Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Davidson out to get Saints into Europe
MANAGER of the month Callum Davidson is striving to make sure 2021 has even more accolades and achievements for St Johnstone left in it.
The Saints boss, who picked up the Premiership award for March on the back of the two wins and a draw that secured top-six football, has set his players two big end-of-season targets.
The first is getting back to Hampden in the Scottish Cup after their recent Betfred Cup heroics and the second is snatching a spot in the Europa Conference League next term.
“If you had asked me back in October or November, I wouldn’t think we would be sitting here talking about manager of the month, a League Cup and a top six,” said Davidson, a trophy winner in his rookie season as a manager.
“I would have probably said ‘not a chance’ but all credit to those who I work with.
“The coaching staff and the players have obviously been really important. The people above have helped me out as well. I want it to continue so that is now the next focus.”
He added: “What would top it off for me would be if we get into Europe. That is the aim.
“Can we finish fifth, put pressure on Livingston, go as far as we can in the Scottish Cup and have another occasion out at Hampden? That is what I’m saying to the players and what I want from them.
“The players are fully focused on doing their jobs and trying to be the best they can.
“We have a number of games left where hopefully we can go and be successful again.
“If you watched training the last few days you would understand they are all desperate to play.
“They are fighting to play. “That is fantastic for me at this stage of the season. They’ve had a great season. Hopefully it can get even better.”
Of the three matches that led to the award and, more importantly, beating St Mirren to the last top-six place, one stands out for Davidson.
“It has to be Hibs,” he said. “The boys were dead on their feet after the League Cup final.
“We then had Hamilton midweek and I thought we played well.
“To win against Hibs I thought the players gave me absolutely everything and they hung on.
“That was probably the result that got us in the top six.
“It was a really spirited, battling performance.”
The upturn in form goes a lot further back than March, however, even though it took a while for results to show it.
“From the Aberdeen game on December 26 the boys have been brilliant,” said Davidson. “I thought they actually played really well that game (it was a 2-1 defeat).
“Rangers and Celtic have only beaten us by one goal.
“We have won the majority of games and drawn a few too.
It has been an incredible two and a half to three months for the players and myself.”