St Johnstone

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• Dundee have won their last two league meetings with St Johnstone, last winning three in a row against the Perth side in the top flight in April 2002 under Ivano Bonetti.

• St Johnstone are winless in six Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee (D3 L3), this after winning five in a row against the Dark Blues beforehand.

• After their 1-0 win at Motherwell, Dundee are looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time since March last season – when their second win was over St Johnstone (2-1).

• Having beaten Ross County 3-0 last time out, St Johnstone are looking to earn back-to-back league wins for the first time since November 2022 (run of three). This will be their 72nd league match since they last won consecutively.

• Benjamin Kimpioka has scored four goals in seven league games for St Johnstone this season, surpassing his tally for the club in the whole of last season (three in 17).

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Remarkably, the weekend win over Ross County was the first time we have scored a first-half goal and taken the lead in a league game at home since January.

Looking back, every turgid match during that run seemed the same.

Saturday was different. A performance full of confidence, cohesion and most importantly... goals!

Although the red tape has yet to be cut for new boss Simo Valakari to take to the dugout, his influence can certainly be seen through bold team selections and an air of freshness throughout the whole squad.

The shackles seem to have departed McDiarmid along with the former gaffer and long may it continue.

Sam Miller can be found at The Dogger Saints, external

Ghana international Dennis Khorsa, a 28-year-old who can operate at left-back, left centre-half or as a holding midfielder, has begun a trial with St Johnstone set up by previous manager Craig Levein. (The Courier), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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St Johnstone have announced the signing of Scotland international Barry Douglas on a free transfer.

The 35-year-old left-back, who was most recently contracted to Lech Poznan, has penned a deal until the end of the season.

Douglas earned his only Scotland cap in 2018, and has won the English Championship with both Wolves and Leeds United.

"It is an exciting time," Douglas said. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to come in and try to help the guys develop.

"There is a project here. It is a bit of a transition period with the new manager coming in.

"I had a look and it is quite a young squad, so I can definitely bring my quality and experience to help everyone develop both on and off the park.

"The hunger is still there, the drive is still there and that is why I am so excited to be here playing my football."

BBC Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Barry Robson reflect on St Johnstone's goal scoring in their 3-0 win against Ross County.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Johnstone have suffered from goal-drought for what feels like forever. Not anymore.

Craig Levein may be gone but he deserves great credit for bringing Adama Sidebeh and Benjamin Kimpioka to the club. The latter stole the show at McDiarmid Park against Ross County with two goals.

Allan: Dundee will be a bigger test but what a game to win, season could look a brighter by next Saturday.

Craig: A much more complete performance. Benjamin Kimpioka needs that lifetime contract offered NOW! Worth every penny.

Robin: A routine home win - can't remember the last time we could say that. A team with a plan, a team happy to retain possession and a team not threatened by a County side hampered by ill-discipline was very pleasing. Moving on, Saturday is our biggest game of the season and we need a full 90-minute performance.

Anon: It was more like our St Johnstone that we haven't seen in a long time. They actually worked as a team having our two players back from suspension, no doubt was a big moral boost to the lads. Drey Wright and Matt Smith were brilliant as was Jason Holt. And when Makenzie Kirk came on he was just his usual self, got right into the nitty gritty and scored. Great player.

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• Jack Sanders attempted 96 passes in this game, the highest total for a St Johnstone player in the Premiership this season.

• Benjamin Kimpioka has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other St Johnstone player.

• St Johnstone attempted 18 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone attempted 631 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Ross County have failed to score in four of their nine games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

Former Dundee United, Wolves and Leeds left-back Barry Douglas, 35, is set for a trial period with St Johnstone. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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St Johnstone ended their seven-match winless streak with their first home Scottish Premiership victory this season against nine-man Ross County.

Despite being appointed on 1 October, new head coach Simo Valakari watched his side's win from the stand with the relevant paperwork yet to be completed.

The Finn would have had a smile on his face, though, when Benji Kimpioka cushioned in from close-range to deafen County cries of a foul in the build-up.

A quick VAR check - citing minimal contact - muted their pleas, and they were left shaking their heads once more when wing-back Eli Campbell was brandished a red card following two reckless and needless challenges inside the opening 31 minutes.

Even without the player advantage, St Johnstone were well within their groove and a second goal seemed a question of when, not if.

