St Johnstone

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Cup last-16 tie with Hamilton.

Here are the key points:

• Valakari says the Scottish Cup is a "beautiful" and "simple" competition. It's a great "tradition" for both Scottish football and for St Johnstone.

• The win over Motherwell in the previous round helped provide a "break" from the "pressure of the league" when Saints needed it.

• Valakari's side can go "full rock and roll" against Hamilton as there is "nothing to lose" in the Scottish Cup - "You have only won after you win the final."

• The new signings have "freshened up everyone" and there is "big competition" for places, even on the bench.

• All 24 players plus four goalkeepers trained on Friday and Saints must "pull together" when they have everyone fit: "We can't now just think, 'We are okay, everything is good because we have all the players.' No, no, no, no, no, no. Nothing has changed. It comes through the hard work."

• The January window was an "uncertain" time for Benjamin Kimpioka, who perhaps had "too many options". It's now up to the player to "work his way back in".

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's business in the January transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

William: Pleased we managed to sign three players for the long term and the earlier loans all look the right type. The two in on deadline day are underwhelming but still required. Would have liked to have gotten more players out but that might happen yet.

Anon: The signings should get rid of the negative attitude and have a positive impact on the rest. Dealt with the deficiencies. Having brought in signings until 2026 shows an appetite for the fight ahead, whatever division. Confident we can stay up though.

Stuart: On the back of recent results it's great to see the manager getting his players in and for them to show the same energy he has brought to the club. After a couple of seasons on life support, I'm encouraged with the direction we are heading. Whatever happens, there is hope now for a brighter future.

Les: Very happy with the additions during the Window. Adam Webb has backed Simo Valakari and now I hope we can push on. It's still a big ask to avoid the drop but I'm definitely feeling a lot more optimistic about our chances. Next four league games are massive.

With the transfer window now closed, how do you feel about St Johnstone's January business?

Bottom club Saints were the most active in the Premiership, bringing in eight players. Deadline-day arrivals Zach Mitchell and Stephen Duke-McKenna joined fellow loan players Andy Fisher, Sam Curtis and Elliot Watt, while Daniels Balodis, Jonathan Svedberg and Victor Griffith are permanent signings.

Jack Sanders, Connor Smith and David Keltjens have all moved on, Josh Rae has gone out on loan, and Lewis Neilson's loan was ended.

So, after a busy month of deals, are the Perth club now in good shape to achieve a great escape?

Have your say on St Johnstone's transfer business., external

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Midfielder Stephen Duke-McKenna says he will "excite" St Johnstone fans after joining the club on loan from Harrogate Town.

The 24-year-old has joined for the remainder of the season and says he "backs himself" to help move Saints off the bottom of the Premiership table.

"It's a big opportunity for me, new surroundings, new scenery, just want to see how I do, I back myself, so we'll just see how it goes," Duke-McKenna told club media.

"I was buzzing, I spoke to the manager, saw there was a buzz around the place and I can't wait to get started."

St Johnstone have enjoyed back-to-back league wins against Motherwell and St Mirren to narrow the gap at the bottom to just five points.

"It's very exciting, right in the thick of it, I can't wait to get going," Duke-McKenna added.

"I'm an exciting player, I like to excite the crowd, hopefully I'll bring goals and assists to the club and help the team as much as I can.

"Hopefully I can show the fans some exciting things and help the team push up the table."

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Goalkeeper Josh Rae has joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old joined St Johnstone in the summer from Airdrieonians and has made 19 appearances this season.

However, he has been on the bench since Simo Valakari signed Andy Fisher on loan from Swansea at the beginning of the January transfer window.

Barry Robson's Rovers sit seventh in the second tier and Rae will offer competition for former Hibernian goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Don't concede and you'll get a result.

A fairly straightforward gameplan executed to perfection on Saturday as we look to do what was deemed impossible a few short weeks ago.

From nine points adrift in mid-January to the current deficit of five has definitely breathed life back into the team.

