I’D BE LION IF I SAID WE DIDN’T LAUGH AT JIBES
ST JOHNSTONE v ABERDEEN MacLean shrugs off rugby spat as Saints bid to down Dons – then look for favour
STEVEN MacLEAN says there are no Lions at St Johnstone – and told Aberdeen the Perth squad are really a bunch of pussycats.
The Saints striker was smarting in December and revealed Dons stars had tagged his team-mates a bunch of rugby players during a goalless draw at Pittodrie.
It was the latest in a spat that has its roots in Aberdeen’s victory in the League Cup quarter-final in September that left Tommy Wright’s players angry at the nature of their rivals’ celebrations.
St Johnstone aim to down the Dons at McDiarmid Park today before looking for a favour next week when Derek McInnes’s side take on Hibs in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
A defeat for the holders will ensure the team that finishes fourth in the Premiership will also qualify for the Europa League in the summer, so it’s little wonder MacLean has gone on the charm offensive.
He said: “There have been issues between the clubs but it’s all good banter. We’re old school and we embrace it.
“What was the reaction in the dressing room when we were called rugby players? We had a right good laugh.
“The British and Irish Lions squad is being announced soon but I don’t think any of us will make it. Apart from big Zander Clark at second row we’d only have a few in with a chance of making scrum-half.
“It didn’t get under our skins. Being called rugby players maybe showed we had got under theirs. We aren’t rugby players but we do work hard and teams don’t like playing us. It’s a compliment. We make it difficult for teams but have a bit of quality about us as well.
“We aren’t going to let them roll over the top of us. We look to make things hard for opposition teams, in Perth or away from home. We have to make sure we keep doing it.
“There is real respect here for Aberdeen and their management team. I played with half of them and deep down they probably respect us. Del’s done a fantastic job and they’ve had a great season.
“We know they’ll be bang at it and he’ll have them up for it. We have to be ready because they deserve to finish second. They have quality all over the pitch.
“Games between us have gone from a goalfest last year to being tight this season. We expect the same again. They didn’t have a great run after the split last season but with a semi-final coming up next week that won’t happen again.
“Last year they had second place sewn up. It looks like they’ll finish second again but Rangers are still there. We’re also in a good position.
“We have a good record in the top six and are relishing the run-in. I’d love to get back into Europe, every year it’s getting harder to qualify.”