St Johnstone

Image source, SNS

"I still don’t get VAR," said St Johnstone's Matt Smith after the technology went against his side in their 2-0 League Cup defeat by Rangers.

The opening goal from Cyriel Dessers was initially ruled out for a foul, only for referee Matthew MacDermid to reverse his decision after being asked to look at the incident on the pitchside monitor.

St Johnstone thought play had been stopped but the Scottish FA has indicated McDermid blew his whistle after Dessers put the ball in the net.

Smith was confused, saying: "I thought I did (hear the whistle before the goal) and obviously the gesture was that he was about to give a foul.

"The referee said (to captain Kyle Cameron) that he didn’t blow his whistle, so I don’t really know where we can go from that.

"The actual decision that they come to, is it a clear and obvious (mistake)?

"I still don’t get VAR. We have meetings before a season talking about decisions that are going to be made better and more realistic to a game.

"As a referee, you surely want to communicate with players for a reason, to explain. It’s just frustrating that there’s no communication.

"You can’t really say too much as I tried to speak to him and was booked. That’s the situation we’re in at the minute."

St Johnstone have asked for clarity on Rangers' controversial opening goal on Saturday and the audio file will now be reviewed by the Scottish FA in a bid to piece together a proper timeline of events. (Scottish Sun), external

St Johnstone defender Matt Smith says he and his team-mates heard two whistles from referee Matthew MacDermid at Hampden - before and after Cyriel Dessers found the net for Rangers. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS

Craig Levein believes St Johnstone took a “step up” in performance against Rangers despite defeat and exiting the Premier Sports Cup.

The Saints boss was far from pleased with Cyriel Dessers’ opening goal for the hosts but said he didn't speak to the referee Matthew McDermid afterwards because, "what’s the point?," he addded.

"I’ve been there a hundred times and I end up getting fined and then doubling my fine and then doubling it again."

After moving on from that incident, Levein's attention quickly turned to the "really good things" his side displayed at Hampden.

“I was pleased with the way they played, with a lot of the things that they did in the game," he said. "I think it’s a step up even from last week against Kilmarnock.

“I thought we worked really, really hard, tried to pressurise Rangers all over the pitch, particularly in the back line.

“Unfortunately, we missed some good chances. But I’d like to think that we can take some confidence, a lot of confidence from this performance because I didn’t feel we were ever out of the match – maybe the last five minutes.

“I put as many strikers on the field as I could and hoped for the best, but there were a lot of really good things and we can have a look at those when we get back to work in the next few days.”

We asked you for your thoughts after St Johnstone's League Cup exit to Rangers.

The players and manager clearly disagreed with the decision to award the opening goal, and it seems you do too.

Here's what you had to say:

Kevin: I saw the referee turn and point up the field for a foul (for Saints). Also certain I heard a whistle, so began to sit down, ignoring the Rangers striker's continued run. Still wasn't bothered after the 'goal' because the referee clearly gave the foul again. To then give a goal ruined the rest of the game for me, and clearly affected our players...

Roy: We played okay against an extremely poor Rangers side, helped by an odd refereeing decision. Hope we sign an experienced' keeper before the window shuts or give Ross Sinclair a run in the side - Rae is a reasonably able shot-stopper but his handling is too inconsistent at this level.

Gordon: Thought Saints did well, although we rode our luck a bit at times but the first goal is a refereeing shambles. Poor poor officiating yet again. Second goal matters not as we're chasing the game by then. Happy with my team, not happy with the refereeing team.

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "It was chaos for a while, didn't know exactly what had happened.

"I thought it was a free-kick to us and had that confirmed by one of the officials so I didn’t pay much attention for two or three minutes until I realised something was going on and didn't realise VAR was involved until a minute after that.

"I couldn't fathom what they would be looking at and I’ve watched it myself and I think Jack [Sanders] gets fouled, he’s the one that ends up on the ground.

"I don't think the goal should have stood, simple as that. He did give the decisions, he did, he put his hand up to indicate it was a foul for us, so he gave the decision, what other way can you read that?

"Some of them are saying they thought they heard the whistle but my point is this, if he indicates it’s a free-kick for us, which he did, and everyone looks at him and stops, for me that's a mistake on his part.

"I dont know what excuse they're going to come up with, I’d love them to just come out and hold their hands up and say, 'I’m really sorry we got it wrong'. I don't know why it went to VAR, I wish someone could tell me."

Image source, SNS

The holders were on top for most of the match at Hampden but struggled to make the breakthrough until Rabbi Matondo played in Dessers, who tangled with defender Jack Sanders.

Referee Matthew MacDermid seemed to give that as a foul before Dessers danced into the box and produced a fine finish but the goal was ruled out until VAR intervened.

St Johnstone were left furious when the strike was ultimately awarded as they clearly felt play had been stopped by the referee.

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

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone lived dangerously at times but offered enough to suggest they will trouble sides this season.

They will undoubtedly feel very hard done by given what happened at the goal and can point to two or three excellent chances.

A valiant effort that came up short.

Image source, SNS

Craig Levein probably didn't want to make any changes to his side after they trounced Kilmarnock 3-0 last weekend in East Ayrshire, but the St Johnstone manager has been forced into one at Hampden.

Midfielder Aaron Essel is out as he is suspended after being sent off against Alloa Athletic in the previous round of the competition.

Veteran winger Graham Carey comes in, but Andre Raymond and David Keltjens have failed to recover from knocks.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernie, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Sterling, Dowell, Diomande, Cerny, Matondo, Danilo.

Substitutes: Kelly, Barron, Dessers, Davies, King, McCausland, Fraser, McKinnon, Rice.

St Johnstone: Rae, Raymond, Cameron, Sanders, Neilson, MacPherson, Carey, Wright, Sidibeh, M. Smith, Kimpioka

Substitutes: Sinclair, May, Clark, C. Smith, Sprangler, McPake, Kirk, Olufunwa, Franczak

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Premier Sports Cup holders Rangers will look to put Tuesday's Champions League qualifying defeat by Dynamo Kyiv behind them on Saturday as they host Scottish Premiership rivals St Johnstone in the last 16.

It means Philippe Clement's side return to the national stadium having won just one of their four outings this season - Saturday's narrow defeat of struggling visitors Motherwell.

Rangers' temporary home amid Ibrox renovations was far from full to watch them against the Ukrainians. How many will turn up to see them against less lauded opponents from the east after such a European body blow?

Craig Levein's visitors have had a mixed start to the season but arrive on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Kilmarnock, albeit the hosts were down to 10 men for most of game.

The form of Benjamin Kimpioka, with six goals already this season, and fellow striker Adama Sidibeh, with four, has led to media speculation about their futures and scouts will be keen to see how they test a Rangers defence that lost left-back Ridvan Yilmaz to injury on Tuesday.

Indeed, St Johnstone have not scored in the latest five meetings between the sides since winning at McDiarmid Park in November 2022.

Saints lost all three meetings last season by an aggregate of 8-0 and they have suffered four straight defeats away to Rangers since a penalty shoot-out Scottish Cup win at Ibrox in April 2021.

Read the Premier Sports Cup preview in full here.

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein hopes to compound Rangers' woes by knocking the Ibrox side out of the Premier Sports Cup this weekend.

Saints travel to Hampden in the last 16 to face a Rangers side reeling from their Champions League exit Dynamo Kyiv.

"If we play well and manage to keep the ball for a period of time then I am pretty sure there will be some negativity in the stadium," said Levein.

"And if we can keep it scoreless for a while there will be some negativity in the stadium.

"It is easy saying those things but you have got to do them and that is the hard part.

"I thought they played well the other night. I thought they were unlucky with the sending off.

"I am sure they will recognise this is a route to winning silverware so they will be up for the match, I am certain, and so will we.

"I think my players will take confidence from last week [3-0 win at Kilmarnock]. There was some really good performances, so that helps with confidence of course."

Levein says there have been no bids for Adama Sidibeh amid reported interest from Aberdeen in the Gambia striker

"I haven't heard anything, received any offers or bids for Adama. As far as I am concerned it is business as usual," he said.

