St Johnstone

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone are not playing like a side who are going down.

Manager Simo Valakari conceded before this match that his side are favourites for the drop, but recent performances suggest that there is plenty of fight left in his team.

Despite missing out on the opportunity to move level on points with Saturday's opponents, a point away from home keeps them within touching distance.

The supporters stayed behind to applaud the players off the pitch at full-time; they still believe.

Perhaps the great escape is on.

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Dundee remain without Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee), Clark Robertson (hamstring), Billy Koumetio (ankle) and Scott Fraser (groin).

St Johnstone lost Bozo Mikulic to a long-term knee injury in midweek. Benji Kimpioka and Victor Griffith are close to a return but Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) are out long term while Andre Raymond has joined Dunfermline on loan.

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Simo Valakari says there is no better occasion for his players to follow up their midweek win than in a Tayside derby against fellow strugglers Dundee.

St Johnstone have won three of their last five top-flight games and are three points adrift of Tony Docherty's 11th-place side.

A win by two goals or more would move St Johnstone off the bottom for the first time since mid-December.

"You feel it, you feel a little bit, but you need to go again," Valakari said of potential fatigue in his side's third game in a week.

"And no better place to go than this game now, a local derby, a big, big game for many, many, many reasons. And I think it will be a great atmosphere."

The 51-year-old Finn's first game in charge was a dramatic late win at Dens Park, but at the start of 2025 his side were beaten 3-1 by the Dark Blues.

"It was one of the biggest things in my coaching career to feel that," Valakari added on his debut win.

"But at the same time, I felt it maybe most low as well in this one game we played them here in our own stadium, in front of our own fans, 3-0 after 15 minutes.

"So high and low. I felt both. And now again, it's a new occasion, a new game.

"They want to attack us, they want to put us under pressure, they want to hit us in counter-attacks and score early goals and make it very difficult for us. So we need to prepare ourselves mentally and physically.

"We need to be, first of all, ready for this occasion, we know it will be a high-intensive game, with a lot of duels, with a lot of second balls you need to win."

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• Dundee have won three of their last four league meetings with St Johnstone (L1), more than their previous 11 beforehand (W2 D3 L6).

• After their 2-1 win in October, St Johnstone could win away to Dundee twice within a single top-fight season for the first time since 1998-99.

• Dundee have lost their past five league games, their longest such run in the Scottish Premiership since January 2022 (six).

• St Johnstone have won three of their past five league games (L2), as many as their previous 21 beforehand (W3 D3 L15).

• Makenzie Kirk has scored six goals for St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most by a player aged 21 or younger for the club in a single league campaign since Stevie May in 2013-14 (20).

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Richard Foster assess St Johnstone's survival prospects after the crucial win over Ross County.

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Striker Makenzie Kirk says St Johnstone "need to stay focused" after a "massive" win over Ross County.

Kirk netted the only goal as Saints saw off the Staggies at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night to move within within three points of second-bottom Dundee, who host Simo Valakari's side on Saturday.

"It is massive for us," Kirk said.

"We knew coming into the game it was going to be a big one for us and we just had to go in and do what we did. We have to take the momentum into Saturday.

"For us in the changing room, we know what we need to do, we just need to stay focused and keep doing what we are doing. We just need to keep grinding out results and hopefully by the split the gap is closer and we have more of a chance.

"He [Valakari] is really positive and believes in us. The players believe in ourselves so we just need to keep getting important victories."

We asked you for your opinions on the 1-0 win over Ross County that narrowed St Johnstone's deficit at the bottom to three points.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Henri: Zach Mitchell, Makenzie Kirk and Stephen Duke-McKenna all put in an exceptionally good performance. We just need to channel our result and that energy into the game on Saturday to have any, albeit little, chance of staying up.

Stuart: A team who knew what they had to do went out and did everything correct. Really should have been over at half-time, if not for the County keeper. We clawed ourselves back in before a big game on Saturday. Mitchell and Daniels Balodis looked composed at the back, Duke-McKenna took his start well.

