St Johnstone

Lewis Neilson, 21, is happy to be playing a versatile role at St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone have Andre Raymond and Bozo Mikulic back but Barry Douglas remains out along with long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

The suspended Alex Gogic drops out for St Mirren but Alex Iacovitti could return. Charles Dunne remains out with a hamstring problem.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone's Lewis Neilson says there has been "a mentality shift" since manager Simo Valakari came to the club.

"There is a lot more positivity around the place and also expectation to go and get results," said defender Neilson.

"The way we are training every week I think the tempo has been boosted, the morale has been boosted so 100% there is a mentality to go and try and get three points in every game we play."

Speaking prior Saturday's Premiership visit of St Mirren, Neilson believes it won't be long before ninth-place St Johnstone start turning their performances into wins.

"I think we are seeing that game on game [improvement] since the new manager has been in, there are plenty of positives to take from each game, we are starting to play a lot more football," he added.

"Hopefully we can put a few wins together."

Defender Neilson arrived on a season-long loan from Hearts in the summer.

"That is what I am on loan for, to play as many games as possible and get as much experience as possible in the Premiership," he said.

"I am really enjoying it, it is a great club. I have played multiple positions now this season so I am happy as long as I am on the pitch getting minutes in."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Simo Valakari says the no-fear approach among his St Johnstone players "gives me confidence" in what they can achieve.

After being appointed in October, the Finn has overseen a marked improvement in performances.

While wins have been hard to come by - just two in Valakari's seven games so far - he is happy with the mentality within the group.

The Perth boss said: "The very first day we made a promise to each other that we go without fear because if you start playing football with fear you start being afraid of the mistakes, it doesn't take you anywhere.

"How much they have changed I cannot say, but I can say I see them every day in training and there are hungry boys who want to improve as individuals and as a team. If I see that, that gives me confidence.

"I have said it to the boys that if you don't prepare as well as we can, if we don't do the things we have tried to do during the week in a match, if you don't work hard for the team, then after the match there is no point in being disappointed because we didn't do our job."

Ninth-place Saints welcome St Mirren, who are four points above them, to McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

The Perth side go into the game in good spirits after impressing during a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen last time out.

"It is all about getting these wins because three points is so massive," added Valakari.

"We know our weaknesses, we try to hide them as much as possible, but at the same time we know what we are very good at, so we try to play with our strengths as much as possible.

"We need a result but we can't focus too much on the results. We need to focus on the performance then the results will follow."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit of St Mirren.

Here are the key lines from the Perth boss:

• Valakari says it is a "big game" against a "very interesting team" who have "a clear identity of what they are trying to do".

• While happy with his team during last weekend's 1-1 draw at Aberdeen, he says there are a lot of areas they can improve.

• On the mentality of his squad since he came took charge, he says: "From the very first day, we made a promise to each other that we go without fear."

• Despite having just one victory in their last six games, St Johnstone's performances have been improving – but Valakari says "it is all about getting these wins", adding that keeping their performance levels high will give them a good chance.

• The Finn says every player and manager wants the top six, but he doesn't "spend one minute" looking at league table permutations, adding "we only concentrate on the concrete things that we can do".

• There are no fresh fitness issues. Bozo Mikulic and Andre Raymond return from injury.

Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland

Makenzie Kirk bolstered his burgeoning reputation last weekend with the opening goal as St Johnstone drew 1-1 with Aberdeen.

It was the 20-year-old forward's fifth goal in all competitions this season, which includes one for Saints Under-20s in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Kirk is following in the footsteps of his father, Andy, who played and scored in Scottish football with Hearts and Dunfermline and also represented Northern Ireland. Kirk senior is of course part of the coaching staff at St Johnstone.

For the younger Kirk, St Mirren are in his sights. The Buddies side are coming off a defeat before this Saturday's contest in Perth.

The gap between the sides stands at four points with St Johnstone ninth and St Mirren seventh.

With sixth-placed Dundee among the sides not playing this weekend, it's an opportunity for both sides to make up some ground.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari hopes Achilles injury victim Sam McClelland, 22, can return before the end of the season. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Sam Miller
Fan writer

I've never known a St Johnstone manager to have built up so much credit in the bank with the fans as Simo Valakari.

In his short time with the club the Finn has conducted himself magnificently.

He has turned up to fan forums and charity football matches. If you asked him, he would turn up to the opening of an envelope if it was to help the club or local community.

The way he comes across in interviews as well is first class.

The players must be buzzing playing for someone like that and I really hope the board back him next month in the transfer window.

