Turning themselves into fast starters at McDiarmid Park will be St Johnstone’s mission in the second half of the season, according to midfielder Murray Davidson.
The Perth men suffered another home defeat in their last game before the winter break, with Marcus Haber’s opening goal for Dundee being scored within seconds of the first whistle.
Saints made a decent job of chasing the game in the second half against 10 men but Davidson wants to make sure that they don’t keep giving themselves a hole to dig out of when the season resumes in a couple of weeks.
“You can’t start games like we did and expect to get away with it,” he said. “We started the game extremely poorly. We felt we could get higher up the park and we did that. We got in good areas and had good chances.
“We were pushing for the equaliser and obviously they make it two. But, as I said, you can’t start games like that.
“It is something we need to look at because it wasn’t good enough.
“We get told to start games at a tempo – if you start the game right it stands you in good stead. We haven’t done that and it cost us.
“In this league there is not a lot in it between teams. If you start games at the tempo we did and don’t start correctly then it’s difficult.
“The first goal is so big in this league.”
The record of no wins, two draws and one goal in their last seven home games is one that Davidson knows will have to improve.
“We feel we are good enough to win games at home,” said the former Livingston man.
“We have done it in the past. Our away form has been good and when the dust settles we’ve not had a bad start to the season.
“We are only three points worse off from last year with a game in hand.
“When we come back in we have a very busy period. We’ll go away, recharge the batteries and then try to push on.”
David McMillan will arrive from Dundalk and there may be other new faces in the McDiarmid Park dressing room when training resumes next week.
“It’s up to the people upstairs but I’m sure the manager will be looking to strengthen,” said Davidson.
“As players we just wait and see. I’m sure there will be a few bodies coming in.”
