St Johnstone

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Livingston on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Stressed the club's Premiership fate is very much in their own hands as they fight for survival, and insists he would have taken this scenario a few months ago.

• Levein says he will take each game on its own merit but accepts wins are needed.

• Doesn’t know what to expect from Livingston but is preparing to face the “best version" of David Martindale's side.

• Planning for next season is on hold until end of campaign - "until we know what our budget is and what league we are playing in, there is nothing I can do".

• Wigan loanee Luke Robinson is out for the rest of the season with a cartilage tear, while Tony Gallagher is a doubt.

• Levein is keeping an eye on the play-offs, just in case they end up facing one of the Championship sides.

You could pick this one or Ross County's home game against Motherwell given their equal significance in helping decide who ends in the play-off spot.

St Johnstone are the current occupiers after last week's defeat at Pittodrie left them two points adrift of County, with both sides holding an identical goal difference.

Saints are on a bleak run of just one win in seven games at just the wrong moment, and they, along with Saturday's opponents Livingston, are the lowest scorers in the league with a turgid 25 goals from 35 games.

It is a truly awful return and one that must have alarm bells ringing at McDiarmid Park. If they can't beat already-relegated Livingston, then hope of scraping to 10th will fade fast.

It is pivotal for Craig Levein and his team they do not welcome County to Perth on Wednesday any further behind.

Don't expect a classic, but the stakes couldn't be much higher for Saints.

Read all the weekend's Premiership picks

• All three league meetings between Livingston and St Johnstone this season have been drawn; the last fixture to be drawn four times in a Scottish top-flight campaign was Dunfermline Athletic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2011-12.

• St Johnstone are winless in four league visits to Livingston (D2 L2) since a 2-1 victory in February 2022.

• After their 2-0 win over Ross County, Livingston are looking to pick up back-to-back home league victories for the first time since May 2023 (run of 3).

• St Johnstone have lost nine of their last 12 league games (W2 D1), including their last three. However, all of their last three league wins have come away from home.

• St Johnstone boss Craig Levein has drawn seven of his last eight games against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership, with the exception in this period a 5-0 defeat with Hearts in December 2018.

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St Johnstone's stagnation could be catching up with this season, says BBC Sport Scotland journalist and commentator Thomas Duncan.

The Perth side travel to already-relegated Livingston this weekend with the hope of climbing out of the relegation play-off spot at the expense of Ross County.

"They have been shocking at home recently, so they might be better away from home [this weekend]," Duncan told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"St Johnstone have the fortune of playing Livingston when they're already dead and buried, though, so that might free them up.

"Twenty five goals in 35 league games - it's the same as Livingston, they're the joint-lowest scorers in the league.

"Way under a goal a game is tough for a team's confidence and tough for fans to watch.

"It just feels like since they sensationally won those two cups, St Johnstone have just been bobbing on the surface. When you bob about and you don't really kick on, it just catches up with you.

"I have that feeling about St Johnstone. They play Ross County at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday, which is huge. If they can stay in touch this weekend, then you can try and inflict some direct damage."

St Johnstone travel to relegated Livingston on Saturday looking to secure a much-needed win in their survival scrap.

Should Craig Levein make changes to his struggling side? Choose your XI here.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

As bleak as it is being a St Johnstone fan at the moment, I still firmly believe we have what it takes to navigate survival.

With a visit to already-relegated Livingston followed by Ross County coming to Perth, it's still in our own hands.

Our trip to Aberdeen once again proved that when the chips are down we fold our hand.

And with Ross County winning, hopefully it's the spark needed to go all in on our final three fixtures.

A 'reset' is needed with this team but for our new potential owners, doing that in the Championship could herald a miserable few years ahead.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external

St Johnstone's on-loan midfielder Luke Robinson will not feature again this season, says McDiarmid Park manager Craig Levein. (Courier - subscription), external

Chris Kane, the 29-year-old striker who ended the season on loan to Dunfermline Athletic, admits he would be sad to leave St Johnstone but fears he might have to. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

We asked for your thoughts after St Johnstone fell to a 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie, which saw them drop into the relegation playoff spot.

Here's what you had to say:

Duncan: Not a game I thought we'd get anything from, but Ross County's win puts more pressure on a struggling, poor team. Ultimately we deserve to be playing Championship teams to determine our fate. It's been a poor season. A poor squad and management. A poor final few years of the Brown stewardship. Relegation might be what is needed to reset and rebuild.

Hamish: Truly horrible football, bereft of ideas and creativity, some players not up for the fight and a manager who sets the team up not lose despite our defensive frailty. Hate to say but relegation may be the best thing for Saints. We'd have a clean slate with new owners.

Derek: Can’t see us surviving but whatever league we are in we need rid of the incompetent Craig Levein. His only interest is in beating Hibs.

Ally: Absolute rubbish! St Johnstone look a broken club, just like Levein. God knows what the soon too be new owner thinks of this complete shambles. I said it before, Levein and Kirk should never have been allowed anywhere near the club.

St Johnstone striker Chris Kane and Partick Thistle forward Anton Dowds both admitted they do not know where they will be playing next season as the on-loan pair starred for Dunfermline Athletic and Ayr United respectively in Saturday's 3-3 draw at the end of the Scottish Championship season. (Sunday Post, print edition)

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Craig Levein is confident his St Johnstone side can pick up nine points from their three remaining games.

The defeat at Pittodrie, and Ross County's win over Hibs, means St Johnstone drop into the relegation play-off spot with just three games left of the season.

Do the Saints have what it takes to stay in the top flight? Is Craig Levein the man to lead the team next season?

Give us your thoughts here.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: "It was a game of two halves.

"I thought the first half we were really good, we had chances and we didn't take them. Second half we weren't so good, I thought Aberdeen were better.

"The game, which wasn't a classic, was decided by a penalty and having seen it again I think it was soft. If it was us I'd be asking for a penalty but I do think it was soft.

"There wasn't an awful lot between the teams. We had chances in the first half, if we'd made better decisions we might have had more.

"We had to raise our performance in the second half but we didn't do that.

"It is important we put that to one side and forget about it. We've played the two best teams in the bottom six and we've got Livingston, Ross County and Motherwell to play.

"Tough challenges but I think we can get nine points."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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There were certainly positives to take for St Johnstone and they should take confidence that the game was decided by a penalty.

But, the loss drops them into the relegation play-off spot after Ross County’s victory over Hibs.

They got forward, created chances but ultimately couldn’t find the clinical edge they needed to get back in the game after going a goal behind.

Aberdeen are without caretaker boss Peter Leven following his rush to hospital, but captain Graeme Shinnie returns from suspension and makes it onto the bench.

Craig Levein makes three changes to his St Johnstone side that were beaten 3-1 by Hibs last weekend.

Adama Sidibeh and Fran Franczak drop to the bench while Luke Robinson is out of the squad.

Drey Wright, Benjamin Kimpioka and Connor Smith are in from the start.

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Dan Phillips says he enjoys people writing off St Johnstone as they look to secure Premiership survival.

The Trinidad and Tobago midfielder has been a key performer for Craig Levein's side, who currently sit 10th, one point above the relegation play-off.

“I like when people are giving us a bit of stick or are against us," Phillips said.

“Whatever position you are in, you have to spin it to suit you. If we were looking up the way we would still be thinking we have got something to chase.

“The position we are in now, we have to think we are fighting. Every point we get is really important.”

With Levein already confirming Phillips is unlikely to stay at the club beyond the expiry of his contract in the summer, the 23-year-old says he's not focusing on the future.

“It doesn’t affect me at all. I haven’t seen any speculation," he added.

"I am only focused on the season here and making sure we have a good end to the season.”

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie returns from suspension and caretaker manager Peter Leven has a full squad.

St Johnstone attacker Diallang Jaiyesimi is back in contention while Sven Sprangler is set to return to Scotland after receiving treatment for a knee injury in Austria.