Massive games this month against Ross County and Killie - as well as the sweet relief of a Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Hamilton - will hopefully see us in touching distance of a trip to Hampden and in a decent position to attack the business end of the Premiership season.

A team and a local community that will not go down without a fight. "No one likes us, we don't care" seems incredibly apt and it's exactly how we like it in Perth.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints Podcast, external

St Johnstone midfielder Cammy MacPherson, 26, was set to leave Perth for an overseas move on deadline day. (Herald - subscription), external

Goalkeeper Josh Rae, 24, was also close to an exit from St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone have signed defender Zach Mitchell on loan from Charlton Athletic until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old came through the Addicks' academy before signing his first pro deal in 2022 and spent last season on loan at League Two side Colchester United.

The defender recently signed a new long-term deal at Charlton.

On making the move to Perth, the youngster said, "I like to think I'm confident on the ball and like to step in from the back, but it is also about being sound defensively first.

"Hopefully I can marry the two of those together nicely."

Image source, Getty Images

St Johnstone have signed Guyana international midfielder Stephen Duke-McKenna from Harrogate Town on loan until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Everton and has enjoyed spells at QPR, Leyton Orient and Sutton United.

The attacking midfielder has also been capped 26 times by his national side.

"As soon as I heard there was interest, I knew it was a big opportunity for me," Duke-McKenna told club media.

"I was just buzzing to get up here to Perth. I have seen the club's recent form and there is a real buzz about the place.

"I spoke to the head coach and I wanted to get this done quickly so that I can get started right away."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

St Johnstone tell me they are "hopeful" of a couple of new recruits before the transfer window closes.

However it appears that striker Benjamin Kimpioka will remain at the club after a deal with Belgian club OH Leuven broke down.

The Perth Saints have already added the services of Sam Curtis, Victor Griffith and Jonathan Svedberg as well as goalkeeper Andy Fisher.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

A second successive selection in my team of the week defence for Sven Sprangler who continues to impressive having shifted back from midfield.

He has also been handed the captain's armband by Simo Valakari and is doing his utmost to steer St Johnstone ship away from Premiership doom.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss St Johnstone's defensive capabilities after their 1-0 victory over St Mirren.

Watch highlights of St Mirren's 1-0 loss against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 1-0 win against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Jim: Another hard fought win, a makeshift defence, but a clean sheet to go with the victory. Lucky not to have conceded a penalty in the first half but we were due a bit of luck. Great fighting from the whole team and Bozo Mikulic scoring the crucial goal again. New signings still to feature, but we still need another striker on board for the rest of the season.

Jimmy: I was a little worried when I saw the team sheet and saw Ross Sinclair in goal but he did well. Another fantastic team effort, we're now showing lots of fight which is what's needed. Time to focus on the next league game. Onwards and upwards.

Robert: It's good to see the team with a bit of fight. Hopefully miracles can happen. Simo Valakari is the man.

Willie: Fantastic result with a makeshift defence again. Delighted for Sinclair, he has the potential to be a top keeper and this result will give him loads of confidence. Sven Sprangler has been immense and with the new signings we have renewed hope.

Gordon: Massive result. Not nearly out of trouble yet but having been on the canvas and taken an eight count, we are back on our feet. It might only take a couple of big hits to put us down again but if we can avoid that, there is every chance we can win this fight. Well done Simo and the lads.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says they're putting Premiership "pressure" to one side as they focus on cup success.

Although the Perth club are still bottom of the top flight table, Saturday's victory away to St Mirren puts them five points behind Ross County who play Rangers today.

Valakari's next test comes in the form of Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup on Saturday 8 February.

"We can put this Premiership, if you call it pressure, we can put that out [to the side]," the manager said.

"We can enjoy this cup weekend. It's a big game, it's a huge game.

"It's a game we want to play because a cup competition, especially the Scottish Cup, is a very special competition.

"So yes, we don't need to think about the league now we can concentrate on the cup.

"It's very simple competition. You win you're in the next round. You lose, cheerio."

The boss is once again calling on supporters to get behind the team next week.

"No one can do this alone," he added.

"And Saturday was a good example.

"Again, our fans, a lot of people went there, and in difficult moments, they were supporting us, and they kept believing in the team, pushing the players forward.

"And that's why we need to be this one unit, one club, everyone, and then we have this power, and we become strong as we showed on Saturday."

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• St Johnstone have scored in their last five games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of six games from 19 October 2024 to 23 November 2024.

• St Mirren have failed to score in 10 of their 25 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have scored in each of their last five games in the Premiership, scoring six goals in that run.

St Johnstone pulled off an unexpected victory against St Mirren thanks to Bozo Mikulic's bundled strike - and boosted their hopes of Scottish Premiership survival.

Simo Valakari's bottom side had won their previous league game and move to within four points of Kilmarnock, who host Dundee United later.

What did you make of that, St Johnstone fans? A deserved victory?

Are you happy that Sven Sprangler is wearing the armband? And what do you make of the new recruits?

Let us know your thoughts., external

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: "Everyone knows our situation. Football is simple. We need to win these matches and even more, we need to concentrate on our performance, try to play our way.

"We need to try to compete, be hard to beat. All these things, we did today. That gives us the possibility to win.

"If you come here and try and play a basketball game with this team, you're not going to win. We did very well with the ball first-half.

"We didn't create but we took the momentum out. We knew it would open up second-half. Stay solid, defend, and we will get the chance.

"I'm not looking at who is in front of us. Next week is a Cup week so we put the league situation aside for one week. We have made this mistake before but we need to focus on our own job.

"Our fans are following us, giving us the noise, pushing the team. Yes, it was a close even game but we played a very good away match and we deserve it."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone travelled from Perth to Paisley with confidence given their recent performances against Motherwell and they played like a team with absolute confidence in the plan.

Or rather, a sheer unwillingness to adapt the plan. Only Elliot Watt had more touches than Ross Sinclair in goal, or Sven Sprangler, Barry Douglas or Mikulic in defence.

For large spells, they spent more time on the ball but they were always under pressure. It was like St Mirren were setting traps, and St Johnstone were tip-toeing dangerously close to them.

At times, they relied on the hosts' mercy in front of goal and had to absorb a lot of pressure. But Sinclair, back in goals for the first time since September, did well deputising in the sticks.

The team still looks a little patched together - the back three includes a left-back and a central midfielder - but they seem to have gelled quickly and Sprangler, who has worn the armband for the past few games, has taken to the role well.

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Sven Sprangler. The midfielder has taken the captain's armband this month, and slotted into a new-look back three that includes one out-and-out centre-back.

Despite that, he's added composure to a defence that is asked to play a lot with the ball at feet and might find himself playing more often in defence for the rest of the season.

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St Mirren defender Alex Iacovitti (hamstring) and Conor McMenamin (calf) remain out.

St Johnstone could include new signings Jonathan Svedberg, Daniels Balodis and Elliot Watt but Benji Kimpioka will not feature after being the subject of a bid.

Cammy MacPherson (hip) is working his way back but Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain sidelined.

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Makenzie Kirk is relishing his breakthrough season at St Johnstone despite the pressure of a relegation fight.

The 20-year-old forward has netted seven goals this term and insists the mood in the squad is upbeat after Saints backed up the Scottish Cup win over Motherwell with a league triumph - their first in 10 games - over the Steelmen last weekend.

That has narrowed the gap at the bottom to seven points before Saturday's trip to face St Mirren.

Kirk said: "It's really good for me, I'm really enjoying my football and I'm playing with a lot of confidence.

"The most important thing for us as a team is to win games and score goals and stay tight at the back and keep clean sheets.

"It's been positive over the last couple of weeks, the mood around the place has been really good.

"We know ourselves that the thing is to move on to the next game and stay together, keep picking up points and hopefully by the time the split comes we've narrowed the gap and we're back in among it.

"The boys who were here last year were involved in it and they know what it takes to get out of it.

"We've got a good team spirit and a togetherness to go and show what it takes and go and fight until the last game."