St Johnstone

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Stephen Duke-McKenna assures St Johnstone are "all sticking together" despite sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

The Saints suffered their first defeat in three league games against Kilmarnock at the weekend, which not only halted their momentum, but, leaves them sis points adrift at the foot of the table.

"In football you are going to win and lose games, but you continue trying to do the right things," the midfielder, who's on-loan from Harrogate Town, told club media.

"We tried to carry out the plan against Kilmarnock but, on the day, it wasn't to be. We're more than capable of playing a lot better than we did in that game.

"The boys have all been very welcoming. They made me feel welcome straight from the word go. They are a good bunch of lads with good banter and there is a nice connection. We know where we are in the league but are all sticking together.

"Every game is obviously important for us."

The 24-year-old made his league debut for the club at Rugby Park, and he insists he has "a lot more to give".

"I love playing football and I can't wait for the next game to come around, the next test, the next battle," he added.

"I'm looking to show a lot more in the coming weeks. I feel I still have a lot more to show and a lot to give. Training has been great so far and I can't wait until we gel even more.

"I had a little shaky start against Hamilton in the Scottish Cup, and was getting used to the speed of the game. I felt like I showed more of what I could do in my league debut against Kilmarnock, although the result was disappointing."

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St Johnstone's visit to second-tier Livingston in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals will be live on the BBC Scotland channel on Monday, 10 March at 19:45 to conclude the round.

Simo Valakari's side defeated second-tier Hamilton Accies to reach the quarter-finals, while Livingston beat League 1 Cove Rangers,

The match will be followed by the live draw for the semi-finals.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Saturdays result at Kilmarnock hammered home what we've known for sometime. It'll take an almighty turnaround to keep us in the top league.

'Too many people off form', 'not our day' or 'beaten by a better team'. Regular reasons for our regular defeats. And its happened too many times this season to think that it will miraculously change in what are a massive three games in seven days.

However, ask me in two weeks when we are off the bottom spot after putting Hearts, Ross County and most importantly, Dundee, to the sword and I'll tell you a different story full of positivity.

I love being a fickle football fan.

Sam Miller can be found at the Dogger Saints podcast, external

St Johnstone midfielder Cammy MacPherson is expected to join Tampa Bay Rowdies this week. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone and Kilmarnock are investigating an allegation of racist abuse in the away end during last weekend's Scottish Premiership match between the sides at Rugby Park.

A club statement from the Perth club said: "We are working closely with Kilmarnock Football Club and Police Scotland to fully investigate. Any supporter with further information is asked to contact the club.

"We are a proud family club and reiterate that there is no place for discrimination in our game or anywhere in society.

"The club will be making no further comment at this time."

Kilmarnock added: "Discrimination will not be tolerated in any form at Rugby Park."

Kilmarnock dispatch bottom club St Johnstone 3-1 to move into the Scottish Premiership top six. (UK users only)

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 3-1 Premiership defeat at Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Stephen: The only hope Saints have is another managerial change I'm sad to say. This tippy-tappy football will never work in Scotland. Pick up the phone to someone like John Hughes.

Derek: The manager has to be careful that his stubbornness doesn't cost us relegation. Andre Raymond should start and Benjamin Kimpioka needs brought back in. The board backed him in the window but we've just brought in similar midfielders. Where are the strikers?

Willie: We don't have reliable enough players to play out from the back in the way Simo wants. When it comes off it looks good, however you can't afford to lose possession in these positions. We got away with it in the recent run of wins, however the fans are living on their nerves when we inevitably get caught in possession.

Ian: That was a real step backwards. We looked uncomfortable on the ball and seldom threatened the Killie goal. We fully deserved to lose a game of huge importance - harried, pressed and punished by the hungrier team. It's a tall ask to pull in those teams above us, especially since the pack has moved further away again.

Jimmy: Losing the early goal rocked us, we didn't really recover from that. We were torn apart by Killie players cutting in from the wings and not being closed down quick enough. One of our off days, just have to focus on the next game.

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• Kilmarnock have a record of W5, D0, L0 when scoring the opening goal at home in the Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock attempted four shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 3.8 in the Premiership.

• Kilmarnock have scored in each of their last three games in the Premiership, scoring six goals in that run.

• St Johnstone have conceded 24 first-half goals in 26 games, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have conceded seven goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have failed to score a first-half goal in 19 of their 26 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

Kilmarnock cruised to victory over St Johnstone to move into the Scottish Premiership top six for the first time this season and end the visitors' fine run of form.

Graham Carey netted a late consolation but St Johnstone are now six points adrift at the bottom, while Kilmarnock rise from 10th to sixth.

What did you make of that, St Johnstone fans? Where did it go wrong?

Let us know your thoughts., external

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: "Of course, disappointing result. Big credit to the opponent, they put us under a lot of pressure.

"We were not good enough in the deciding moments, but we are a good team, we will keep going. Nothing has changed. We recover now.

"We need to be solid, good with the ball, that gives us the backbone to win football matches. Today is a great example. When you concede three goals, it's hard to get back.

"We scored one beautiful goal, a good combination through the middle, but we need to be solid and play our way. That gives us a chance to win.

"There are so many games left. We can't lose and waste these opportunities. Today we did, we can't cry about it.

"We have big belief, big work rate, and through this work rate we improve our performances. It takes us where it takes us.

"That's what hurts us most - me and my players. The fans follow us here, they see us 3-0 down. They could easily turn their back but no, they stand there cheering for the team because they know the players give everything."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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A few weeks ago, St Johnstone scraped a victory against St Mirren when the Buddies proved profligate in front of goal. In that game, and in this one too, Valakari's side lived dangerously. This time, they paid the price.

