St Johnstone

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It's a big win for the players, for the club and for the fans as well.

"The most important thing today was to win the match and get to the next round but the first half performance was very good and in the second half we showed the character to defend.

"It has not been easy, there's no hiding but you cannot control the results. You can control the performances and I thought the players put in a good performance today.

"When we have lost matches we have been down but we've known what we needed to do. We can't stop doing the things we're good at. This gives us something to be happy about. We can't think we've turned a corner, that's the worst thing was can think.

"When we can play this way, we defend better as well. From that point on our game looks more complete. It's still very fragile. Overall I was very pleased."

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In a game that lacked much excitement, Makenzie Kirk's goal put a shine on what has been a rather underwhelming season for St Johnstone so far. Could this be a turning point for Simo Valakari's side?

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St Johnstone have signed Sheffield United defender Sam Curtis on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season.

The full-back was on the books of Shamrock Rovers before moving to St Patrick's Athletic in August 2021 where he became their youngest ever player at 15 years and 255 days old.

From there he went to Sheffield United and made his debut in a Premier League game against Everton.

The Republic of Ireland youth international will be available for St Johnstone's Scottish Cup clash against Motherwell on Saturday.

"I am delighted to be here and I am so excited to get to work," Curtis told club media., external

"After speaking with the manager, seeing the great stadium and meeting with the lads, I am just excited to get out there on the pitch now.

"It is an exciting challenge for me and the team. We want to get ourselves back into a good position in the league. I am hoping to come in and play a big part in that."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Teenage midfielder Fran Franczak has thanked St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari for showing faith in him.

Franczak, 17, became Saints' youngest ever player - aged 16 yrs and 38 days old - when he made his debut against Hibs last season.

This term, Franczak is beginning to establish himself under Valakari - starting three of the last four games - and hopes to feature in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at home to Motherwell.

He said: "It is obviously really good the manager has put his trust in me, we have a very good relationship.

"There is a lot of positivity, everyone has a good mentality in the team, and we are ready for the game on Saturday to win."

Franczak was born in Poland but moved to Scotland over a decade ago, growing up as a St Johnstone fan.

And having been at Hampden to watch the club's Scottish Cup triumph in 2014, he admits playing for his boyhood heroes in the competition is special.

"It means a lot, I went to the 2014 final with one of my friends, but I watched the one in 2021 on the TV," he said.

"I was seven [in 2014], I remember the parade in the town afterwards, my mum still shows me pictures of that sometimes."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari wants his side "to be a little bit crazy" as they look to turn their wretched season around.

The Perth side are nine points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership and winless in nine games as they begin their Scottish Cup campaign with a fourth-round home tie against Motherwell on Saturday.

"I am not stupid, I am not overly positive, it is a very difficult situation we all know," Valakari said of his side's league plight.

"We need to be brave, we need to be a little bit crazy and go all in and let's see where it takes us. No one inside the club is hiding, no one even one millimetre has given up.

"We put ourselves in this situation, we need to now get ourselves out of this situation."

Valakari was asked if a cup win this weekend could be a catalyst for an upturn of fortunes in the league.

He said: "I wish I could say we win one match and everything will be rosey. No, it is not like that.

"There is no magic in football that things can happen but I said after the league match last weekend, it has been difficult for many reasons but I feel the team is coming back now and that is a good thing.

"We are talking that it is a welcome break from the pressure of the league but if we keep doing these things that we have been doing lately, it doesn't matter that it is the cup or league or friendly match, we are not going to be successful."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before the Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Valakari didn't want to be drawn on transfer chat "out of respect for this cup competition" but did confirm the club have "agreed terms" with Swedish midfielder Jonathan Svedberg.

• Trialist Roman Eremenko has gone back home but Valakari wouldn't confirm if the former £13m midfielder will be coming back.

• The Perth boss says the cup tie is a break from the pressure of the Premiership survival battle and his side have "nothing to lose".

• On whether a cup win could be a catalyst for better fortunes in the league, he says "there is no magic in football that things can happen", but feels the team "is coming back now".

• On their league plight (nine points adrift at the bottom) Valakari says it is a "very difficult situation" but that "no one has even one millimetre given up" and "everyone is hurting, everyone is suffering".

• The Finn pointed out if they keep making the same mistakes then survival is "impossible".

• On the challenge Motherwell will pose, he says they are a team that always give 100% and "we need to match that".

• Team news: No fresh injuries and the club are waiting for the necessary clearance to field new signing Victor Griffith.

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Connor Smith will not be returning to St Johnstone after Hamilton paid an undisclosed fee to sign the loan midfielder on a permanent deal.

The 22-year-old departs the Perth club having made 13 Saints appearances and scored once since his move from Hearts a year ago.

Smith moved on loan to Hamilton in September and his played 15 games for the Championship side.

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Might the break from their grim league predicament bring the morale boost of a much-needed win for St Johnstone?

The rock-bottom Perth side are seeking a first victory in 10 games when they host Motherwell in an all-Premiership fourth-round Scottish Cup tie on Saturday.

Former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay, who is a Saints fan, told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "It's an opportunity to leave the stress of the league to one side. It's a free hit, isn't it?

"And Motherwell are struggling a little bit in terms of their injury count. We know they've got some key players out.

"If we're looking for positives, the second half versus Rangers, St Johnstone were much improved. I think Simo Valakari will take something from that.

"I know he wants to play attacking football and we'd love that but we're also realists in terms of the quality of squad we've got.

"We like the cups and we've had success recently. It's an opportunity to take a little bit of stress off the players, allow them to go and enjoy themselves against a good Motherwell team, but a struggling one in terms of those injuries.

"Hopefully we can take something out of it."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Monday's Dundee derby grabbed the headlines when the Scottish Cup fourth-round draw was made, but there are two other all-Premiership ties before the city rivals do battle for the final spot in the last 16, including Saturday's game in Perth.

Either St Johnstone, aiming to reach the last 16 for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2021, or Motherwell will end their dismal recent run on Saturday.

Saints have fallen nine points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership with no wins in nine outings, seven of them losses, under new manager Simo Valakari and seem destined for relegation.

Visitors Motherwell, suffering a spate of injuries, have themselves just one victory in seven, but Stuart Kettlewell's side have won 2-1 home and away against the Perth side already this season and have not lost in five visits to McDiarmid Park.

Read Scottish Cup preview in full.

St Johnstone are closing in on the signing of 25-year-old Halmstads midfielder Jonathan Svedberg. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Roman Eremenko, who Rubin Kazan paid £13m for in 2011, has flown to Scotland and could sign for St Johnstone this week. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

One of the problems we have suffered this year is not having a number one.

After the club finally brought in an experienced shotstopper, he must be wondering what he's signed up for.

Defensive mishaps once again made us our own worst enemy as we continue to sink without a trace.

The previously mentioned 'playing players out of position' problem still hasn't gone away and is still causing havoc, too.

We started the Rangers game with a centre midfielder at right back, a right-sided player at left-back, a centre forward as a number 10 in midfield.

In the second half, after a couple of changes saw us have a right-sided player at right-back and a left-back at left-back, we shipped no more goals and scored ourselves.

The very likeable gaffer keeps getting his line-ups hopelessly wrong from the outset.

He's leaving himself wide open to criticism, but as long as there are points available, I'll hold onto some hope.

However, Simo Valakari needs to double up as Steve McQueen to pull off this particular great escape.

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

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Barry Douglas has warned his St Johnstone team-mates that "livelihoods are at stake" as the club attempt to avoid relegation from the Scottish Premiership.

The Perthshire Saints are nine points adrift at the foot of the table and without a win in nine games, too.

In their latest defeat, a 3-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox, Simo Valakari's side were all over the shop in the first half before a more collective and cohesive display in the second.

Former Scotland international Douglas appeared off the bench after the break, marking his return from a severe calf tear that was kept him out since November.

Now back, the 35-year-old is aiming to use his vast experience to educate and inspire his side that their fate is not yet sealed.

"The challenge is there for us, and there's no more motivation we need than to just look at the table," the defender said.

"It's boys' livelihoods, and that's the reality of it. A lot of boys need to realise that. It's not just about what we do on a pitch, it affects everyone else surrounding the club.

"There's still loads to play for. In this league, two, three consecutive games changes the outlook of where you are in the table.

"So I'll be amplifying that in the dressing room, that it is one game at a time now, starting with the cup."

Bottom club St Johnstone's players need to realise their livelihoods are at stake amid the threat of relegation, says left-back Barry Douglas, 35. (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Former St Johnstone goalkeeper Cammy Bell says Simo Valakari must change the style of play if they are to have any chance of escaping relegation.

Following Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Rangers, the Perthshire Saints remain bottom of the Premiership table, nine points behind Hearts in 11th.

"I thought they were absolutely shocking, especially in the first 25 minutes [against Rangers]," Bell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The goals they conceded were horrendous. Really, really poor decisions, putting themselves in trouble.

"You look at the teams that Rangers have played recently and how they've got results. You've got to be solid, you've got to give yourself a base. St Johnstone are so wide open, easy to play against, concede terrible goals, and make individual errors as well.

"I just can't see a way back for them at the moment. They need to change their style of play.

"Everyone wants to play that expansive, attractive style of football, but you also need to win games of football. You need to put points on the board. So they're really struggling at the moment. They need to change something."

Watch Sportscene analysis of St Johnstone's 3-1 defeat against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users.

St Johnstone fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's defeat to Rangers.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jimmy: The shape of the team is wrong, players out of their best positions, the set up looks "makeshift". The signing of Andy Fisher appears to be a good one, he is a better keeper but we still need a good defender, and a proven goal scorer. I still have confidence we can escape the relegation spot, but that gap is getting wider.

