St Johnstone

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Despite sitting in 10th place, St Johnstone defender Andy Considine is confident that his side can finish in top six.

The Saints are only five points behind sixth-placed Hibernian, although they haven't won in six games after the 1-1 draw with Motherwell.

"We are more than capable of reaching that top six, that is our aim," Considine said. "‘I feel we have enough in the squad. It's games that like that, even if it is going to be one goal in the third minute, that we hang on and that we get the three points, so that is a learning curve.’

"We have got some great footballers in this team, some boys who can score goals, with Benji [Kimpioka] and DJ [Diallang Jaiyesimi], once they get one I am sure plenty will come and that builds confidence."

Considine admitted his own disappointment in Motherwell's goal, with the former Aberdeen defender allowing Theo Bair the jump on him for the equaliser.

"I am disappointed myself, I should do better with the goal. I shouldn’t let Theo score his header, and I felt other than that, they really didn’t create much in the game so I felt we could have come away with the win."

"We have got to take it game by game. Ross County next, that is a huge one going up there and I think it would put out a real statement if we were to go up there and get a result."

Were you at McDiarmid Park to take in St Johnstone's 1-1 draw with Motherwell?

Whether you followed from the ground or from home, what did you make of the result? And what does Craig Levein need to do this week?

Let us know your views here.

St Johnstone manager Levein: "I can't fault our effort at all, particularly since we played midweek and Motherwell had a free midweek. We fought and worked really hard, we just didn't play as well as we could.

"At least we've dug in and got another point, and it's another point that will help us at the end of the season."

The result was overshadowed by skipper Liam Gordon limping off towards the end of the first half.

"His hamstring was a wee bit sore - we don't know the extent of it yet" he confirmed afterwards.

"We'll find out in the next couple of days."

Iain Hepburn
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell will feel this was two points dropped after an impressive attacking performance was blunted by a lack of cutting edge.

The Steelmen created plenty of chances, and largely dominated the flanks, but despite Theo Bair’s powerful header for the equaliser, they somehow contrived to get just two of their 11 chances on target.

Stuart Kettlewell said before the game he hoped to have two or three more players signed by now, and with the transfer window running out he will be racing to add firepower to a forward line beset by injury.

St Johnstone will be the more relieved, having withstood heavy pressure from the visitors after snatching an early lead, but their mid-block proved successful in limiting the amount of direct traffic to Motherwell’s forwards.

Liam Gordon limping off shortly before half time will not be welcomed by Craig Levein, particularly as he looks to welcome back the likes of Nicky Clark and Kerr Smith from injury.

But once again Dimitar Mitov showed he’s been more than worth his wages to the club, keeping Saints in the match.

St Johnstone make two changes to the starting side that drew 1-1 with Aberdeen in midweek - with Max Kucheriavyi and Benjamin Kimpioka coming in for Diallang Jaiyesimi and Sven Spranger.

New signing Connor Smith is on the bench after his move from Hearts, with Nicky Clark and Kerr Smith also among the substitutes.

• Follow all the action here

St Johnstone: Mitov, Considine, McGowan, Gordon, Carey, Kucheriavyi, Robinson, M Smith, Kimpioka, Keltjens, Phillips.

Substitutes: Richards, Gallagher, Clark, Jaiysimi, Olufunwa, Sprangler, K Smith, Franczak, C Smith.

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Butcher, McGinn, Gent, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Paton, Spittal, Bair.

Substitutes: Oxborough, Nicholson, Blaney, Elliot, Ferrie, Wells, Miller, L Ross, M Ross.

A striker is next on St Johnstone manager Craig Levein's shopping list after the arrival of midfielder Connor Smith from Heart of Midlothian. (The Courier, print edition)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Connor Smith could make his St Johnstone debut if the paperwork is completed following his move from Hearts. Nicky Clark, Chris Kane and Kerr Smith trained on Friday after missing the midweek draw with Aberdeen. Ali Crawford, Sam McClelland and Drey Wright are still not ready to return while Cammy MacPherson and Ross Sinclair are long-term absentees.

Motherwell could have New Zealand international Callan Elliot and Sam Nicholson in their squad but both are short of match fitness. Shane Blaney and Dan Casey and are back on the training pitch but might not be ready while Jon Obika and Callum Slattery remain out.

Did you know? The home side has not won the past seven league meetings of St Johnstone and Motherwell.

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Connor Smith hopes he can "settle down" at St Johnstone after the midfielder left Hearts to join the Perth club on a contract until May 2025.