Gary: The worry for me is Saints only scored because of a mistake. All that possession and we couldn't score without a mistake. Dundee won't be so generous in the derby in Saturday. Hopefully Simo Valakari tries to play a more direct style.

Brian: A testament to the manager that even considering the season we've suffered, fans are still very much behind Valakari and the team. His transparency and investment in the club, and Perth area, has been a breath of fresh air. Another big one on Saturday, but we're going with belief.

Paul: A very encouraging display against a lacklustre County team who have an impressive away record. Mitchell, for me, was MOTM at centre-half and closely followed by the matchwinner Kirk.

Willie: Three changes to the team had a positive impact. Jason Holt used all his experience and craft in midfield, Duke-McKenna is the type of player fans love. Mitchell, a man of the match performance and a player who will be on the radar of all the big clubs. The fans are right behind Simo and the players are looking confident of the great escape.

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• St. Johnstone have scored in their last eight games in the Premiership, their longest stretch of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight from 21 October 2022 to 28 December 2022.

• Ross County have failed to score in 11 of their 28 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Makenzie Kirk has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

• Ross County have a record of W0, D0, L6 when conceding the opening goal away from home in the Premiership this season.

Watch the best of the action as Scottish Premiership bottom side St Johnstone beat Ross County.

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St Johnstone's Scottish Premiership survival hopes were give a significant boost after a deserved 1-0 victory over Ross County.

Makenzie Kirk's close-range finish, smashing in after a Stephen Duke-McKenna effort was parried by Jordan Amissah, moves Simo Valakari's side to within three points of second bottom Dundee with 10 games of the season to play.

County travelled to Perth with a record of four wins from their previous five away league games, but it was the hosts who had the better of a competitive first half.

St Johnstone created several good goalscoring opportunities but were foiled on each occasion by an inspired Jordan Amissah in the County goal.

St Johnstone fans, were you at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the game.

Have your say., external

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It was a big win. This match was our most must win game for our hopes for the rest of the season.

"Yes we needed the win but I'm most happy with how the players performed in this high pressure game. We kept our heads, we were well balanced in transition and defended when we needed to. To win the game in this circumstances, I'm very happy.

"We needed this win but I'm most pleased that it gives us the confidence we can play like we played in these circumstances.

"We didn't score early, we couldn't score in the first half but we kept going then we got our goal. It would have been nice to score more goals, so it wasn't so nerve-racking at the end but I think we deserved this win.

"It's hard to explain to outside people because they don't see what I see everyday in my players - there is desire to get results.

"We have not been good enough, we have not deserved to win in some matches. But today we won the match and these three points are so massive.

"Nothing has changed, we didn't get too low after the Hearts match and now we are not going to get too high. We recover and it's a very big match again at the weekend."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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This feels like a big few days for St Johnstone in terms of their hopes of avoiding automatic relegation.

A healthy haul of points from their home date with County, and their massive trip to face second bottom Dundee, appeared a pre-requisite with regards to their aim of trying to dodge the dreaded drop. And they have achieved the first part of that.

After back-to-back defeats, the victory over County will have everybody at McDiarmid Park feeling a bit better about themselves.

Valakari's side remain bottom of the table and they still have plenty of work to do, but if they can back this victory up with another at Dens Park on Sunday, the Perth side will definitely believe they can pull off a relegation great escape.

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Makenzie Kirk scored the only goal in what could prove to be a massive three points for St Johnstone in their fight for survival.

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St Johnstone centre-back Bozo Mikulic's season is over after suggering an ACL injury in training.

Manager Simo Valakari confirmed the defender will be sidelined for at least nine months.

"Sad news, he [Bozo] will be out for a long time," Valakari said.

"That's a big loss for the player and the club but that's part of football. It's great to see him walking today with a smile on his face, wishing everyone the best. That shows his character.

"He has done his ACL in training yesterday. That's his season over. It's close to nine months he will be out but he'll come back stronger."