Stuart: Special round of applause for how our management team at the time believed no right back, two Championship goalkeepers, a 36-year-old playmaker and a relatively inexperienced defence was good enough to push for top six. Calling for Simo Valakari's head is absolutely bizarre when he can't fix the mess in this window. We need to back him and let him rebuild.

Duncan: Not unexpected, perhaps more respectable than expected. But the same as last week. We clearly need more faces through the door to match the style of play, or at least break the cycle for some of the regular starters whose confidence is only going to get worse chasing so many games and so many damaging errors. Have patience. Stick with Simo!

Ally: Simo Valakari says "we are making too many mistakes" I hope he's including himself in that statement. His starting teams leaves a lot to be desired, he has to stop playing people out of position. It's like he's still experimenting with players, meantime we're being cut adrift in the relegation spot. Come on Simo, round pegs for round holes.

Bryan: Relegation now a reality. Time to prepare for a Championship campaign.

Anon: Sadly it is just the same over again. First and third goals are just ridiculous defending. We have full-backs on the bench but Simo plays two guys out of position. We are Championship bound but go down with a fight not a whimper!

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• Rangers have scored in each of their last 14 games in the Premiership, scoring 29 goals in that run.

• Nicolas Raskin attempted 110 passes in this game, the highest total for a Rangers player in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers are unbeaten in their last 10 Premiership matches when leading at half-time (W9, D1) dating back to 14 April 2024 against Ross County (L2-3).

• St Johnstone have failed to win in their last nine games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 5 August 2023 to 28 October 2023.

• St Johnstone have scored six goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (10) and Aberdeen (8) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have failed to score a first-half goal in 16 of their 23 games, only Dundee United (17) and Kilmarnock (17) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

Did you take in St Johnstone's defeat by Rangers or were you following from home?

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It's only us we can blame. We are making too many mistakes, we all know it. We just need to be better in those moments.

"I know my players, they have this spirit, they have this capability to play good football. If you make those [bad] decisions, you get punished. It's not about taking risks.

"We need to try to play our stuff with the ball. When we do this, we created a couple of moments to be even more dangerous. The bottom line is, we need to be better."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Ibrox

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has a determination to play football from the back. Early on at Ibrox, that looked very risky but they stuck with it.

The concession of the opener was cheap. The second and third were also far too easy.

The Perth side are capable of producing some good moments going forward, but look so vulnerable to conceding it's little wonder they are toiling at the foot of the Premiership, with the deficit now nine points.

The question seems to be whether the manager has the personnel to play the way he wants. They were cut open far too easily for the goals and the game was pretty much done before the half-hour mark.

Saints were ruthlessly punished but fully contributed to their own demise.

There was a clear improvement after the break as they looked more solid and got a consolation goal, but it does nothing to change the challenge they face in the remainder of the season.

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New St Johnstone goalkeeper Andy Fisher says he is looking forward to the "challenge" of trying to help the club mount a remarkable surge to safety.

Fisher, who has joined on loan from Swansea City, will stake his claim for the number one jersey against Josh Rae and Ross Sinclair, who have shared the gloves until now.

Saints are eight points adrift at the bottom and Fisher said: "I like the challenge of the situation we are in. I want to help the team out and that's what I'm here to do.

"I like the pressure of winning games. I think that's something that will make everyone here grow. I'm hoping to play a big part. It will be a challenge but I'm hoping I can come here and we can start picking up a few points."

The 26-year-old added: "I need games and St Johnstone showed real interest and showed that they really wanted me to come and help them out.

"I thought it's a real good opportunity for me and a real good challenge, where I think I can help the team out."

The shot-stopper is yet to play this season after suffering a groin injury last summer.

"I got injured in pre-season and I had an operation but I feel I'm back up to speed now, so hopefully I can come here and show that I'm still good."

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• Rangers have won their past eight meetings with St Johnstone across all competitions (all without conceding), their longest winning run over the Saints since winning 10 in a row from April 1991 to December 1992.

• St Johnstone are winless in their past 11 visits to Rangers in all competitions (D2 L9) since a 3-1 victory in December 2017. The Perth men have scored just two goals in those 11 away trips.

• Rangers have won 11 of their past 12 home league games (including nine of 10 this season – D1), winning their last three in a row without conceding. The Ibrox side last won four in a row while keeping a clean sheet each time at home in the Scottish Premiership in February 2022 under Giovanni van Bronckhorst (run of 7).

• St Johnstone have lost four of their past five away league outings (D1), and could lose three in a row on the road for the first time since January 2023 – the third defeat of which was at Rangers (0-2).

• Since the start of November, St Johnstone have earned fewer points in the Scottish Premiership (5) than any other side. Prior to that, they had picked up more points than three sides in the division, but now find themselves eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.