The 21-year-old featured regularly on loan in the Conference North for Scunthorpe in the first half of this season, and impressed during a stint at Hamilton in the Scottish Championship last season, but Smith feels the time has now come to leave Hearts permanently.

“The loan moves have all proved really useful in my development but I need to be settling down now and concentrating on one club," he said.

“I was most recently at Scunthorpe but I felt it was best to be in Scotland and playing regularly in the Premiership and this move gives me the chance to do that.

“It was Craig Levein who gave me my debut for Hearts when I was only 16 so he knows all about me and what I can do.

"I worked with Andy Kirk at Tynecastle as well so having them here has certainly influenced my decision to join Saints.”

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• Four of the last six Scottish Premiership meetings between St. Johnstone and Motherwell at McDiarmid Park have ended in a score draw (1-1 x3 and 2-2), with each side also winning one match during this period.

• Motherwell have only won one of their last seven top-flight matches against St. Johnstone (D3 L3), although they are unbeaten in their last three against the Saints (W1 D2).

• St. Johnstone are unbeaten in each of their last three home league matches (W2 D1), and could go unbeaten in four for the second time this season. If they do so, it’ll be the first time that they have put together two separate 4+ match unbeaten home runs in the same league campaign since 2019-20.

• Of the current Scottish Premiership clubs, only St. Johnstone (11) and Livingston (9) are on a longer ongoing winless run away from home in the division than Motherwell (8 – D4 L4), with the Steelmen drawing four of their last five on the road.

• St. Johnstone’s Dan Phillips has won more tackles (34) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, while he is only one of two players in the division this season to have won 25+ tackles (34), made 25+ interceptions (25), won 50+ duels (131) and won 25+ aerial duels (26), along with Hibernian’s Lewis Miller.

St Johnstone host Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, looking to build on an impressive performance against Aberdeen last time out.

Put yourself in Craig Levein's shoes and pick your Saints XI here.

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The Scottish Premiership fixture between Dundee and St Johnstone will now take place on Sunday, 11 February (14:00).

The game was originally scheduled to be played on 2 December but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Dens Park.

It was then rearranged for Wednesday, 14 February, but with both clubs out of the Scottish Cup, they have agreed to move the game forward to a weekend date.

Sportscene pundits James McFadden and Neil McCann analyse Graham Carey's disallowed goal and the penalty conceded by Liam Gordon in St Johnstone's 1-1 draw with Aberdeen. (Available to UK users only)

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David Keltjens hailed St Johnstone's change in "attitude" after his goal earned them a 1-1 with Aberdeen, and went some way to recovering from their Scottish Cup exit against Airdrieonians.

The Israel international made his Saints debut against the Dons, and believes "good things will happen" if they can replicate that level of performance.

"I am happy with this goal and the way I played," Keltjens said. "I thought the result was a bit unlucky for us tonight with the VAR decisions and with the shot hitting the post.

"The goal we conceded was unlucky from the beginning, with the corner and the penalty and everything, but I am happy to help the team and I hope to do it every game.

"I think after Saturday in the cup, everybody realised that we need to come with a different attitude and I think you saw that. I am proud of every one of the boys tonight.

"Mentally it is very difficult to have a goal disallowed and to concede from a penalty.

"We played, we managed to get a goal and maybe should have scored another one to get the win - we deserved it but we should be proud of the way we played and if we continue to play like this good things will happen."

We asked you for your views on the 1-1 draw against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Dave: We were the only team looking to win it in the second half, undone by two 'VARcical' decisions. Great character and we will be fine if we keep that mentality the rest of the season. As for VAR - at the ground nobody knows what is going on or why the decisions were made. Make it quicker and more transparent or bin it altogether.

David: St Johnstone should have won 2-1 if it wasn't for the VAR. And they need or bring on Stevie May. St Johnstone need a new goalkeeper - like David Marshall from Hibs.

Anonymous: VAR is ruining football!

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Luke Jephcott has left St Johnstone to sign for League Two side Newport County on a free transfer.

The Welsh striker only signed for the Perth side in the summer having been released by Plymouth Argyle, but is now returning to his homeland.

The 23-year-old made 11 appearances during his time at St Johnstone without finding the back of the net.

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• St Johnstone have scored in their last eight Scottish Premiership home games.

• Bojan Miovski has scored 10 goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other Aberdeen player.

• Graham Carey has now assisted three league goals this season, more than any other St Johnstone player.

• Slobodan Rubezic won five fouls in this game, more than any other player on either team.

• Aberdeen have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of games this season, more than any other team in the Scottish Premiership this season.