St Johnstone are suffering from awful August syndrome again, but defender David McCracken feels there is no need to panic.
Saints are well ahead of the field when it comes to making bad starts, and they have set the pace once more in the SPL this season. Defeat at Tynecastle to Hearts on opening day was followed by a 1-1 draw at Motherwell and then a home loss to Aberdeen on Saturday.
It is a case of same old, same old for the Perth men, who have struggled to get out of the blocks in every campaign since returning to the top flight in the summer of 2009. That following season they didn’t win in the league until October 3 a 2-0 victory at Hamilton.
In 2010-11, Saints fans had to wait until September to celebrate an SPL success, when they saw off St Mirren 2-1 at home.
Last year, three games passed without any joy until a trip to Celtic Park on August 21 saw Dave Mackay head the winner to grab a win that only the most optimistic of fans would have thought possible.
McCracken played alongside Mackay in that shock victory over the Hoops that kick-started an ultimately successful season and, while still confident Saints can start motoring soon, he believes they need something to spark things off again this time around.
”If you compare this season to last we have made quite a similar start,” he said. ”We lost at home to Dunfermline but then went to Celtic Park and won to kick-start things.
”We thought the Dunfermline game could be the one to get us going, but it didn’t turn out that way. It was a bit of shock to lose that one, but we then beat Celtic away when no-one was expecting us to do so.
”And it is still early days. The manager has brought in players and we have lost a few so it is going to take time for people to gel together.
“I don ‘t think anyone is panicking, because we still have a long season ahead of us,” said McCracken. “Sometimes it just takes something to happen during a game to spark it off. That could be a header, a shot or even a tackle.
“Hopefully that will happen to us this weekend against Hibs.”
Saints have had to adjust to losing some star men, with the likes of Jodi Morris and Fran Sandaza heading for pastures new.
Fresh faces have come in, and McCracken added: “A number of the players who left in the summer were big characters and played a lot. The boys who have come in are maybe taking a wee bit of time.
“Also, the manager is changing systems, and even the players who were here last year are playing in different positions. It takes time.”
Saints have also lost Rowan Vine and Gregory Tade to suspension, although both will be available for Saturday’s match against Hibs at Easter Road.
That game provides the club with the opportunity to finally get up and running in the league.
“Saturday’s result was disappointing because Aberdeen played a lot better than us,” he said. “So it’s something we have to address, work on things in training and take it into the Hibs match.
“The earlier we get our first win under our belt the better.”