When Steve Lomas describes all that’s good about Ross County he could just as easily be talking about his own team.
And that’s why the St Johnstone manager knows the Perth men will have to be at their very best to end the newly-promoted Highlanders’ 40-game unbeaten run in the league on Saturday.
Saints are expecting County to be every bit as tough a prospect as Celtic were last weekend, and only a continuation of the form which inflicted defeat on the SPL champions will do.
Lomas said: ”We’re playing a team bang in form so there’s no chance of us thinking we can take them lightly after beating Celtic. I’ve watched them a few times. They’re well organised, disciplined and have a good team ethic. They love to defend.
”I can see a bit of ourselves in them. I didn’t see St Johnstone two or three years ago but I would imagine it’s a similar story why they’ve got up and why they’ve got a good chance of staying up. There’s no doubt they can do that.
”We know we’ll have to play well to get anything but I’m looking for the same level of performance again. I’ve told the lads it will be down to their mentality. It’s got the making of a good game and it won’t be one for the faint hearted.”
Lomas added: ”To beat Celtic here for the first time in 13 years was very pleasing, as was the manner in which we did it. I’d been saying for a while it was coming. I believed that and the players believe in what they’re doing. They’ve now got to continue it.
”We’re creating a lot more chances than we did last season and we played a lot worse on a few occasions and won with good defending and Fran (Sandaza) maybe nicking a goal.
”It’s about marrying together, being strong at the back and creative up front. It’s no coincidence that we’ve got four points after only conceding one goal in two games. Hopefully we’re now on a roll of scoring goals.”
Continued…
Many people were shocked that winless Saints beat unbeaten Celtic but Lomas wasn’t one of them.
He pointed out: ”Maybe people look at me and think I’m emotional when they see me on the touchline. But when I go back into my office and the changing room I’ve got to be a bit more reflective and be cold and analytical.
”If I’d been sitting there with four or five Aberdeen performances, I’d be worried that it was looking like a long season. But I’ve been analysing all our performances and that hasn’t been the case.
”We should have won at Hibs and Motherwell. It’s hard to go into a dressing room and criticise the players when they’re playing well and losing because you can’t. You’ve got nothing to back it up.
”The only time it was easy was against Aberdeen when I told the players they were out-muscled and out-worked. I actually thought it might take longer for our performances to come.”
He added: ”There was a bit of creative journalism when people wrote about going 13 league games without a win. What they forget is there was a summer in between, a European game, and matches against the top six at the end of last season, as well as a tough start this season.
”It’s almost been portrayed that it was a disaster. Now we’re focused on pushing on and having another good season.”
Craig Beattie played 45 minutes in an under-20 match against Kilmarnock but is still some way off first-team football. Jamie Adams and Callum Davidson will probably miss out again, while Murray Davidson hasn’t trained this week and is a doubt as well.