The style that the Finnish manager has tried to install is admirable and, when it works, eye-catching. When it doesn't, it leaves them exposed and vulnerable.

They lost the ball in their own backline or midfield a few times early on and, after conceding, their confidence looked rocked. They did eventually build a few chances, but Makenzie Kirk looked very isolated up top.

Valakari swapped two players at half-time, a sign of his frustration, but there weren't many signs of progression. Carey added flair when he came on, but by that point the game was done.

This was the performance of relegation candidates. Much improvement is needed if they are to make up the gap and beat the odds.

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Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has the all-clear to play after a broken cheekbone while Matty Kennedy and Innes Cameron are back training but still touch and go.

Kyle Vassell and Stuart Findlay (both ankle) remain out.

Saints remain without long-term absentees Cammy MacPherson (hip), Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Manager Simo Valakari says it is "full rock and roll" as St Johnstone look to give their survival bid another boost with victory at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

The Perth side have won their last four matches, two in the league and two in the Scottish Cup, and are now within five points of second-bottom Ross County.

"We are in good form but nothing has changed with us," said Valakari.

"We know we're going to a very, very tough place and we have been able to win against them in previous matches but as always it doesn't mean anything.

"It's a totally new game, we need to prepare ourselves as well as possible.

"We have had many must-win games, it's a big game, but we cannot control the result. What we can control is our performance, they come through the hard work that we do on the training ground.

"It's so easy to slack off and any opponent in this league will bite back, there are those small margins which could easily go against you.

"Now we start again, it's a new opportunity and that's how we take it, there's still nothing to lose, it's full attack, full rock and roll."

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before the game at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• On Saints' four-game winning run, Valakari says "the biggest thing is it gives you the confidence we are doing the right things" and adds it is "full attack and full rock and roll" going to a difficult challenge at Rugby Park.

• He is happy with the new additions to the squad - having signed nine players in January - and says "now we have got some fresh faces, we are a better team, it gives us confidence".

• With Saints having narrowed the gap at the bottom to five points, Valakari says: "We are just concentrating on Kilmarnock, we can't take it any further."

• The Finn is pleased with the improvement in defence but insists they need to "raise the level" and stresses it is a team effort "starting from how our strikers are pressing and how compact we are when we defend and we need that to continue".

• Kilmarnock are "very, very dangerous inside the box" and Valakari adds: "We are in good form but we know we're going to a very, very tough place. We need to prepare ourselves as well as possible."

• The "most important" focus is the league but reaching the Scottish Cup quarter-finals has given the players a lot of "positive energy" and Valakari is hopeful they can fight on both fronts.

• On team news he says "everyone is fit and firing".

Simo Valakari believes St Johnstone's raft of unfamiliar faces could be the key to edging their third meetings of the season with bottom-six rivals. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

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Teenager talent Brodie Dair has departed St Johnstone for English Premier League side Fulham.

The 16-year-old joined the youth academy aged 12, and was a regular feature for the under-18 team who enjoyed league and cup successes.

Dair, son of former professional Lee, trained with the Perth side's first-team and earned represented Scotland at under-17 level.

"It has been a really enjoyable time at St Johnstone. Every single coach and team-mate have been brilliant to work with," Dair told Saints media.

"Alistair [Stevenson] has helped me and been there through the whole journey. He has treated me like his son and I cannot thank him enough.

"I've had a lot of messages from the lads in the under-18s and the first team, and the gaffer gave me a big hug before I left to say stick in.

"Again, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for the support."

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• Kilmarnock have only won three of their past 14 league meetings with St Johnstone (D2 L9), losing both previous such clashes in 2024-25 without scoring.

• St Johnstone have won and kept a clean sheet in both of their previous two league games against Kilmarnock in 2024-25; the last side they beat three times in a single Scottish Premiership season were Dundee United in 2022-23, while not since 2018-19 have they recorded three clean sheets against a single opponent in the competition (four v Dundee, three v St Mirren).

• After their 1-0 win over Dundee United, Kilmarnock are looking to earn back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season, last doing so in October.

• St Johnstone have won both of their past two league matches, last winning more in a row in November 2022 (3).

• Each of St Johnstone's past four goals in the Premiership have been scored from corner situations (the last two scored by defender Bozo Mikulic). Since Opta have had this data available (from 2013-14), they are only the second side to have such a run in the competition, after Hearts earlier this season who netted four in a row via corners between September and October.

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari says Drey Wright is "fine" after playing through cramps in the Scottish Cup win over Hamilton Academical, while Barry Douglas' absence from the matchday squad was a matter of rotation. (Courier, external)

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Four wins out of four. Zero goals in open play conceded.

These are the type of stats Craig Levein, Steven MacLean or even Callum 'loves-a-cup-competition' Davidson could have boasted.

Simo Valakari has finally addressed the glaring issues we could all see. Everybody in or around the 18-yard box.

He's gone to Latvia, Sweden, Croatia and, er, Swansea to rectify these issues and with confidence in the McDiarmid stands increasing, fans are studying the fixture list and getting their calculators out.

The match against Kilmarnock on Saturday is massive.

Having already beaten them home and away this season, the calculator will be getting swapped for fingers - both for counting a decreasing points gap and for tightly crossing in the hope of doing the unimaginable.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints Podcast, external

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St Johnstone will face Livingston in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Simo Valakari's men beat Hamilton 1-0 in the fifth round to earn themselves a place in the quarters.

The ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 8 March.