Murray Davidson has little to prove to anyone when it comes to talent and ability.
He is Saints’ prize asset and, with just a wee bit of luck, the midfielder could have been heading down to Cardiff with Scotland this week on World Cup qualifying duty.
However, his game has lacked one vital ingredient over the years he has spent at McDiarmid Park goals.
In the previous three seasons, he found the net just five, three and four times respectively. However, this campaign will be different, he argued, after banging in his third goal of the season against St Mirren on Saturday a strike that turned out to be the winner on a tricky afternoon for his club.
”It was great to get another goal,” he said. ”That’s three for me now already, so long may it continue.
“It’s probably my best start to a season. Scoring goals more often is something I have always been looking to add to my game and, for the first time, I have set myself a target (of bettering previous seasons’ totals).”
Davidson was in the perfect position, just a few yards out, plumb in front of goal, when Gary Miller’s deflected cross from the left was pushed into his path by Buddies keeper Craig Samson on 37 minutes.
That built on the foundation laid by Nigel Hasselbaink on 22 minutes, when the striker raced through the heart of the St Mirren defence after being found by a superb pass from Davidson.
Hasselbaink turned defender Marc McAusland before burying a low shot under the body of the advancing Samson to give the hosts the lead.
The other Saints grabbed a goal back four minutes after the break through Lewis Guy and went on to have the better of the second period.
They probably deserved a draw but it seems the Perth men are having things their way just now. The run of four straight leagues wins is their best sequence in the top flight of Scottish football since 1971 and it shows no sign of ending.
So what has transformed them into habitual winners having, not so long ago, been unable to buy a victory?
”We have great team spirit and we just kept doing the same things and believing that we would turn things around,” said Davidson. ”We knew that if we stuck together and worked hard that it would come good.”
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The focus now switches away from the domestic to the international scene as Scotland prepare for trips to Wales and Belgium in a bid to rescue a faltering World Cup qualifying campaign.
Davidson has had a taste of life at that level by getting selected for previous squads, but he will be kicking his heels at home during the crucial double header.
”I have been in squads and would love to be involved again but St Johnstone will always be my number one priority,” he said. ”If I keep up my form for the club then maybe I will get a call-up in future.”
Davidson’s manager Steve Lomas certainly thinks he deserves to make his way back into national coach Craig Levein’s thoughts.
Lomas was full of praise for the display of his star man against the Buddies and was thrilled overall with what was an excellent result over a fine St Mirren side.
”I am absolutely delighted with the performance,” said the Northern Irishman. ”We knew that St Mirren would provide tough opposition and they didn’t disappoint, they pass the ball very well.
”We went 2-0 up and that’s a worrying scoreline for a manager as we know the other team is going to come and have a go.
”St Mirren came out early in the second half and got a goal. We knew it would be tough for the final 30 minutes and that proved to be the case.”
Having just picked up the Clydesdale Bank manager of the month award for September, Lomas joked before the game about trying to avoid being jinxed.
Thankfully for him, that didn’t turn out to be the case and he was happy to give the credit for that to his team.
”The lads we have here are the reason behind our excellent run,” he added. ”They are a credit to the club and their professionalism and attitude is first class.”
Saints had only 13 fit senior players available for selection and Lomas therefore welcomed the arrival of the international break.
”It comes at a good time given the injuries we have at the moment,” he said. ”We had only 13 fit players going into this game. Hopefully, we can get a few of them back during the next few weeks as we have a difficult run of games coming up following the break.”