Ross says Saints loss a warning over ending on a low

JACK Ross admits defeat to St Johnstone was a “stark reminder” their season will end in bitter disappointment unless they can regain top form.

The Easter Road side saw their lead over Aberdeen in third place in the Premiership slashed to just three points after a Ryan Porteous blunder gifted Saints a 1-0 victory at the weekend

The capital outfit now go into Saturday’s semi-final meeting with Dundee United on a downer. And Ross (inset) reckons the Saints loss was a timely message for his players ahead of that trip to Hampden – and the league trip to face Aberdeen next Wednesday.

He said: “We’ve been in good form and performances have been good and results have been good. But we fell below those standards.

“It’s about returning to them over the coming games that lie ahead. That obviously starts with the semi and then with the league games thereafter.

“We need to be better than we were on Saturday. It’s a reminder to us that if we drop below the standards we’ve set in the main this season then it’s not easy to win games.

“We will return to that, and they’ll be highly-motivated to do so.

“But it’s a stark reminder that we need to be at those levels every single time to produce the type of performances we need to win games.”

Meanwhile, Jamie Murphy should make his comeback for Hibs

at

Hampden. The on-loan Rangers winger, who will turn the move into a permanent one this summer, has been sidelined for two months with a hamstring injury. However, the 31-yearold has returned to training and is in line to make himself available to face United.

Ross added: “He trained Thursday, Friday, so he should be with us all week and back available in the squad.”