St MIrren don’t have happy memories of playing against many teams in the Premiership this season.
But St Johnstone are an exception.
And the fact that they have already beaten the Perth men in this campaign (it was St Mirren’s last league win), has made sure Tommy Wright and his players won’t be treating the Buddies as a soft touch in Paisley tomorrow afternoon.
“St Mirren beat us last time so if we needed a reminder we have to be right at it, that fits the bill,” Wright pointed out. “Even though it was two poor decisions that cost us that game.
“We were going gung-ho when they caught us in the last attack. We should have got at least a draw. But the warning is there for us. We have to make sure we take our November performances into December.”
Tommy Craig is a man under severe pressure from his own supporters, but Wright noted: “The performance will get us the result we want, not what is happening at St Mirren. “The natives might be restless there but we have to try and ignore all that.
“They have good young and experienced players and one result can see things clicking back in for them. So we have to make sure we focus on ourselves and get it right.”
Lee Croft is banned, and David Wotherspoon is set to slot into his position. Gary McDonald is available, as are Steven Anderson and Michael O’Halloran, who have recovered from niggles.
Hard work has got Saints within striking distance (three points) of the top six, and Wright doesn’t want to lose any ground at the weekend.
He said: “There has been a lot of quality from us in the final third in the last few weeks, we have defended well when required and that will be needed this weekend. This is a tough game. It won’t be easy.
“We are back in touch with the top six and just three points off Kilmarnock and Dundee. People might not think we have been doing as well as them because of what we have achieved here over the last three seasons. They are entitiled to that opinion, even although I disagree with that view.
“The bottom line is that we have come out of a bad run and made a very good start in terms of improving performances and results.
“It is always down to the players. What the ones who have been here for three years have achieved is incredible.
“The good thing is that when we were in that bad run we didn’t panic because we have been in that position before and knew we could get back on track if you keep believing.
“We have a month full of games and we are looking forward to them.”
Meanwhile, Wright has revealed that Saints have made “tentative inquiries” about prospective January loan deals.
He said: “We know things can change. There were people we could have got last January but players at their club picked up injuries and it fell through.
“I would like to bring someone in to freshen things up and it gives people a lift.”