch. Need points in the next two or we're down.

Jimmy: Poor weather played a part, the pitch was a bit muddy. Adama Sidibeh tried his best alone upfront and got a goal, that wonder save from Craig Gordon and having the Drey Wright goal disallowed, wrongly in my opinion, turned the game. The next two games are must wins. We need two strikers up front, get Benjamin Kimpioka back on.

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

• Hearts have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 22nd December 2024 to 5th January 2025.

• Elton Kabangu has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Hearts player.

• Graham Carey has assisted two goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

Watch highlights as St Johnstone lose 2-1 against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Elton Kabangu's double continued Hearts' encouraging start to 2025 as Neil Critchley's side moved to within one point of the top six with a 2-1 win at Scottish Premiership bottom side St Johnstone.

The January loan signing, who is now the club's top scorer, netted his sixth and seventh goals since arriving from Union Saint-Gilloise either side of Adama Sidibeh's equaliser.

Both sides struggled with the boggy playing conditions before Kabangu turned in Shankland's effort at the back post to give the visitors the lead on 36 minutes.

Saints responded at the beginning of the second half when Sidibeh stooped to head in Graham Carey's cross, but parity didn't last long.

Just a few minutes later, Shankland and Kabangu combined again to restore Hearts' lead almost immediately after goalkeeper Craig Gordon produced a magnificent save to deny Sam Curtis at the other end.

The hosts endeavoured to level for a second time, but fortune was not on their side as Drey Wright had a superb header ruled out for offside and Carey had put one narrowly wide from a deep free-kick. Saints remain six points adrift.

Let us know your thoughts on the match here., external

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Of course, we're very disappointed. It was a very tight game.

"Hearts used their moments with better quality than what we did. We could not produce enough moments in the final third. Our crossing, final pass, was not good enough. We asked more questions second-half.

"The most disappointing thing is that we worked so hard to get back into the match, and a couple of minutes later we are 2-1 down.

"Tight margins for Drey's call, but I'm more disappointed that we didn't stay in the match, we can't let them score again."

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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A typical onlooker would have said St Johnstone really had to win against Hearts.

Dundee's defeat by Ross County on Saturday left the door ajar for them to bring the pack above back into their sights.

However, another defeat seems to have further dampened their faint hopes of Premiership survival with 11 games to go.

Manager Simo Valakari needs a miraculous turnaround if his side are to avoid the drop and they host Ross County on Wednesday before visiting relegation rivals Dundee on Saturday.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari is still looking to add to his squad despite making 10 signings since taking over in October.

The Finn has been keeping tabs on the free agent market but insists he is happy with the group and knows what his best team is.

Saints, who are bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, have the chance to go within three points of safety when they host Hearts on Sunday.

"We have been keeping our eye open and of course domestically here in Scotland you can make some (loan) transfers to the Championship, so we will need to see if there are any outgoings," said Valakari.

"But we are looking at all the options. I'm very, very happy with our squad now. There is good competition and more or less everyone is ready to play, so that's a good situation.

"I like that we have different options and different characteristics that we can start with a back three but maybe now against Hearts, they do not play with a back three so maybe we go with back four and adapt our system.

"Do I know what the best team is? Yes, I do, but it doesn't mean this team will start now and this team will start on Wednesday. It depends on many circumstances."

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St Johnstone have lost Benji Kimpioka (illness) and Victor Griffith (ankle) this week. They remain without long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) while Cammy MacPherson has joined Tampa Bay Rowdies on loan.

Hearts hope to have Cammy Devlin back after concussion but Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley (both hamstring), Frankie Kent (quad) and Yan Dhanda (hip) are still out.

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St Johnstone defender Zach Mitchell is relishing coming into the Perth side's ongoing relegation battle after joining on loan from Charlton Athletic.

The 20-year-old has made two appearances off the bench for the Saints, who are currently six points behind 11th-placed Dundee.

Mitchell is no stranger to first-team football having made 18 appearances for Charlton and 28 on loan with Colchester last season, and he is determined to make the most of his new surroundings.

"That's the beauty of it, going into a new environment, a completely different challenge on and off the pitch," Mitchell said. "But that's something I want to fully embrace."

Saints face Hearts at McDiarmid Park on Sunday looking to bounce back from last weekend's loss against Kilmarnock and return to the form that earned them four consecutive wins prior to that defeat.

Mitchell was keen to praise manager Simo Valakari's energy, saying it has rubbed off on him and his teammates since he arrived in the January transfer window.

"I have loved it," he said. "From the first day I came in, he is inspirational in the way he is, his mood. The way he trains and his application is reflected in the team and how he wants us to play and it has rubbed off on all of us.

"We are going to try and implement his mood in the way we play as well.

"The team have just come out of a good run. It obviously wasn't the result we wanted the other week but I think the mood is positive and there is a lot of togetherness.

"We will be looking to this weekend to get back on a winning run."

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• St Johnstone have lost each of their last eight league meetings with Heart of Midlothian since a 2-1 win in February 2022.

• Hearts have won each of their last four away league games at St Johnstone, this after winning none of their previous 15 visits in the top-flight prior (D7 L8).

• After their 2-1 win over Motherwell, St Johnstone could win back-to-back home league games for the first time since December 2023.

• Heart of Midlothian haven't conceded in any of their last three away league outings; not since March 2007 have Hearts had a longer run of away clean sheets in the top-flight (five).

• St Johnstone have had more high turnovers against them (226) than any other side in the Scottish Premiership this season, while only Celtic (214) and Rangers (200) have forced more high turnovers in the division this campaign than Hearts (180).

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has not given up hope of making one last addition of a striker to his St Johnstone squad, with Scandinavia the likeliest area where a free agent might emerge. (The Courier), external

Arsenal and St Johnstone have agreed a deal for 15-year-old Callan Hamill and the Perth club will bank an initial six-figure fee for the Scotland youth full-back, with realistic add-ons and sell-ons likely to swell that transfer fee significantly. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Johnstone striker Benjamin Kimpioka is still exploring options to leave the Perth club while transfer windows remain open in different parts of the world and the uncertainty has been a factor in manager Simo Valakari's decision to omit his 24-year-old top scorer from match-day squads for more than a month. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.