FRAZER WRIGHT is determined to repay St Johnstone’s faithful travelling fans against Dundee United today.
Saints slumped to a dismal defeat in Aberdeen on Saturday in a game played in atrocious wet and windy conditions at Pittodrie.
A small band of supporters braved the weather to travel up from Perth hoping to see their side take advantage against a Dons outfit lacking nine first-team regulars.
However, they had to sit soaked and freezing while watching Craig Brown’s youthful team take control throughout and, if it hadn’t been for Alan Mannus’s heroics in goal, the scoreline could have been a lot worse than 2-0.
Now Wright and the rest of the Saints players are set on making sure their loyal supporters do not have to suffer a similar ordeal in the Tayside derby at Tannadice.
He said: “They were horrendous conditions in Aberdeen but we just have to hold our hands up and say they played better than us. This is the time of the year where the games come thick and fast so we have to pick ourselves up and start again.
“We played badly and lost earlier in the season against Aberdeen but then we went on a wee run so hopefully we can do the same again.”
“People may go on about our lack of shut-outs but if you look at the amount of goals conceded, we are the fourth best in the league.
“It is always good to get clean sheets but it is a team game and we are all in this together.
“The fans came up to Aberdeen and were brilliant. They were sitting in the lashing rain with no protection, so it would be good to repay them against United.”
Despite the Dons’ dominance, Saints could have taken a shock lead against the run of play on Saturday but Wright is the first to admit that despite the fact he is a former striker, the chance unfortunately fell his way and the opportunity was lost.
However he paid tribute to his side’s Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Mannus and admitted the stopper has been an inspired signing.
Wright said: “It just bounced in front of me but the chance probably fell to the wrong person.
“I used to be a centre-forward when I was younger but that was a while ago.
“Still, if it had hit my shin or something it probably would have gone in.
“Alan did brilliantly and pulled off some great saves.
“He has been a great signing for us. Some of his saves were magnificent, especially one in the second half from Niall McGinn that looked certain to go into the top corner.”
Wright acknowledged that his keeper and the rest of the Saints rearguard will have to be at their best against a United strike force that is one of the most dangerous in the country.
He said: “They have a lot of threats up front and you just have to try to deal with them.”
Saints boss Steve Lomas conceded that his side performed poorly against the Dons and he is looking for a big response at Tannadice.
However, they may have to do so without influential midfielder Chris Millar who had to leave the field in the first half at Pittodrie with a groin injury.
Lomas said: “Two of our poorest performances of the season have probably come against Aberdeen but we will look to bounce back against United.
“We will probably have to make changes.
“Peter Pawlett will come back into contention but we will have to see how Chris Millar is.”
Jamie Adams (back) and his fellow midfielder David Robertson (broken leg) will definitely miss the match.
nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk