St Johnstone

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has revealed that KuPS refused to allow him to sign then 19-year-old Topi Keskinen for £40,000 before the winger went on to join HJK Helsinki then sign for Aberdeen in a transfer worth more than £800,000 this summer. (The Courier), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Jack MacKenzie is back in training for Aberdeen but will not be risked. Dimitar Mitov (hamstring) and Pape Habib Gueye (quad) remain out.

St Johnstone defender Andre Raymond is out after getting stitches in a foot injury while Barry Douglas is a fitness doubt.

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

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone midfielder Sven Sprangler says Simo Valakari's "positive" nature is fuelling the momentum behind the club.

The Perth side have picked up three of their four top-flight wins since the Finn was appointed in early October, and Sprangler is relishing life under their new manager.

"He's so positive, he wants the club and the fans to be as one," the Austrian said prior to Saturday's trip to face Aberdeen.

"He's so enthusiastic, he brings a lot of energy and everyone gives everything for the club, for the gaffer.

"Since he's here, we are more enjoying playing football and also on the pitch we are creating more chances. We are more offensively shaped, we are more sharp on the front foot. So yeah, that's the main point.

"I told everyone I love it to be here in Scotland. I enjoy every minute of being here, it's like a dream come true to play here in Scotland."

St Johnstone currently sit ninth in the Premiership - three points off the bottom - as they prepare to face an Aberdeen side who occupy second place but are winless in four.

"I'm looking forward to having another chance, another game, another three points to win," Sprangler added.

"We know what Aberdeen are capable of. We know their strengths, so we have to be on our best to beat them.

"They played during midweek, but we know their quality, so it will be a tough fight."

Colin Moffat
BBC Sport Scotland

With Celtic disappearing over the horizon, attention turns to the next best in the Premiership standings.

Aberdeen have stumbled in recent weeks, allowing Rangers to make up ground. The gap is four points with the Ibrox side having a game in hand.

Jimmy Thelin made a near-supernatural start as Dons manager, going all the way to November before tasting defeat. Aberdeen followed that League Cup semi-final crushing by Celtic with a handsome home win over Dundee but have lost two and drawn two in the league since.

So how will the Swede respond? In much the same unflappable way, most likely. And there is no sense of despondency after a gutsy display in the 1-0 midweek loss to the leaders on the back of battling draws away to the two Edinburgh clubs.

Thelin's first taste of the Premiership was a 2-1 success at St Johnstone and home fans will be confident of a repeat at Pittodrie, where the Dons had won seven from seven before they were edged out by Celtic.

However, Saints did take four points from the first two of three visits to the north east last season and have not lost successive league matches away to Aberdeen since March 2018.

Read all the weekend's Premiership picks

Matt Smith was told he is very much in Simo Valakari's plans when the 25-year-old midfielder sought out the St Johnstone manager after being an unused substitute in back-to-back games. (The Courier), external

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari will move players out of the club in January to free up funds in order to facilitate new signings. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Aberdeen have only lost one of their last eight league meetings with St Johnstone (W5 D2), winning both of their last two since a 0-2 defeat in February of last season.

• After their 1-0 defeat in their last league visit to Aberdeen in May last season, St Johnstone could lose back-to-back away league games against the Dons for the first time since March 2018.

• Having won 10 of their first 11 league games this season, Aberdeen are now winless in their last four in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L2).

• St Johnstone have lost both of their last two away league games, though they haven't lost three in a row on the road since January 2023.

• Aberdeen lost 1-0 at home to Celtic last time out, ending a 10-game winning run at Pittodrie. They last lost consecutive home league games in September 2023.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

St Johnstone's new owners gave the club's fans an ultimatum not long ago: Turn up to matches against the Old Firm or we'll give them your seat.

It looks like fans voted with their feet in Sunday's defeat by Rangers, and there will be a very interesting discussion in the not-so-distant future.

I understand the reasons why Celtic and Rangers' away ticket allocations were cut. The Rangers fans' songbook isn't to everyone's tastes but ultimately, we rarely get a result against them.

When you factor in less than ideal kick-off times, being live on TV and the grim winter weather, the board and fans will have to swallow their pride and allow the sale of seats to anyone willing to buy one.

