St Johnstone will undertake an end-of-season review of their policy around Celtic and Rangers tickets for matches at McDiarmid Park in a bid to "maximise income" from all fans. (Football Scotland), external
Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
St Johnstone are still adjusting to the methods of Simo Valakari as they look to avoid another relegation scrap this season.
The Perth side have also come under new ownership this year, with American lawyer Adam Webb taking over from Geoff Brown.
But what is the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to St Johnstone - good or bad?
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have conceded the most goals in the Premiership this season
It is somewhat unusual to see not one, but two St Johnstone players joint top of the Premiership scoring chart.
Both Nicky Clark and Benjamin Kimpioka are level with Celtic captain Callum McGregor and Aberdeen striker Pape Habib Gueye on five goals.
The 10 goals scored between forward duo Clark and Kimpioka make up more than half of St Johnstone's totally tally of 16.
Saints have netted more than five other teams and have converted an impressive 50% of their 18 big chances, all while boasting the fourth-highest average ball possession in the league.
For years it has felt like St Johnstone have lacked a goalscorer while having a solid base, but this season that has flipped.
The Perth side have conceded 27 goals in just 13 games - more than any other team in the top flight - from an expected goals (xG) against of 18.81.
That means Saints have shipped eight more goals than expected based on the quality of chances created against them.
At times that can point to questionable goalkeeping, with neither Ross Sinclair or Josh Rae yet to nail down the starting spot.
Sinclair has played nine league games while Rae has featured in five. The save percentages of both keepers are below 60%.
The team are certainly missing Dimitar Mitov, who departed for Aberdeen in the summer after a stellar debut season in Scotland.
With a keeper of that calibre between the sticks, St Johnstone would be looking up the way rather than worrying about what is over their shoulder.
St Johnstone have reportedly missed out on defender Ville Tikkanen, 25, who has joined HJK Helsinki from SJK. (Courier - subscription), external
Image source, SNSBarry Douglas has been about.
From Leeds to Lech Poznan, the one-time Scotland international has now settled in St Johnstone.
But what attracted him to McDiarmid Park?
"The football project on offer," he said.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, the 35-year-old expressed his excitement at returning to his homeland after a decade away.
"It's a bit of a transition period for the club. The new manager has come in, so it's new for me too, but it's exciting of course.
"It makes it a lot easier when you're winning football matches, and that's still to come but it's an exciting project, and it's probably the most important reason why I decided to come.
"The footballing project, a room for improvement and to help try and change the culture a little bit, on and off the park, was the big draw for me."
Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast for new episodes daily on BBC Sounds here
Image source, SNSSimo Valakari stressed the importance of St Johnstone bouncing back after a run of three straight defeats.
The former Finland international started his reign with back-to-back wins over Ross County and Dundee, but a trio of losses against St Mirren, Hearts and Motherwell have followed.
Now the head coach is eyeing a response when his side welcome Kilmarnock next Saturday.
"How quickly football can change," Valakari told Saints TV.
"We could have got something out of those games we lost, but we didn't and that's the reality of where we are.
"We really need to bounce back in front of our home fans [next week] and be ready for that match."
Off the pitch, Valakari says it has been "easy to settle" at the Perth club following his arrival last month.
And the Saints boss also hailed the way in which his players have responded the methods he is aiming to implement.
"The players have been very, very open," he added. "It's not an easy way to play, but the football needs to be fun."
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your questions on St Johnstone.
Glenshee asked: Is there a future for St Johnstone's new possession-based style? Or will taking the risk to play more attractive football be abandoned for the return of anti-football?
Tom answered: It depends on how wedded to his principles Simo Valakari really is. They're scoring enough goals - when was the last time two St Johnstone players were top of the goalscoring charts? - and I hear plenty of St Johnstone fans telling me that you're much more fun to watch these days. In attack, that is.
To concede 27 goals in 13 games is hellish, though. There's no future in that. Benjamin Kimpioka and Nicky Clark could keep banging them in but to no avail if the team is so vulnerable at the back. Valakari will definitely know by now the main cause(s) of that vulnerability.
We watch all the games coming in on a Saturday and St Johnstone were a drag to watch for quite a while, no doubt about it. I hope Valakari keeps playing ambitious football, but he can't be naive either.
He has to find the right balance. It'll be interesting to see if he can get there. Nobody wants anti-football in a grim bid for survival.
St Johnstone are seeking the thoughts of Benji Kimpioka and his agent as they look to extend the Swedish striker's contract beyond next summer before the 24-year-old is able to speak to other clubs in January. (The Courier), external
Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says "off-field things" have contributed to the absence of defender David Keltjens from his team in recent weeks. (The Courier), external
Australian defender Ryan McGowan says he left St Johnstone for Livingston this summer after a promised new contract failed to materialise despite his willingness to take a wage cut to stay. (The Courier), external
Sam Miller
Fan writer
The St Johnstone defence is leakier than a sieve from which someone has removed the bits between the holes.