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We asked who has been your standout player for St Johnstone this season.

Here's what you had to say:

Brian: Graham Carey has been far better than any other player all season.

Jason: Adama Sidibeh.

Les: It's been a rotten season to say the least. Player of the year is definitely Dimitar Mitov - he is a shoo-in. He has been the one highlight; I very much doubt he will be at McDiarmid Park next season, no matter which league we are in.

Dennis: No one is suitable for player of the year, other than maybe the goalkeeper Mitov. Worst team I have seen in my time.

James: There's only one contender - Mitov.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein insists he "isn't thinking about" a potential takeover as they battle to avoid relegation.

The Perth club's owner Geoff Brown has agreed to sell his majority stake to American businessman Adam Webb, but Levein says his sole focus is on the season's run-in, starting with Saturday's trip to Aberdeen.

"I've spoken to Geoff (Brown) a while ago about it, but what influence can I have over that?" Levein said.

"For me, it's going on in the background. I’m not thinking about it and if it does happen I don't know when it will happen.

"I don't think that I need to focus at all on that at the moment. Making sure that the team is in good shape is the most important thing."

St Johnstone sit 10th in the Premiership, one point above Ross County in the playoff spot, but Levein isn't looking for any favours elsewhere.

"We can’t affect the results of any other teams other than our own and this weekend against Aberdeen," he said.

"We've looked at the last couple of games that we've played against them, we’ve looked at their recent matches, and we've got a game plan.

"Training has been good this week, so I'm reasonably relaxed about the situation, although Aberdeen are a good side."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Aberdeen on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Says his players are in "good shape", and have been "training well", and their confidence hasn't been knocked after the loss to Hibs last weekend.

• Expecting a tough game against "a good Aberdeen side", who are in "reasonably good form", and "have a threat in their front line with Miovski".

• He believes his side "are capable of scoring against them" and "getting the first goal will be important".

• When asked about Adam Webb buying a majority stake in the club, Levein was reluctant to go into any details. Says he spoke to Geoff Brown about it a while ago, but says "for him it's going on in the background" and he is just focusing on the league run-in.

• In principle he's still a supporter of VAR. He feels mistakes have been human ones, and the equipment is not to blame. Admits those mistakes have been "hugely frustrating and "costly". Believes it's not going anywhere, and if referees become "really good in the VAR room, it will be good".

• Team news: Adama Sidibeh is fit against after injuring his ankle last weekend. Drey Wright and Cammy MacPherson came off the bench last weekend against Hibs, but Levein says they may not be ready for starts yet. He'll also seek medical advice on Sven Sprangler, who's back at the club after recovering from a knee injury.

When Craig Levein was appointed manager in November, he was viewed by most as "a safe pair of hands" who would surely lift St Johnstone clear of relegation trouble.

The fans' faith has dwindled significantly in the months that followed and the former Scotland manager's side are still involved in a head-to-head with second-bottom Ross County to avoid a play-off.

Add into the mix this week's news that long-term owner Geoff Brown has agreed to sell his controlling interest to American lawyer Adam Webb and the stakes are perhaps now even higher for the 59-year-old.

Webb has revealed no detail about his plans other than "success on the pitch", so Levein and his players will no doubt have even more incentive to improve on a run of four defeats, conceding two or more goals in each, in their latest five league games.

That is easier said than done on Saturday as they visit a steadily improving Aberdeen side under interim manager Peter Leven who have not lost over 90 minutes in six games - their Scottish Cup penalty shoot-out loss to Celtic being the one blip - and are unbeaten in four at home.

However, Saints are unbeaten in their three meetings with Dons this season, draws home and away being followed by a 2-0 win on their last visit to Pittodrie in February.

Including that game, the Saints have won three of their latest six on the road, albeit they lost the other three, so after two successive home defeats, Levein may be happy to take his side to a venue where they have only lost twice in the latest nine visits, winning four of them.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks