The change in St Johnstone’s fortunes between trips to Paisley has vindicated the faith shown in Perth boss Tommy Wright, captain Jason Kerr believes.
Defeat to St Mirren in late October left Saints rock bottom of the Premiership without a win in their first nine games.
Just over four months later the McDiarmid Park side are 13 points away from the relegation spot, with only two league defeats in their last 13.
Chairman Steve Brown held his nerve while plenty around him were writing Saints and their manager off.
And now that they are about to go back to face Jim Goodwin’s men, the value of that patience is plain for all to see.
“The defeat at St Mirren last time was a real low point,” Kerr admitted. “We were bottom of the league and it looked like teams could get away from us.
“Everyone was dejected after that and then we lost to Motherwell a few weeks later. That was the lowest point we were at, to be honest.
“I don’t think anyone would have thought at that stage we’d be in with a chance of getting the top six so that just shows how well everyone has done in the last few months.
“It was worrying at one point but we didn’t panic. That was the biggest thing.
“We knew within the dressing room that we had quality and we knew if we didn’t panic then we’d turn the corner.
“The club didn’t panic either and that’s a massive thing because it’s rare in football these days.
“We could see why the fans were angry and they were panicking, but everyone within the club knew how well the manager has done over the years.
“So they didn’t jump the gun because they always knew he’d take us on a run like he has.
“You see the opposite at other clubs. Managers get sacked for a run of games like we had.
“But the gaffer here has done so much for the club over the years. He’s earned the right to have a little dip.
“The club felt the same and we are getting the benefit from that now.”
Kerr wouldn’t have chosen such a wretched start to the season for his first campaign as skipper but, now that he and his team have come through the storm, he is a better player and captain for it.
“Some people pointed the finger and asked why I was the captain when we were not doing well,” he said.
“But you just have to take it and get on with it. It makes you stronger.
“We have had some great captains like Dave Mackay, Steven Anderson and Joe Shaughnessy over the years and you have to follow those guys.
“I didn’t crumble at all and I take a lot of positives from that.
“The whole team have benefited from the first half of the season. We are a young side with a young defence.
“Ali McCann has improved massively, as has Callum Hendry and the lads at the back are growing stronger all the time.
“I think the fans can see now that the manager is building a really good young team here for the future.”
Saints may have lost to Celtic in their last fixture but for a change it isn’t a case of having to repair shattered confidence.
“We have had a few bad results against Celtic but that was a very good performance and the lads will take plenty of heart from it,” said Kerr.
“We have to maintain the level we have been at and if we can do that we’ll give ourselves a chance of making top six.”