It is a shame because we have goals in the team.
The problem has always been the other way round. We have struggled to score goals over the years but having players like Steven Anderson, Frazer Wright, Dave Mackay, Brian Easton and Jason Kerr at the back meant teams were usually in for a torrid time breaking us down.
If we can tighten things up I'm confident I'll be explaining to the missus why our summer holidays will be spent watching St Johnstone in Europe.
In a razor-thin league, we are not that far away.
Sam Miller can be found at the Dogger Saints podcast, external
Sportscene pundit Neil McCann analyses Motherwell's 2-1 Premiership victory over "lopsided" St Johnstone.
(Available to UK users only)
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari reassures striker Uche Ikpeazu, 29, he has a part to play in the Perth club's season following injury and hopes for a January return. (Courier - subscription), external
What would you like to ask Tom English about St Johnstone?
Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.
Answers will be provided on Tuesday’s episode of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast and on this page later in the week.
St Johnstone "have to keep believing" in their approach, says Graham Carey. (Courier - subscription), external
Watch highlights of Motherwell's 2-1 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Watch highlights of Motherwell's 2-1 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
(Available to UK viewers only)
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 defeat against Motherwell.
Here's what some of you said:
Paul: Once again our defensive frailties cost us. This is a hangover from Craig Levein and Simo Valakari has already taken steps to address this by bringing in Bozo Mikulic, but it will take time to get right. Middle to front we look good with good movement and passing. Just need to solidify at the back and we will rollover a team soon.
Sandy: Things don't happen in a vacuum - there are reasons for where Saints find themselves, including huge missed opportunities. Good to see a recognition, the goalies have been let down, but we all have to see that despite good possession play today there is a long term project needed to get back to where we were in 2014 or 2021, we must stay up.
Jimmy: Seems like we are still very nervous in defence. For Simo, the honeymoon period is nearly over, personally I know he can turn it around, we just need to keep faith in him and the team.
Roy: Promising start but looked utterly at sea when Motherwell started attacking. Could have been four or five down by the break. Didn't deserve anything from the game. Attractive football might be more pleasant to watch than what we've seen in recent years, but no points from three winnable fixtures and the leakiest defence in the Premiership doesn't augur well.
Hamish: Enjoying the new possession based football that Valakari is trying to instil into the players who appear to be buying into this way of playing. Once he has found the correct balance between defence and attack I think Saints will be a different team. It's not often you find a team out with the Glasgow two that dominates possession as much as Saints.
St Johnstone attempted four shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 3.3 in the Premiership.
St Johnstone have scored in their last five Premiership games.
Motherwell have conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only St Johnstone (four) and Ross County (four) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "First half was not close to where we need to be. We cannot be this soft. To go two goals down away at Motherwell, a strong defensive side who can hit you in the transitions, we put ourselves in a very difficult situation.
"At half time I said to the boys it would be the most crucial 45 minutes in our time together because these 45 minutes will tell what kind of team we are and want to be.
"Either we can go down, give up, or show something. I think in the second half they put their heart and soul on the pitch to try to get something out of it.
"But in the first half we put ourselves in too difficult a position."
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari endured a difficult return to Fir Park as Motherwell inflicted a third straight Scottish Premiership defeat on his side.
Were you encouraged by St Johnstone's attacking display? Did the defence worry you?
Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSSimo Valakari has brought energy and a new intent to a St Johnstone side which has struggled to stay in the top flight in recent seasons, chiefly because of their lack of creativity and goalscoring threat.
They started brightly at Fir Park and passed with confidence and precision, but the crucial thing is they still lack the final punch needed in the box.
On top of that, there is an openness to their style which means they are leaking too many goals, the most of any side in the top flight.
Motherwell knew how to exploit that, and other teams sense it too. They did show more grit in the second half after Valakari brought on defender Lewis Neilson and left-back Andre Raymond at half-time for midfielders Matt Smith and Jason Holt.
However, the Finnish manager is struggling to find the right balance between defence and attack.
The stats by full-time were even, but it was Motherwell who were more effective in both boxes.
Image source, SNSNicky Clark looked like St Johnstone's biggest threat and stepped up to the plate to calmly stroke in the penalty. His early removal with the game still in the balance was a debatable call from manager Simo Valakari.
St Johnstone make two changes from the defeat by Hearts for the trip to Motherwell. Josh Rae replaced Ross Sinclair in goals at half-time last weekend and continues between the sticks.
Matt Smith also comes back into midfield as Benjamin Kimpioka - the side's top scorer - drops to the bench.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, SNSThe suspended Liam Gordon will miss out against former club St Johnstone while Harry Paton and Johnny Koutroumbis might be on the bench but are short of match fitness.
Motherwell remain without Stephen O'Donnell (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Jack Vale (calf).
St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair misses out but his injury is not serious.
Lewis Neilson and Andre Raymond return while Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic could make his debut.
Uche Ikpeazu is back in training following knee surgery while Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain out.
