Top six looking beyond Saints

ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright admits it will be difficult for his side to finish in the top six this season after the Perth men lost 2-0 away to Kilmarnock.

The night started badly for Saints and steadily became worse.

They took the field minus Steven MacLean, who doesn’t play on artificial surfaces on medical advice, and the i njured Keith Watson, Steven Anderson, Brian Easton, Richard Foster, Stefan Scougall, David McMillan and Callum Hendry.

Jason Kerr was sent off in the first half for hauling down Jordan Jones and is suspended for Saturday’s trip to face Dundee.

MacLean will be back in the squad and it remains to be seen how many of the injured men will return.

Tommy said of last night’s fixture: “It sounds like I’m playing the same old record but we were doing well and there was nothing between the sides. We had good opportunities which we didn’t take then we give away a penalty, although I thought Aaron Comrie got a foot on top of the ball.

“Killie got a lift from the goal and we went into our shell a little bit.

“We then gave the ball away cheaply and Jason Kerr commits the foul that leads to him being sent off.

“We go down to 10 men and they get a second to have us really struggling.

“It’s the basic errors we keep making which are costing us.

“We were not being outplayed in the first half but we concede a penalty and go down to 10 men and that makes it hard.”

Saints’ U/20s were also on the receiving end of a loss, being beaten 4-1 by an experienced Ross County side at the Global Energy stadium. Shaun Struthers scored for the very young Perth outfit.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright.