St Johnstone

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.

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Nicky Clark was delighted to send St Johnstone fans home happy on Saturday after scoring a late winner against Dundee.

Despite a lengthy VAR check, Clark's 90th minute goal stood and sent Simo Valakari's side back to Perth with all three points.

"I think even in the first half we were on top," the striker said.

"I've just heard the possession stats and I know that doesn't win you football matches but I think we were on top.

"We weren't happy with the goal we conceded. We can do much better than that as a team.

"But we just said [at half-time] to stay positive and keep moving the ball and we would get chances and that’s exactly what happened."

It was new manager Valakari's first game in the dug-out after being appointed earlier this month.

"He is great," Clark added.

"He has brought a lot of energy. Probably just what the place needed.

"The fans were right behind him [on Saturday] and we are just delighted we could send them home happy."

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• Dundee have lost a home game after leading at half time in the Premiership for the first time since 5th October 2024 against Kilmarnock .

• St Johnstone have won after trailing at half time away from home in the Premiership for the first time since 17th December 2022 against Ross County (14 games without a win after trailing at half time).

• Simon Murray has scored three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player.

• St Johnstone have attempted 20 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

St Johnstone battled back to earn a Scottish Premiership victory against Dundee after a dramatic finish to Simo Valakari's first game in charge.

How significant was that late goal from Nicky Clark? Were you impressed with Saints at Dens Park?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Our players were fantastic today, and our fans were unbelievable. Going down 1-0 first half we did not freeze. We just kept gong and the fans were backing us.

"I was very pleased to hear the things our player were talking about half-time and what we needed to do. It was just a matter of going and doing it and I'm so pleased for everyone.

"It was a good way for the referee to explain why it took so long. There were many incidents he needed to look at. It would have been a penalty to us for a handball by the defender [anyway].

"It was a good openness from the referee to explain it.

"Nothing has changed. We got the three points but tomorrow and Monday we are back to work and we still have a lot of things to improve."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Despite being denied the chance to manage his team from the sidelines, Simo Valakari's energy and enthusiasm since arriving in Scotland has brought intrigue about whether he can breathe life into St Johnstone's season.

It did not appear to be the case in the first half, which was joyless from both sides and in particular for the Saints defence which gifted Dundee the opener.

But after the break St Johnstone's sharpness and intensity lifted instantly, and pacy strikers Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka got into the game.

Both fashioned chances in the box before the goals eventually came, with Carey scoring a trademark goal and the wily Nicky Clark popping up with the crucial moment.

Jason Holt also really impressed in midfield. Craig Levein was adamant before his departure he had assembled a more attacking squad than in seasons gone by in Perth.

The former boss is absolutely right about that and it will be fascinating to see how Valakari can harness it, while also working on a shaky defence.

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Dundee midfielder Mo Sylla returns from suspension, while defender Jordan McGhee and midfielder Scott Fraser will be assessed.

And centre-half Joe Shaughnessy is making good progress from a long-term knee injury.

Croat centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit to complete his move to St Johnstone after leaving Partizan Tirana.

The visitors will also again be without Cammy MacPherson, Uche Ikpeazu and Sam McClelland.

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Dundee midfielder Mo Sylla returns from suspension while Jordan McGhee and Scott Fraser will be assessed. Joe Shaughnessy is making good progress from a long-term knee injury.

St Johnstone will again be without Cammy MacPherson, Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles), while Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit.

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Barry Douglas was persuaded to join St Johnstone by head coach Simo Valakari and his desire to "change the narrative" around the Perth club.

The 35-year-old left-back was out of contract over the summer after three years at Polish side Lech Poznan and was keen to keep playing.

"The coach was probably the deciding factor,” said Douglas. “I had a very different summer because it was the first time in 18 years that I was free so I had no expectation.

"I just fully immersed myself in enjoying it with the family. We travelled and had some amazing holidays, but as the time goes on, you start to get itchy feet and that definitely happened with me.

"I felt I was lacking a wee bit of purpose. I wanted to be around that day-to-day interaction, which you don’t get when you’re just training by yourself. And then it had to be something that motivated me."

St Johnstone have had to battle to hold on to their Premiership status during the last two seasons, off the back of back-to-back top six finishes and the famous Cup double of the 20-21 season.

"I’m fortunate enough to play football not for financial reasons, it needs to be about the project to motivate me," Douglas added.

"When I spoke to the coach, I learned how he wanted to play and change the narrative around St Johnstone. That was what appealed to me to come here.

"I know my body and if I didn’t feel I was adequate enough to keep playing, then I would have hung up the boots, but I feel very good mentally and physically. I just need to get up to speed with the sharpness and let’s see how I can contribute.”

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St Johnstone's new head coach Simo Valakari will finally make his first appearance on the touchline against Dundee on Saturday.

The former Motherwell midfielder was appointed on 1 October but has yet to fully take charge of the team on a matchday due to visa issues.

In a statement last week, the club said the problem was "completely outside of club control" but they have now confirmed Valakari will be in the dugout.

Since the 51-year-old Finn replaced Craig Levein at the helm, coaches Andy Kirk and Alec Cleland have taken control of the team on match days, with Saints losing at Rangers before beating Ross County in Perth.

However, Valakari will be present on the bench at Dens Park and will also be available for media duties.

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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.