Richard Foster used to be an advocate of the old line about luck evening itself out over the course of a season.
But, if his faith in the cliché is to be retained, St Johnstone will need to get a whole lot of good fortune in the last few months of the season.
Foster, back in the team at Tynecastle for the first time since his sending off against Dundee at the end of December, believed David Wotherspoon’s red card against Hearts was the latest example of refereeing calls going against them.
“I’m a great believer that luck evens itself out over the course of a season,” said the former Rangers and Aberdeen man. “If that is the case we are certainly owed a few penalties and goals.
“Things haven’t been going for us but hopefully that will change when it gets down to the nitty gritty.
“If you look at us so far luck has been stacked against us. The latest was David’s sending off. He was as at least two feet away from the guy. I know his foot was high but how are you meant to challenge for a ball that is in the air?
“A lot of decisions have gone against is. I had a penalty given against me at Dundee right after Steven Anderson had a goal chalked off.
“Chris Millar had a penalty given against him at Ross County when he was outside the box and David had a free-kick which swung into the net against Partick that was ruled out for no reason.
“That adds up to a lot of lost points, maybe five, six or seven and that completely changes the outlook.”
Foster admitted that he feared his ordering off before the turn of the year might keep him out of the side for longer than just over a month.
“It was my first game in five weeks but I felt good,” he said. “I was probably fortunate to get back into the team because Aaron Comrie picked up a niggle and Keith Watson had played.
“I enjoyed the game and we played really well. There were a lot of positives. But the final result against a very good Hearts team was disappointing because we dominated large parts of it.
“I have been suspended for some stupid things this season but I was sent off for what in my opinion wasn’t even that bad a tackle. It was just mistimed. I couldn’t believe it was red. I didn’t catch the guy and maybe he embellished it a bit.
“It was a sickener because you know you have let the team down.
“I thought I would have to wait for my chance but luckily it came against Hearts.”
It was different-looking Saints line-up to the one Foster had last been a part of, with Chris Kane, Matty Willock and Jason Kerr giving the team a younger look.
“Kano finished off his loan at Queen of the South scoring goals,” said Foster. “He was electric at Albion Rovers and was great against Christophe Berra, who is a big, strong, experienced centre-half. His runs in behind were well-timed. He has been very impressive.
“You forget how young big Jason Kerr is because he has this air of confidence in his own ability. He will take the ball under pressure and pass it out from the back.
“He is a big strong boy but he also gives us a level of composure.
“Matty was nervous before the game but quickly settled into it. He played his own game. He has great ability driving at people and he’s neat and tidy on the ball.
“He was surprised by the speed of the game and that’s the same for a lot of younger players coming up from academies in England. Matty said it was the quickest he had ever been involved in. We said ‘welcome to Scotland!’”
“In Holland it would be more tactical, like moving chess pieces. Here what we might lack in technique we make up for in terms of workrate and robustness.
“But Matty coped with it very well and can be pleased with his debut. He adapted very quickly. Matty is only 21 and he wants to listen and learn. He has the right attitude to be successful here.”
