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St Johnstone want to improve record against Partick Thistle

Chris Millar.
Chris Millar.

Chris Millar is a happy man when St Johnstone are being talked about as the bogey side of their Premiership rivals.

But it isn’t much fun when the roles are reversed.

So, after losing three out of three to Partick Thistle last season, the Perth midfielder is determined to buck that trend at the first time of asking this term.

“For some reason they seem to play well against us and we find it difficult,” said Millar.

“I always think they’re a good side. Their passing and movement up front is excellent. And they’ve re-signed Chris Erskine, who will be a good player for them.

“We know this will be another tough game.

“We’re conscious of the fact that we didn’t do well against them or Hamilton last year.

“You don’t want anybody to become a bogey team. We know what it’s like from the other side – we’ve been the bogey team for Dundee United and Aberdeen.

“You don’t want it to creep into your mentality. It’s another game and it’s just important that we get a win coming off the back of two defeats.

“We were on a great run of 12 games but you don’t want losing to become a habit.”

Partick's Callum Booth helps the Jags on their way to one of their three wins last season.
Partick’s Callum Booth helps the Jags on their way to one of their three wins last season.

Saints are also keen to better their record of last season against the teams who ended up finishing below them.

“We spoke about it,” Millar said. “It’s something that we’ve got to put right.

“It shouldn’t be that way. If you’re a top six side you should be looking to beat teams below you.

“But it is tight in this league. Partick Thistle could quite easily have been a top six side themselves last season.

“It’s not a case of us being less motivated. It’s not the way we operate here. If you could put your finger on it you would go out and win every game.

“The boys in the dressing room are experienced enough to know you always need to win the battle and play from there.

“Maybe with Partick we need to be a bit more on the front foot, even when we’re away from home, and try to press them higher up the pitch to stop them playing.”

Millar has been frustrated by a minor groin strain but the former Morton man insisted that there is nothing to worry about as far as his hamstrings are concerned.

He said: “I’ve had another couple of weeks’ training, with a wee break in between, and I’m ready to go if called upon.

“Of course you get fed up being asked about injuries.

“It was just a groin strain. Everybody thinks it must be the same as last year but it was a totally separate one. I’ve had no issues with the hamstrings for a while.

“I felt I played well at Motherwell so it was unfortunate I had to come off early with the groin strain.

“I’m dying to get back involved.”

Perth boss Tommy Wright admitted that he hasn’t yet struck the right blend in midfield and Millar wants to make sure that he doesn’t leave him in any doubt that he should be a regular.

“Injuries happen and that’s why the gaffer brought more cover into that midfield area,” he said.

“In the past couple of games, from me looking in, we probably haven’t passed the ball as well as we can.

“If the gaffer’s said that he doesn’t know yet what his strongest team is, that’s a chance if I’m called upon.

“There will be a settled side at some point and you want to make sure you are in it.

“I wasn’t worried about the seriousness of my injury, but I was worried about my place in the team.

“If you’re out the team you’re not sure when you’ll get back in it. Other players can come in and do well.

“Just because I’ve been here a long time doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed.

“If you start thinking that what you’ve done in the past helps you then you’ll become complacent. I wouldn’t want that to creep into my game.

“We’ve got good players here and if you think like that your performance will drop.”

Millar and Murray Davidson are both available for the Firhill clash, as are Michael Coulson and Joe Gormley.