The extra income from away ticket sales might be the difference between getting a new player or not.

Sam Miller can be found on the Dogger Saints podcast., external

Defender Jack Sanders, 25, sees improvement at St Johnstone under recently appointed manager Simo Valakari. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone will host fellow Premiership side in Motherwell in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The tie will take place on the weekend of 18/19 January.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 1-0 defeat against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Willie: The first 20 minutes were excellent, some great passages of play against a very average Rangers. The telling difference between the teams is squad depth, substitutes make a difference in tight games and we don’t have enough quality on the bench.

Robin: A meek performance that didn't react to the inevitable Rangers improvement after half time and defensive substitutions.

Neil: From the start Saints were up for this game but seemed to fade very quickly. We gave them too much space and too much respect. Passing was not great and we were wasteful at times with no real threat at goal. If we were at our best we could have had something out of the game. Rangers are no better than the rest bar Celtic.

Burnie: An absolutely turgid encounter, and I think both sets of fans would agree on that point. Saints lacked attacking intent and when we lost the opener we seemed bereft of ideas in order to bounce back. I was surprised by how poor Rangers were. I think that a good team would tear them to shreds.

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• St Johnstone have failed to score in five of their 15 games, only Ross County (eight) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers 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 five games from April 2024 to May 2024.

• St Johnstone attempted four shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in seven of their 13 games, only Celtic (10) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

Watch the best of the action from McDiarmid Park as Rangers edge to a 1-0 victory over St Johnstone.

(Available to UK users only)

Another game against Rangers without a goal, a fifth home defeat from seven this season.

What do St Johnstone fans make of Sunday's 1-0 defeat?

Let us know your thoughts.

St Johnstone have now lost five from seven at home in the league this season and rarely threatened an upset against Rangers.

The first half was even, if uninspiring, but the visitors took control after the half-time break.

Centre-backs Jack Sanders and Bozo Mikulic were joined by Lewis Neilson for most of the second half and those three were kept busy repelling attack after attack.

However, the ball just kept coming back since St Johnstone completely lost their grip in midfield and the mounting pressure forced that one crucial lapse as Jason Holt could only knock the ball into his own net from close range.

The changes made by manager Simo Valakari before the goal were designed to hold on to the stalemate and they could do nothing to alter the flow of the match after falling behind.

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St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: "We came to compete, to get something out of the match. It was not to be, but I can't blame my players, they put their heart and soul out there.

"It was difficult in some moments, but we did not give up. We were lacking the cutting edge, the final moment, the calmness in our head.

"When you play against the top teams, you need to be at your best. We were at our best mentally, physically, but just could not hurt them as much as we wanted.

"Yes, I'm disappointed. But, at the same time, I learnt so much more about my players and you saw what we were all about."

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St Johnstone could not really lay a glove on Rangers at McDiarmid Park.

Sven Sprangler was prominent in the first half as the Perth side contained the visitors without too much fuss.

Once the Austrian was withdrawn, Saints completely fell out of the midfield battle.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Goalkeeper Josh Rae says getting the chance to show what he can do between the sticks for St Johnstone has whetted his appetite to hold on to his place in the team.

The 24-year-old, who arrived on a two-year deal from Airdrieonians in the summer, began the season in goal but lost his spot when Ross Sinclair recovered from injury.

However, he was recently restored to the side following another injury to Sinclair. Now with both keepers now fit, Rae is determined to keep his place in the team.

"Obviously Ross was in and he was doing well, but I just worked hard in training and waited for that opportunity again," Rae said.

"We push each other and get on really well, but it is just about keeping it going now and hopefully I can keep my place.

"At the start of the season it was difficult going straight into the team, I missed the last few months of last season so it was quite tough.

"But after dropping out of the team for a few games and getting back in, it has made me a lot hungrier to stay in there."

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St Johnstone's Barry Douglas misses out with a knock. Saints are still without long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Danilo and Ianis Hagi return to the Rangers squad after missing out on the Nice game as they are not in the European squad.

Oscar Cortes has returned to training and Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo are getting close to a return following their respective injuries, while Neysharo Kasanwirjo is out long term with a knee injury.