St Johnstone

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St Johnstone are looking to "right the wrong" of their last game against St Mirren, says midfielder Matt Smith.

St Johnstone were beaten 4-0 the last time the pair met in Paisley.

“It is a difficult place to go," he said.

"They started the season very well. I thought we were good against them at McDiarmid.

“Going to their place is difficult, we struggled there last time obviously. We want to right that wrong.

“They are an organised outfit with some good players who work well as a team, but we have to back ourselves to go there and get three points."

Smith says the team must put behind last weekend's lost against Rangers behind them - especially because the 3-0 scoreline did not reflect the balance of the match.

“It was a frustrating game [against Rangers]. We knew the threats that they had and I thought first half particularly we dealt with that quite well until their goal really," he added.

“It is always difficult, games against Rangers or Celtic, so we can’t dwell on it too much and we now have to look to our next game. It’s a big one and we can focus on that.

“The margins are always tight, that is just football. We spoke about mindset after the game, that we have to remain positive because we have a few big games coming up now.

“Obviously it is frustrating to lose the game but the message is to remain positive as big games are coming up. We need to keep fighting.”

St Johnstone's prospective new owners could trade in McDiarmid Park for a newer model and make a quick profit - because the current stadium occupies a prime development site. (The Herald)

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein expects both Drey Wright and Cammy MacPherson to return to first-team action this season. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

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• St Johnstone keeper Dimitar Mitov has prevented 9.0 goals this season according to Opta’s expected goals on target (xGoT) model, conceding 35 goals (excl. own goals) from an xGoT of 44.0. In fact, despite facing the most shots on target (126) in the division this season, three other goalkeepers have conceded more goals (excl. own goals) than Mitov’s 35.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their last 13 league matches away from home (D5 L7), although they have only lost one of their last three (W1 D1), keeping two clean sheets in the process.

• St Mirren ended a three-match home losing run in the league in their last match by beating Dundee 2-0, and are looking to win back-to-back home league matches for the second time this season, after doing so between November and December.

• After their 1-0 win in December, St Johnstone could win successive league matches against St Mirren for the first time since March 2019 (run of 5).

• St Mirren are unbeaten in eight home league games against St Johnstone (W4 D4), alternating between drawing and winning in this spell since a 0-1 defeat in December 2018.

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St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair can see “light at the end of the tunnel” after recently having his plates removed following elbow surgery last summer.

In August the 22-year-old suffered the injury in a closed-doors friendly, after having played a part in two Viaplay Cup ties the previous month.

After a long road to recovery, the Scotland under-21 goalkeeper is happy with his progress.

“It has been a long journey, but we are not too far away,” he told SaintsTV, external.

“There’s obviously been a few bumps on the road, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel so we are getting there which is pleasing.

“I knew something was up straight away. It was probably the worst pain I have ever been in. I knew it was a serious injury and my season was going to be cut short. It was gutting.

“I had a long-term injury three or four years ago so to have another long-term injury was tough at the age I am at, but the good thing is I have the rest of my career ahead of me.

“It was gutting but I got my head round it and I am on the road to recovery so it is good. Hopefully I see you guys in pre-season, it’s not too far away.”

St Johnstone were dispatched in their previous outing as Rangers ran out 3-0 winners to go top of the table.

Craig Levein's side will be looking to bounce back and move away from the relegation places as they head to St Mirren on Saturday.

Who would you like to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.

St Johnstone fan Danny Williams discusses the prospective American takeover at McDiarmid Park on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

• Listen and subscribe to the podcast here.

St Johnstone midfielder Dan Phillips has vowed to blank out the uncertainty caused by the fact the 23-year-old is out of contract this summer. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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St Johnstone's potential American investor has attended two of the club's recent games. (Courier - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, St Johnstone midfielder Dan Phillips was heartened by the Perth side's performance in the weekend loss to Rangers and is confident Craig Levein's team can move up the Scottish Premiership table. (Herald - subscription required), external

St Johnstone fans were pleased with their side but disappointed with video assistant referee after Rangers were awarded two VAR-awarded penalties.

Anon: VAR and standard of refereeing is a disgrace. The referee did not have the conviction to stand by his on-field decisions, except when awarding free-kicks to Rangers. That suggests to me they are just doing what they are told to by the VAR operator. I saw someone suggesting it should be renamed RAR (Rangers Assistant Referee).

Ryan: VAR has ruined football. It's helped the 'armchair fan,' adding drama and excitement at home - but for those in the ground it's dreadful. Ruining games completely.

Ian: We limited Rangers to few opportunities. VAR is killing us though - so many marginal decisions being refereed twice and all seem to be going against us. I left after the second penalty was given. I've had a season ticket for more than 30 years but I am reconsidering whether it's even worth watching football in the stadium any longer.

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has joked that referees should get their pay cut in half - because they are only making half the decisions in a Premiership game. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

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Were you at McDiarmid Park on Sunday or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on St Johnstone's loss to Rangers – have your say here.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "We competed well for the 90 minutes. Things changed with 20 minutes to go because we had to try and get something goals-wise. Most of Rangers' chances came in that period.

"It's another two VAR goals. They must be the top scorers in the league this year, the VAR goals. The second one I don't think is anything like a penalty. The first one was a reasonable decision.

"We've had six [against us] in the last few weeks. It gets really frustrating.

"It wasn't a great performance, but when I look at our effort and willingness to play our system, it worked really well.

"I talked to the players after the game, and acknowledged the way they worked was down to them. That was pleasing, their effort was pleasing. They tried everything in their power to keep Rangers out.

"We will park it. It's a game we weren't expected to win. We did a lot of good things."

St Johnstone make two alterations to the starting line-up following last weekend's 2-1 loss to Dundee.

Defender Ryan McGowan and midfielder Daniel Phillips start while defender Oludare Olufunwa and forward Benjamin Kimpioka drop to the bench.

Rangers make five changes from the team that started Wednesday's 3-1 win over Ross County.

Borna Barisic replaces Ridvan Yilmaz at left-back, Mohamed Diomande comes into midfield in place of Tom Lawrence while Scott Wright, Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes form a new front three with Ross McCausland and Cyriel Dessers joining Yilmaz and Lawrence on the bench and Rabbi Matondo missing out.

Leon Balogun and Dujon Sterling are back in the squad following injury and suspension, respectively.

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St Johnstone: Mitov, McGowan, Gordon, Considine, Keltjens, M Smith, Phillips, Robinson, C Smith, Sidibeh, Carey.

Substitutes: Gallacher, Clark, Jaiyesimi, Kucheriavyi, Olufunwa, Sprangler, Kimpioka, Richards, K Smith.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lunstram, Cantwell, Diomande, Wright, Silva, Cortes.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Yilmaz, Dessers, Lawrence, Sterling, Balogun, King, Raskin, McCausland.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rabbi Matondo misses out on Sunday's match after picking up a small muscle injury but Philippe Clement says it shouldn't be a long-term absence.

Leon Balogun is back available for selection and although Kemar Roofe is still absent, he returned to training this week.

Dan Phillips could be available on Sunday after Craig Levein confirmed he was back in training on Friday.

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• St. Johnstone have won just one of their last 20 meetings with Rangers in all competitions (D4 L15), a 2-1 league win in November 2022.

• Rangers have won each of their last four matches against St. Johnstone in all competitions, while they last beat the Saints five times in a row from December 2000 to December 2003.

• St. Johnstone have failed to win any of their last three home league matches (D2 L1), and could go four consecutive matches without a win at home for the second time this season, after also going winless across their first four such matches of the season.

• Rangers have kept nine clean sheets in 12 away league games this season; the last club to reach double figures for shutouts on the road in a Scottish Premiership campaign were Rangers themselves in 2020-21 (11), when they last won the title.

• Against Ross County last time out, Rangers attempted a total of 43 shots, the most by a side on record (from 2013-14) in a single Scottish Premiership match. In fact, their non-penalty expected goals (xG) total was 4.9, the highest by any side in a single game in the division since Celtic recorded 5.5 vs Dundee United in August 2022.