OLD FIRM CROCKS
PERTH MOVES FOR MURTY’S MEN
From Back Page within six points of league leaders Celtic with last night’s impressive win.
James Tavernier set the Light Blues on their way with a penalty before Josh Windass and Sean Goss netted before the break.
Alfredo Morelos netted his 17th of the season early in the second half with Jason Kerr’s first Saints goal no more than a consolation for Tommy Wright’s men.
But Murty revealed later that the away dressing room was despondent because they allowed the tempo to drop in the final half hour.
He said: “Once we assess the state of the squad and a couple of knocks that we picked up, I’d say overall it has been a good evening.
“There are a few knocks, a few sore ones. There are a few people with bruised and battered bodies because we have gone through quite a testing schedule.
“Jamie was the obvious one. We will assess them, particularly Jamie, and try to get them rested down as soon as possible as we have big games coming up.
“Jamie was in a bit of pain and he was frustrated and a bit angry with some of the tackles he took, but when you are an influential player and hold on to the ball as he does people are going to want to stop you playing.
“It is part of the game. I don’t want to jinx anything by saying how bad it might be. We will stay calm and make sure he gets the requisite care.
“It’s the same for Declan John who felt discomfort in his groin on Monday so it’s too soon to give any detailed information.
“There was no point in risking him with so many big games coming up.”
Gers have now won five games on the spin for the first time in almost two years but Murty said: “The interesting thing for me is that we have quite a flat changing room.
“They felt that the last 30 minutes weren’t of the required standard, weren’t of the standards that they’ve been setting.
“I’ve had to work hard at getting them up and not being down on themselves, which is indicative of the culture we’re trying to set and the standards they’ve set for one another.
“I had a little go at them for feeling like that. I asked whether they’d have taken 4-1 before the game and they said yes so I asked what were they moaning about.
“They said the last half hour wasn’t good enough and they need to be better and that’s great to hear.
“But I told them we came and did the job we set out to do. Do you think we can get better? They said yes but I said to leave it there and move forward.
“We can improve on the things that weren’t right and if we have that mentality then it bodes well for the direction of the club.”
Morelos netted his 17th goal of the season and with the Chinese transfer window set to close today it should finally end any talk of the striker moving to Beijing Renhe, who had three bids knocked back for the player last month.
Murty said: “If they come in with a ridiculous bid that the club want to talk about we’ll have a conversation
“But until that happens I’ve got a centre forward who is adding to our collective, scoring goals and looking like he’s really got his mind focused.”
Saints are now just six points above second bottom Partick Thistle with just one win in their last 10 league games – against Ross County last weekend.
But boss Tommy Wright said: “We are back to the way we have been at home this season. The game was dead at half-time after we gave away soft goals.
“That has been our Achilles heel all season. We were bullied by Rangers and the last two games against them that wasn’t the case.”