It should have came earlier than it did, as Kimpioka skied a glorious chance inside the box, but the forward made no mistake seconds later, latching onto Matt Smith's killer cross to power his shot past Ross Laidlaw.

Clark did celebrate a neat flick from close by but after a VAR check, his goal was chopped off for offside.

But County got no such reprieve when Charlie Telfer was shown a straight red when his dangerous, straight-leg tackle caught Sven Sprangler.

With virtually the last kick of the ball - and likely the last piece of action under Kirk's stewardship - Makenzie Kirk, caretaker Andy's son, toe-poked in a third.

Give us your thoughts on the game here., external

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St Johnstone interim head coach Andy Kirk: "Hopefully we'll get things sorted this week for the manager and he can take over on the touchline, but, it's a good day for us and a win that we much needed, so I'm really pleased for the players and for fans.

"Any win in this league is important, no matter where and when it comes, but especially today at home, the supporters deserved that, the players definitely served that for the efforts they've put in over the last few weeks so we've got to be really pleased for them.

"Hopefully we can continue on that vein, and if we do we give ourselves a chance to pick up more points as the season goes on.

"The clean sheet side of it as well, to score three goals at home is great and we had the advantage, but sometimes that's not as easy to play against. "

On Kimpioka and Sidibeh: "They pose a threat for any defenders and they can score goals so when you've got those attributes, if we can create chances for them, then we give ourselves a chance to get the three points.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

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When Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh are in the mood, they really are a dangerous duo and a frightening prospect for most defences in the league.

They are both so powerful in their press and cause havoc with their movement.

Though Kimpioka got his double, he really ought to have been going home with the match ball while, at worse, Sidibeh should have been celebrating one of his many shots.

They spearheaded a well-organised and patient St Johnstone, whose fans can only be disappointed they didn't walk away with more.

At times, there was a little frustration at the way the team appeared content passing the ball around in the second half. Perhaps the events of the 3-3 draw with County just a matter of weeks ago are still in the minds.

But rarely do St Johnstone have the luxury of spraying the ball around with zero pressure, dominating and being in cruise control. Three things they were here.

They were clearly enjoying the freedom and time they had to concoct an attack, encapsulated by Graham Carey nifty footwork to set up the third and final goal.

Utter dominance and the most deserving of wins.

Kirk said pre-match the players were playing to prove themselves to Valakari in the stands. Many will have left a good impression.

With his brace, it could only be Benji Kimpioka.

Four shots, three on target, two goals. Though he really should've headed home with the match ball.

His strength was a County concern all afternoon and every one of his seven touches in the box spelled danger for the visitors.

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Both sides at McDiarmid Park show two changes from defeats by the two sides of the Old Firm last time out.

While Simo Valakari is not yet officially in the St Johnstone dugout, you imagine the new team boss will have been the one who decided to promote midfielder Jason Holt and striker Adama Sidibeh into the starting line-up.

Defender Aaron Essel and forward Makenzie Kirk drop to the bench following the 2-0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox.

County's Don Cowie makes two changes from their 2-1 home defeat by Celtic.

In come striker Eamonn Brophy and Scott Allardice, whose fellow midfielders, Noah Chilvers and Aidan Denholm, drop to the bench.

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Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit after signing for St Johnstone, who remain without Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Ross County defender Will Nightingale faces more than two months out following knee surgery. George Harmon (ankle) and Ricki Lamie (Achilles) remain out while Max Sheaf has had a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem.

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St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari will not be in the dugout for Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash against Ross County, as the club say "the completion of relevant paperwork is still to be finalised".

Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland did pitchside duties for the Perth side's last outing - against Rangers - as Valakari watched on from the stands, and that will be the same arrangement this weekend, despite "extensive work behind the scenes".

St Johnstone say the situation is "currently outwith the club's control".

"Fans can be assured that the club is doing everything it can to speed up the process," chief executive Fran Smith said.

"Simo is understandably itching to get started and to take his place on the touchline. We will provide a further update to supporters as soon as possible."

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Leanne Crichton says she is "not convinced" with former St Johnstone manager Craig Levein’s suggestion that the side are better this season than they were in the previous campaign.

The Perth club sacked the former Scotland manager in mid-September after a run of four consecutive defeats and are currently on a run of no wins in seven, having appointed Simo Valakari as their new head coach earlier this month.