"He has had a brilliant time since joining St Johnstone. He has made his first international appearance and scored."

Image source, SNS

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup will take place on Sunday after the Celtic v Hibs tie, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The draw will be shown live on Premier Sports following their coverage of the game from Parkhead.

All quarter-final ties due to be played on the weekend of September 21-22.

Image source, Getty

St Johnstone academy star Callan Hamill is set for a move to Arsenal next summer, according to The Athletic football journalist Jordan Campbell.

The 15-year-old Scotland youth international, who can play in midfield or defence, has today signed a new one-year deal, with the Perth club saying: “Callan has been attracting interest from both north and south of the border. Some of the top English clubs are watching him closely."

Campbell revealed Hamill has rejected interest from the Old Firm in favour of a move to Arsenal, where he has already spent time training, when he turns 16.

Speaking to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Campbell said: "He's been of interest for Rangers and Celtic who could have signed him this summer because he's only 15 still.

"But he's turned that down and it looks like the direction of travel is that he's going to sign for Arsenal next summer when he turns 16.

"It's better for St Johnstone financially because I think the training compensation would have only been about 30,000 euros from the Old Firm but they're due close to 130,000 if a player moves to an English team.

"He's done well and over the next year he's going to continue to go down to Arsenal having arranged it with St Johnstone who I think, like other Scottish teams, are learning to accept these players are going down now at this age to try and accelerate their development with the facilities and the money that gets put into these academies and the level they're playing at.

"I think they're trying to accept that and try and help the move."

Aberdeen intend to activate 26-year-old striker Adama Sidibeh’s £500,000 release clause with St Johnstone before the Perth side's Scottish League Cup last 16 meeting with Rangers this weekend. (Football Insider), external

There have been no bids for St Johnstone forward Sidibeh. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Sam Miller
Fan writer

After what was a turbulent week off-field for the Saints, it was brilliant to see an untested team brimming with confidence.

Where Craig Levien gets stick for tactics and formations, he has certainly made up for in unearthing some absolute diamonds.

Mackenzie Kirk, Aaron Essel, Andre Raymond and most importantly Adama Sidibeh, to name a few.

With just over two weeks of the transfer window left, St Johnstone's new American owners are going to have their mettle tested as cash rich English teams try and pick our pockets with low ball offers for star Sidibeh.

He's already a fan favourite and having him a St Johnstone player on 1 September could make or break the season...

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone goalkeeper Josh Rae believes the squad Craig Levein has assembled is capable of a top-half finish in the Premiership this season.

Rae is one of several arrivals at the club this summer, and started as the Perth Saints beat Kilmarnock 3-0 at Rugby Park on Sunday.

"We’ve got to push for the top six definitely," Rae said.

"With the squad we’ve got, with the pace, we’re all powerful, young and hungry so I’m really confident we can push for that top six.

"We were solid right from the first minute [against Kilmarnock]. It was a solid performance.

"I thought we could have controlled the second half slightly better because they had a few chances but overall, a brilliant result.”

"It’s a lot slower than Championship football but obviously more quality.

"You need to be concentrated the full 90 minutes because it can just happen in the blink of an eye that someone with quality can hurt you."

Saints fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 3-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Rooney: An excellent result and a better performance. Still worries defensively that we are lacking experience and set-pieces are a major concern.

Chris: Some great signings and we look a threat going forward. After so many years of a lack of goals I'm looking forward to entertaining football from the Saints again.

Gordon: The fact we have two pacey strikers up top now and causing havoc to defenders is good to see and both scored.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jack Sanders was key in a superb St Johnstone performance that saw them earn three points and a clean sheet at Rugby Park, and is one of three Saints players in my Team of the Week.

His team-mate Andre Raymond played his part at both ends of the park, providing the assist for the second goal, and Adama Sidibeh was a certain pick after his superb double. What an inspired signing he has been by Craig Levein. A constant menace and alive to every opportunity.

Watch highlights as St Johnstone put three past Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.