St Johnstone

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Simo Valakari insists Rangers' impressive Europa League win in Nice "doesn't make any difference to us" as St Johnstone bid to add to the Ibrox side's domestic struggles.

Third-place Rangers, who trail 11 points behind Premiership leaders Celtic, travel to Perth on Sunday on the back of a 4-1 victory in France.

"The one thing we cannot control is the form the opponent is in when they're going to play against us," said Saints boss Valakari.

"So basically, what happened in Rangers' last match doesn't make any difference to us. Now they play against us, and we start from zero.

"What I saw from the first minute from Rangers [against Nice] was a very determined team, who has been hurting because maybe they have not got the [domestic] results.

"They wanted to show they are a good team, they are good players and they put a performance on, but that was last night and Sunday is a new game.

"For me to see them play and score those goals, it was not a surprise because you see the quality of the players and it has been maybe just a matter of time before they start collecting these goals."

Valakari is refusing to get carried away after his side's victory over Kilmarnock last time out, which ended a three-game losing run and lifted Saints to ninth in the table.

"Of course we can talk about our process and where we want to take our club, but we need the results more for the outside noise to calm a little bit, like they are doing it the right way," he added.

"We know inside what we are doing. The results we have got lately have not been what we want but we see where we are going and we work towards it.

"We know where we are, we are not now ‘Oh we win one match and everything is good.' No, we are still a work in process."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

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

Here are the key lines:

• Valakari wasn't surprised to see Rangers thrash Nice in Europe, saying it was "only a matter of time" before they performed like that and "you see the quality of their players".

• He added: "I saw a very determined team who has been hurting", but points out Sunday is different game and "it is our job to make it difficult for them".

• To get a positive result Valakari says Saints will have to do the basics well and "add some extra moments".

• The Finn describes his team as a "work in progress" who are "taking steps in the right direction".

• Having ended a three-game losing run by beating Kilmarnock last weekend, Valakari says Saints need results "more for the outside noise".

• Barry Douglas, Uche Ikpeazu, Sam McClelland and Cammy MacPherson are all out.

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• St Johnstone have lost their last seven meetings with Rangers in all competitions, last suffering a longer losing run against them in December 1992 (10 in a row).

• Rangers have only lost one of their last 23 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (W18 D4), and one of their last 19 against the Perth men away from home (W15 D3), a 2-1 defeat in November 2022 under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in what proved to be their final defeat under the Dutchman.

• St Johnstone have won two of their last three home league games (L1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W2 D4 L9).

• With just four points, this is Rangers’ lowest tally from their opening five away games of a league season since 1987-88 under Graeme Souness (also 4).

• Rangers have won 25 of their last 26 league games played in December, although the exception was their most recent, losing 2-1 to Celtic last year.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari wants to add a right-sided defender to his squad when the transfer window opens in the new year, despite winger Drey Wright impressing as a stand-in at full-back this season. (The Courier), external

Sven Sprangler was given the option to leave St Johnstone in the summer, but his decision to stay and fight for his place has been vindicated by the 29-year-old Austrian midfielder becoming a key member of the side since Simo Valakari's arrival as manager. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

The 1-0 result against Kilmarnock was good, but the clean sheet felt better.

Every week I have felt like I'm coming away from a match saying we played OK except for losing soft goals.

Killie had what felt like 49 corners and absolutely battered balls into the box, but the defence never looked under pressure.

The signing of Bozo Milokic seems to have steadied the backline. With not one but two of our strikers sitting atop of the goalscoring charts, it won't be long until everything starts clicking consistently and what better time against a floundering Rangers team this Sunday.

We might well be the team to finally unshoogle that peg permanently.

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

Training ground work was behind St Johnstone's first headed goal of the season in Saturday's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock and Saints manager Simo Valakari hopes for more. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

St Johnstone have two players in my team of the week after their 1-0 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Andre Raymond provided the assist for Makenzie Kirk's goal which proved to be so vital.

Kirk was impressive overall - more successful dribbles than anyone else on the pitch and no other player had more shots or shots inside the opposition box.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 1-0 win against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Les: A terrific three points for us and great to get a clean sheet. We looked more assured defensively with Bozo Mikulic playing and Josh Rae's confidence is getting better. All in all, mostly a good day for us.

Simon: The management from Simo Valakari was excellent. A well thought out and bold move in playing Makenzie Kirk from the start. We played well, although we can easily play a lot better. Kilmarnock looked pretty poor. We should approach next Sunday with confidence that we can get another three points.

