St Johnstone

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Midfielder Sven Sprangler says Wednesday night's defeat to St Mirren was a "bitter pill to swallow" as Simo Valakari lost for the first time as St Johnstone manager.

The Finn made a winning start to life in the Perth dugout as his side snatched a late victory against Dundee but they could not follow it up in Paisley, losing 3-1 despite taking an early lead through Benjamin Kimpioka.

"It was tough to take, to be honest, because I think we played well," Sprangler told St Johnstone's website. "We managed to score three goals in the first half, albeit two of them were ruled out.

"In the second half they put on some more pressure with high balls and set-pieces. We defended well but they kept the pressure going.

"We had a lot of possession but did not create too many chances in the second half. So it was very disappointing to go back home with no points."

Sprangler was one of the shining lights for St Johnstone on a disappointing evening that leaves the Perth side ninth in the Premiership.

The Austrian is expected to remain in his midfield berth when the Saints host Hearts on Saturday afternoon.

"It was a bitter pill to swallow on Wednesday but the good thing is we have another game at the weekend," he added. "We can show what we can do and go for the three points.

"Hearts are behind us in the table but we know they have quality."

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 3-1 defeat against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Robin: Possession football is nice, but pointless if we don't have a direction for using that possession. St Mirren changed it second half and got at Saints, we didn't respond. A disappointing 90 minutes but now onto a six-pointer with Hearts!

Jimmy: Our overall performance is getting better, the forwards and midfield is good, we just need the defence to tighten up. The confidence isn't fully there yet but we will get there.

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Michael Stewart examine the St Johnstone goals from Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh that were ruled out in the Perth side's 3-1 defeat at St Mirren.

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• Jonah Ayunga has scored his first goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 30 December 2023 against Aberdeen.

• St Johnstone have conceded six goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half in matches this season, only Hibernian (eight) and Ross County (seven) have conceded more in the Premiership.

• St Johnstone have conceded five goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• St Mirren scored three goals in a game for the first time since 4 August 2024 against Hibernian (W3-0).

St Johnstone must find a way to relieve pressure on themselves, says manager Simo Valakari following the 3-1 loss at St Mirren. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Were you at the SMiSA Stadium or following the game from home? Either way we want your views on St Johnstone's defeat to St Mirren.

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

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St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari: "Tough one, tough result. There were too many moments in the match we could not handle the opponent. Especially at the start of the second half, the pressure was just too much.

"We knew there would be moments where we need to suffer. And we did suffer, but when we got a little bit high up the field, we lose the ball and, boom, it came back quickly.

"I’m proud of my players. We wanted to test ourselves. I think we did some very good things, in the first half, especially. Two goals taken out by VAR takes a little bit of energy out of you. But that’s part of football now.

"Very disappointed players in the changing room. But nothing changes. Tomorrow morning, we practice."

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New manager Simo Valakari said pre-match that his St Johnstone side were still searching to find their own identity.

If this defeat is anything to go by, they may look to dominate possession in the short-term in their first attempt to find their way.

The visitors maintained more tha two-thirds of possession and made 567 passes. Their average passes per game so far this season? 394.6.

It was certainly a positive performance for St Johnstone, as the game was lost in a 15-minute spell following the break.

Otherwise, they showed glimpses of great attacking threat - especially through Benjamin Kimpioka, who, alongside Adama Sidibeh, had a goal ruled out.

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Following Saturday's away win over Dundee, Simo Valakari makes just one change to his St Johnstone starting XI.

On-loan defender Kyle Cameron comes back into the line-up after missing out at the weekend through injury.

Nicky Clark, who grabbed the last-minute winner at Dens Park, skippers the side after being appointed captain over Cameron by new boss Valakari.

Follow our live coverage here.

St Mirren: Balcombe, Dunne, Gogic, Fraser, Tanser, O'Hara, Phillips, Bwomono, Kiltie, Olusanya, Scott.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Penman, Taylor, Boyd-Munce, Smyth, Mooney, McMenamin, Ayunga, Mandron.

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Sanders, Neilson, Cameron, Smith, Sprangler, Holt, Wright, Clark, Kimpioka, Sidibeh.

Substitutes: Rae, Carey, Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Kirk, Douglas, Keltjens, Franczak.

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• St Mirren are unbeaten in nine home league games against St Johnstone (W5 D4), winning both of their last two by an aggregate score of 6-0.

• Each of St Johnstone's last five Scottish Premiership wins over St Mirren have come at home, with the Perth team's last such win at St Mirren Park coming in December 2018 (1-0) under Tommy Wright.

• Since winning three successive home league games from February to March, St Mirren have won just two of their last nine on home soil in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L5).

• St Johnstone have only lost two of their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W4 D5), winning their last such away match 2-0 at Aberdeen in February.

• Mikael Mandron has scored four goals in four Scottish Premiership appearances against St Johnstone, including three in three for St Mirren.

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St Mirren striker Kevin van Veen is struggling with a bruised foot but Richard Taylor returns after hernia surgery. Fellow centre-back Alex Iacovitti (tendon) is out long term.

St Johnstone's Andre Raymond drops out with a knock but new signing Barry Douglas could make the squad.