A little bit more quality and we will be okay.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints podcast, external

Image source, SNS

• St Johnstone have only lost one of their last 11 home league meetings with St Mirren (W7 D3), going down 1-0 in April 2022. The Perth side have kept nine clean sheets in this spell.

• St Mirren have won three of their last four top-flight meetings with St Johnstone (L1), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (D6 L3).

• In 2024, St Johnstone have picked up fewer home points (10) and lost more home matches (10) in the Scottish Premiership than any other side.

• Only Ross County (3) have earned fewer away points in the Premiership this season than St Mirren (4), who have lost six of their last eight on the road in the competition (W1 D1).

• Both of St Johnstone's last two league goals have been scored by 20-year-old Makenzie Kirk. A goal against St Mirren will see Kirk become the youngest player to score in successive league appearances for the Perth club (20 years, 312 days) since Ali McCann in February 2020 (20y 63d).

Nicky Clark, 33, is enjoying being St Johnstone captain and being a creative force in their team. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Jack Sanders: A stout performance at the back from the St Johnstone defender as Simo Valakari's side impressed at Pittodrie to earn a valuable point against high-flying Aberdeen.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 1-1 draw against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Jim: We are playing better since Simo Valakari arrived, his positivity is filtering through to the players. The small crowd of us Saints fans at Pittodrie were very vocal and were rewarded with a good team performance. The only thing missing is getting the second goal, which will come and will bring us more points.

Dunc: Slowly and surely progress is being made. After the shambles of the dying embers of Callum Davidson's reign, and whatever Craig Levein was doing, we can begin to breathe more easily. Work in progress.

Willie: The players are buying into the manager's philosophy. The signs are positive and the fans must get behind the team. The battle of the Saints next week is huge.

Watch highlights as Aberdeen draw 1-1 against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only)

Image source, SNS

Makenzie Kirk is convinced wins will come for St Johnstone after they delivered another "really good" performance in their draw at Aberdeen.

The 20-year-old forward scored the opener at Pittodrie, his third goal in eight games, before the Dons responded after the break.

Simo Valakari's side have won just once in their last six games, but Kirk is certain victories will follow if they continue playing the way they are.

"We just need to keep doing what we are doing," Kirk told BBC Scotland. "It is only a matter of time before we get the points on the board.

"The performances over the last few weeks have been really good. I think we are progressing and we are doing really well.

"It is just about picking up the points now and keeping positivity around the place."

Image source, SNS

• St Johnstone committed 19 fouls in this match, higher than their season average of 11.3 in the Premiership.

• St Johnstone have conceded five goals in the first 15 minutes of second halves, only Motherwell (six) and Kilmarnock (six) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Aberdeen have failed to win in their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from January 2024 to March 2024, a run of 11 games.

Aberdeen's winless run in the Scottish Premiership stretched to five games after St Johnstone claimed a draw at Pittodrie.

Makenzie Kirk pounced to give the lively visitors the lead after James McGarry sclaffed Matt Smith's cross off his own face as he attempted to clear.

However, half-time changes from Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin again made the difference as his side improved after the break.

Ante Palaversa teed up his fellow substitute Luis 'Duk' Lopes, who drove into the box and cut back for Leighton Clarkson to tap in the equaliser.

Were you at Pittodrie or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "A good performance from our boys against a very good team. Excellent first half, we created good moments and were solid. Credit to Aberdeen for how they scored, but the rest of the match we kept them to not being as dangerous.

"Where we have been struggling is we have not been solid in defence. We know we have a threat and can play, but we first need to be solid to have the foundation to attack.

"The last few games we have been solid. Credit to Kyle Cameron, it's not easy to step in during the warm up, but one of our values is we have to always be ready. He was fantastic."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone will take a lot of confidence from claiming a point at Pittodrie, where only Celtic have won this season.

However, they might feel they could have won it having shaded the game in terms of chances.

Simo Valakari has changed the style of play and they are a side full of energy which looks to play forward and combine in tight spaces.

Nicky Clark was brilliant again in knitting things together, while Kirk continues to grow at this level.

Kimpioka, with more composure and tighter control, could have made more of the space he was afforded on the break, but his pace frightened Aberdeen.

The biggest plus is they have conceded just twice in their last three matches, which is a huge defensive improvement.

The caveat for Valakari is the good performances are not yielding enough wins, with just two in seven games since the Finn took charge.

Other than a trip to Celtic Park on 29 December, they have very winnable games coming between now and the beginning of January.

They need to convert some of those into victories.