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• St Johnstone are unbeaten in five league meetings with Ross County, winning three of those (D2), which is as many as their previous 18 games against the Staggies in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W3 D10 L5).

• Ross County lost 3-0 away to St Johnstone in October this season, but have never suffered successive away defeats to the Saints in the top fight before.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their last nine midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L4), a 2-0 win at Aberdeen in February 2024.

• Ross County have won four of their last five away league games (L1), as many as their previous 41 beforehand (W4 D11 L26).

• St Johnstone's Nicky Clark has scored nine goals against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, the joint-most any player has against the Staggies in the top-fight (Kris Boyd also nine).

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St Johnstone hope to have Benji Kimpioka (illness) and Victor Griffith (ankle) back soon. They remain without long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Ross County welcome back Zac Ashworth after injury, but Michee Efete (knee), Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh) and Will Nightingale (knee) are set to remain sidelined.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has opened the door for Benjamin Kimpioka to return to the first team after the striker turned down a move to Polish side Widzew Lodz. (Courier), external

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Stephen Duke-McKenna insists he is still "confident" of Premiership survival with St Johnstone as two "massive" games loom.

With 11 games left, Simo Valakari's side are six points adrift at the bottom after following back-to-back league wins with two defeats on the spin.

Saints host Ross County on Wednesday night before a weekend trip to second-bottom Dundee.

"The next couple of games are massive," said on-loan Harrogate winger Duke-McKenna.

"We need the points. It would have helped us a lot if we got three points against Hearts on Sunday. But we've just got to reset, be positive and tackle each challenge and game as they come.

"I feel confident, still. Obviously losing makes it that little bit harder for us now with another game gone. These next two games are really crucial to us.

"We will continue to carry out the plan that the manager gives us and hopefully we can be more ruthless. It's the little fine margins at the end of the day in these games."

Sam Miller
Fan writer

The visit of Hearts was a similar story to a lot of games this season. We played well, made chances but ultimately ended up with zero points.

The goal we scored was brilliantly worked. Great build-up play, a sublime cross and Adama Sidibeh there to knock it in.

We have been playing good football but it's a results business and that's all that matters now.

I don't care if we launch long balls all match or win with a scrappy own goal or a penalty. Two wins this week has to be the target but beating second-bottom Dundee on Saturday is a must. That's our cup final.

The picture will be a lot clearer this time next week.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external

St Johnstone received a bid for striker Benjamin Kimpioka from Polish club Widzew Lodz on Monday, but the deadline for transfer deals in Poland has now passed. (Courier), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 defeat against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Willie: I'm fed up of Simo Valakari and his boring passing football. This will never work in Scotland. Saints need to start planning for next season now with a seasoned Scottish boss in charge. Someone like John Hughes.

Brian: VAR robbed St Johnstone of the points. Really shocking decisions.

Ellie: Despite the result there is definitely still hope - we dominated the first 25 or so minutes, responded well after the break and had a few good chances. If our strikers can be more clinical - especially in the next two matches against Ross County and Dundee which are vital - I think we have every chance of avoiding the drop.

Neil: Saints controlled the first half an hour, then a stupid mistake lead Hearts to score. Too slack in places, also not sharp enough. Playing from the back is no good and there's too much hesitation when passing. Hearts took the ball far too easily from us just like Kilmarnock did. Saints were good at times though, our goal was a joy to watch. Need points in the next two or we're down.

Jimmy: Poor weather played a part, the pitch was a bit muddy. Adama Sidibeh tried his best alone upfront and got a goal, that wonder save from Craig Gordon and having the Drey Wright goal disallowed, wrongly in my opinion, turned the game. The next two games are must wins. We need two strikers up front, get Benjamin Kimpioka back on.

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

• Hearts have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games from 22nd December 2024 to 5th January 2025.

• Elton Kabangu has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Hearts player.

• Graham Carey has assisted two goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

Watch highlights as St Johnstone lose 2-1 against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.