SAINTS & SINNERS MAKE UP
Rangers return sparks a Premiership gate boost
ST JOHNSTONE sinners Danny Swanson and Richard Foster will come in from the cold for Saturday’s visit of Aberdeen.
Perth boss Tommy Wright confirmed both players will return to his squad after being hit with a two-game ban for their on-field scrap at Hamilton.
And the Ulsterman believes they will be eager to atone for their fall-out.
Saints consolidated their grip on fourth place with wins over Hearts and Inverness in their absence.
But after the club hit them with a fine of four weeks’ wages, Wright has included the duo in his plans for the Dons clash.
He said: “Richard and Danny are available and it is good to have players back in contention. If you look at our bench in the last couple of games we’ve had kids who haven’t had a minute on the pitch.
“We coped but I want my full squad available so I can pick the best team possible.
“The players came back on Friday. They came in to see me and shook hands. They didn’t say a lot as there wasn’t a lot they could say.
“It has been dealt with in the proper manner. We haven’t tried to smooth it over or hide from it.
“When players do things on the pitch and their SCOTTISH football is in good health with finance experts at Begbies Traynor saying only one of the 42 clubs is in financial distress.
The return of Rangers to the top flight has seen Premiership attendances average almost 14,000, the highest in five years and up 49 per cent.
It’s not such good news standards aren’t what they should be there is a responsibility on all clubs to deal with that.
“I’d hope for a positive reaction from the players. They let their team-mates down at Hamilton then they weren’t available for Hearts and Inverness.
“The fact we won both those games showed the strength of character in the squad. But knowing them I think they’d feel a little bit guilty and would want to repay their team-mates.”
Wright, who has in-form striker Graham Cummins suspended, admits he’s more concerned about securing fourth place than pipping Rangers to third.
He said: “I was at Aberdeen v Rangers and 3-0 was a bit of a shock as they dominated the second half.
“Rangers defended well and their keeper made some good saves but with 15 minutes to go you wouldn’t have seen that scoreline coming.
“It was a disappointing result for us but our main focus is securing fourth place. We have a five-point lead but it isn’t a done deal.
“We have to get a couple of wins to make it hard for Hearts to catch us.
“Rangers would have to drop points for us to have any chance of third but really our aim is fourth.” in the lower divisions with a fall of 44 per cent in the Championship, 42 per cent in League One and four per cent in League Two.
Ken Pattullo, who leads Begbies Traynor in Scotland, said: “Scottish clubs are managing their finances better and are less likely to face trouble which is great news.” Henrik Larsson Alan Thompson Chris Sutton John Hartson Stilian Petrov 2016/17
PLD Scott Sinclair 26 (3) Moussa Dembele 19 (9) Stuart Armstrong 20 (6) Leigh Griffiths 10 (7) Tom Rogic 11 (3) GLS 20 17 13 8 6