Uche Ikpeazu is back in training following knee surgery but still short of fitness while Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain out. Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit.

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Nicky Clark has been named as St Johnstone captain after leading the team to back-to-back wins.

Clark had stepped in for the Kyle Cameron, who was absent through injury, and then retained the armband for new head coach Simo Valakari’s first game in the dugout on Saturday.

The 33-year-old striker grabbed the winner at Dundee in the final moments of the match and will now continue to skipper the side.

Cameron was made captain by previous manager Craig Levein after joining on loan from Notts County in the summer and he was back in the team at Dens Park.

Speaking to club media, external, Valakari said: “We had a meeting.

"I have been talking privately with Cameron and Clark.

"Nicky will continue as captain going forward. There is no drama. I have been so happy with what I have seen so far from Nicky in this role".

Saints moved up to sixth in the Scottish Premiership thanks to their late win over Dundee, and Valakari is looking to continue that trajectory as his side prepare to face St Mirren on Wednesday night away from home.

"It doesn't matter that we have won our last two matches, we need to do it again against St Mirren," he continued.

"I have watched St Mirren twice live in the stadium. Once at home and on Sunday at Ibrox.

"They are a strong team. They are a very hard-working team and they are very well-coached.

"They have power and pace and they can play nice football. They are effective from set-pieces".

Simo Valakari has arrived from the comparative wilderness of Latvian football waving a magic wand that has lifted the spirits at McDiarmid Park in his short spell as Craig Levein's successor.

The 51-year-old Finn will look to build on the dramatic victory his side seized against Dundee on Saturday as he takes charge of another away trip - a battle of the Saints 24 hours before All Hallows Eve.

Valakari's side showed a verve and energy in their second half that ultimately secured them a comeback victory at Dens Park.

Making it three wins on the spin – while trying to sort out St Johnstone's somewhat shaky defence – will be a priority against hosts St Mirren, who are unbeaten in their last nine home games against St Johnstone.

Read all the midweek Premiership picks

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has confirmed that Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland, who had taken caretaker charge after Craig Levein's sacking, and goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall will remain his backroom team. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish football gossip here

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Johnstone continued their solid start to the season with another three points, this time away to Dundee, and they have two players in my TOTW.

Craig Levein may be no more at St Johnstone but Jason Holt is another player signed by the former Scotland boss who is having a fine season at the Perth club. Once again a hugely influential performance from the experienced midfielder as his side earned a valuable three points.

Nicky Clark, now 33 years of age, has always seemed a bit under appreciated in my opinion. Only his third goal of the season but it sealed three points for a St Johnstone side who are now in the top six and who suddenly have something of a feelgood factor about them.

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Former St Johnstone midfielder David Wotherspoon reckons players will be "thriving" under new manager Simo Valakari as they have a "fresh new start" at the club.

Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, he said: "Yeah, it's a massive boost for them.

"I think it's a fresh new start for most of the players now under a new manager and one that they're thriving on at the moment.

"Looking at the stats from the weekend and hearing from my friends and my family as well, they seem to dominate the second half, creating more chances.

"What I love to see is Graham Carey coming on as a sub and sort of changing the game with a goal and an assist.

"But you can see their attacking threat that they've got up top with Sidibeh and Kimpioka and, obviously, Nicky Clark as well who's turned around to a good leader, using experience and helping the team.

"So it's a massive result for them, especially going there, the way Dundee are, they've been very good recently and I think it's a great result and one of the fans they'll be talking about for a while now".

Watch highlights as St Johnstone beat Dundee 2-1 in the Scottish Premiership.

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Lee Miller assess the VAR decision for St Johnstone's goal in their 2-1 win against Dundee.

Saints fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 2-1 win over Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Ally: What a transformation, positivity from the manager rubs off on the players. Thought Saints deserved their win. Like old times, they kept going to the very end. Well done Simo Valakari and the team.

Steven: Great performance in the second half, looked more resolute and working together as a team. The new manager bounce is working. Dundee looked woeful and got very lucky with their goal as it was down to more bad defending. Hopefully new defenders get up to speed soon and will help sort out a dodgy backline.

Simon: There is certainly a refreshing change at the club at the moment. Like many fans I continue to be impressed by Simo's energy and passion for the game and for St Johnstone. It is night and day compared to the gloom that we all experienced for a couple of years. Early days but it looks positive. Defensively we have a number of things to improve.

Gordon: Great spirit, great belief and great energy. None of these seemed present under our previous boss but Simo has quickly got the boys motivated. The goal we lost shows we still have defensive issues but with time the gaffer will hopefully sort that out. Over the moon, great three points, great day out. Well done Saints.

Jimmy: We're still a bit shaky in defence. I didn't think the keeper should have rushed off his line when the ball came up, if he'd stayed he would have saved it. That's the only issue but once Barry Douglas gets on, things should change. The second half we were brilliant, kept the pressure on right until the end, a well-deserved win.

Ian: A great result and probably deserved, despite some poor defending leading to concession of the first goal. What a difference a couple of wins has made. Still lots for the manager to do but it's a brilliant start. VAR has to be better though. Nearly seven minutes for a decision is unacceptable and the whole "clear and obvious" goes out the window.