Crichton, speaking on BBC Scotland’s Scottish Football Podcast, suggests that a managerial change may not have been necessary if they were indeed a better side this season.

"I don’t know if they are, I’m not convinced by it," she said.

"I understand that they do now carry more of a goal threat than they did, I think they’ve got more pace in their side but ultimately a manager’s not being removed from a position if your side is doing better than they were last season.

"That is Craig’s opinion and I suppose time will tell with the squad that Simo Valakari has at his disposal. Can he turn that into a side that carries more of a goal threat, who carries that attacking prowess in the middle of the pitch, can they be defensively better organised?

"In their eight games, they’ve conceded 19 goals, that’s something that can be quite quickly addressed and how you play, maybe perhaps the fact that they have got more pace up top, it’s allowed them to think this season that they can open up and be more attacking and they’re still susceptible defensively for me.

"There is work there to be done, I do think they’ve got a couple of key players that you can look to improve and if you can keep the likes of Benjamin Kimpioka from picking up suspensions and red cards and other players along with that as well, you might go on to a good thing."

Simo Valakari, appointed St Johnstone manager on 1 October, is still awaiting a full work permit, with the club working hard to push through the paperwork in time for Ross County’s visit on Saturday. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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• St Johnstone are unbeaten in four league meetings with Ross County (W2 D2), winning as many of those four (2) as their previous 15 against the Staggies beforehand (W2 D8 L5).

• Ross County have only lost one of their last five league trips to St Johnstone (W2 D2), going down 1-0 in November 2023.

• St Johnstone have lost all three of their home league games this season, the only side in the Scottish Premiership in 2024-25 yet to pick up a home point. Since the Scottish Premiership re-brand in 2013, only three sides have lost each of their first four home matches of a campaign in the division: St Mirren (2014-15), Dundee (2018-19), and Dundee United (2022-23).

• Ross County are winless in 20 away league games (D8 L12) since beating Kilmarnock 1-0 in September 2023. Home and away, the Staggies have just one win in their last 11 Scottish Premiership fixtures (D6 L4).

• This will be Simo Valakari’s first game in charge of St Johnstone, the first Finnish manager to take charge of a side in the Scottish Premiership since Mixu Paatelainen with Dundee United in 2015-16. Not since Billy Stark in October 2001 has a St Johnstone boss lost his first top-flight match in charge of the club.

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Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum says it was the "wrong decision" not to award Rangers a penalty against St Johnstone for a shirt pull on Cyriel Dessers.

It was announced earlier this week by the SFA's key match incident review panel that Saints defender Aaron Essel should have been penalised for a tug on the Rangers striker.

"We expect a penalty kick here and we expect the referee to be brought to the monitor to review the decision," Collum said.

"You hear the referee saying he saw a 'small hold but it has no impact'... but is what the refereeing saying actually what happened? We don’t regard this as a 'small hold' and as having 'no impact'.

"We believe if this holding offence doesn't happen, the attacker has the chance to challenge for the ball. It's excessive holding."

The previous weekend, defender John Souttar was penalised for handball in the box following a VAR review against Hibernian.

Mykola Kuharevich's spot-kick was saved and the hosts maintained their 1-0 lead until full-time.

"It's the correct decision for us," Collum said of the Souttar incident.

“We think the Rangers defender throws himself to save the shot, block the shot at all costs. Unfortunately for him he's made his body bigger, for us it’s not natural.

"There’s a slight arm movement, although it’s not deliberate, but it’s certainly a punishable handball.

"There is every opportunity the goalkeeper could save the shot. So we would not support a red card, it isn't an obvious goalscoring opportunity."

The position of goalkeeper Jack Butland's feet in relation to the goal line was also discussed and Collum was "content" there was no need for a re-take.

We asked for your views on what you want to see from the Saints.

Here's what some of you said:

Daniel: The strength now lies in the attack with strikers who'll take chances, but Craig Levein just never seemed to get the players or fans believing enough for things to work. Simo Valakari's message is likely to be bought into more and likely be more fearless too. Could still be a surprise outfit.

Willie: We have good players, we need confidence and good shape, we need a coach who can make substitutions when they are needed. Give the fans belief and the fans will give their all. Most important of all make McDiarmid Park a fortress.

Ian: It's pretty simple for me, we need to shore up the leaky defence, make the most of our front men and get points on the board. Flowing football would be nice but we need a base to build from.