Watch Sportscene analysis of St Johnstone's 1-0 win against Kilmarnock.

Watch highlights as St Johnstone win 1-0 against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

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• Kilmarnock have failed to score in five of their 13 games, only Ross County (seven) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have scored in their last six games in the Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Kilmarnock have lost their last three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 4th August 2024 to 25th August 2024.

• St Johnstone have scored in each of their last six games in the Premiership, scoring nine goals in that run.

St Johnstone ended a run of three consecutive league defeats with a 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

Let us know your thoughts on the match here., external

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Big three points. The game was pretty much what we expected.

"We played against a very strong team who came and man marked us full pitch. It was not easy.

"We have good strikers and a lot of options there. All of them have different strengths.

"Makenzie Kirk has put his head down and has waited for his chance.

"I asked him to put the hard work in to help the team defend and he did fantastically."

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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It was a first start in five league matches and a first under Simo Valakari for Makenzie Kirk.

The 20-year-old more than repaid his new manager's trust with a crucial goal accompanied by an impressive performance.

He completed more successful dribbles than anyone else on the pitch and no other player had more shots or shots inside the opposition box.

His last start was in early October at Ibrox, where he missed a big opportunity to level the game at 1-0 down, but that doesn't seem to have fazed him.

There's always going to be a lot of pressure as the assistant manager's son, but Kirk answered his critics today.

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St Johnstone: Rae, Wright, Mikulic, Sanders, Raymond, Carey, Sprangler, Holt, Clark, Kirk, Kimpioka

Substitutes: Sinclair, Cameron, Neilson, Essel, Sidibeh, Kucheriavyi, Smith, McPake, Franczak

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Ndaba, Donnelly, Lyons, Watson, Armstrong, Vassell, Watkins

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Polworth, Bainbridge

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Goalkeeper Ross Sinclair is available again for St Johnstone, who are just missing long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Polworth is back in contention while Danny Armstrong missed the Celtic game with a hamstring injury.

Stuart Findlay (ankle) is out long term and Kyle Magennis is working towards a comeback.

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Simo Valakari believes St Johnstone are ready to halt their three-game losing streak after "very beneficial" extra time on the training pitch.

Saints return from the international break to host Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Recently-appointed manager Valakari said: "Spending more time together on the training field, spending time on little details, it has been very beneficial.

"Players who had little injuries have had time to heal and players with bigger injuries have been working hard.

"For me the confidence is our preparation, the daily process of what we do on the training ground.

"Three losses in a row is not us, we don't like it, but if we got three wins in a row it doesn't mean we would automatically win the fourth."

Valakari insists he is "excited" for the challenge of facing a "very well coached" Kilmarnock team.

"I really like what I see from Kilmarnock, I like how they overload the opponents' last line, they put a lot of players there," he said.

"They will put the ball in the box because they have big strikers, but if you give them time and space, they will play.

"We know we need to be our best to get something out of the match and we need to be humble, concentrated and do the small things as well as possible."

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before the game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• He is eager to get back to Premiership action after the international break and says "it has been a long two weeks" since the defeat by Motherwell.

• The hiatus, though, has been "very beneficial" in clearing up some injuries and allowing the team to "spend more time together, more time on the training field and get more of the little details right".

• On Saints' run of defeats, Valakari says: "Three losses in a row is not us, we don't like it."

• The Finn is pleased with the "good competition" for places for centre-back and says it gives "flexibility for different situations and makes us stronger."

• He is "very excited" to face a "strong" Kilmarnock team and insists his side "know what we need to do".

• Killie have "good, physical and capable players" and a "handful of strikers who are a very big threat in the box".

• On potential business in January, Valakari says: "It depends on what we do today or tomorrow, what kind of window we will be in."

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• Since the start of 2020-21, St Johnstone have won more league games against Kilmarnock (7) than any other opponent.

• After their 2-0 win in this fixture last season, Kilmarnock could pick up successive away league victories over St Johnstone for the first time since December 2017 (run of 3).

• St Johnstone have only won one of their last 14 home league games (D4 L9), a 3-0 victory over Ross County in October, which is also their only clean sheet in this period.

• Kilmarnock have won just three of their last 29 top-flight away games played in the month of November (D9 L17), and are winless in their last nine (D3 L6) since a 1-0 victory at Hearts in 2018.

• Nicky Clark has scored five of St Johnstone's last 10 league goals, netting a penalty in both of the last two matches. The last Scottish player to score in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances for the club was Michael O'Halloran in August 2017 – a run that included a goal against Kilmarnock.

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?

Let us know., external

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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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.