Davidson admits his January plans changed after Livingston rout
ST JOHNSTONE manager Callum Davidson admits last weekend’s Livingston horror show prompted a January transfer re- think.
Davidson is prepared to ring the changes for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie at home to Rangers as he demanded ‘ energy and desire’ to turn around an ailing campaign. Saints have lost five consecutive matches and went down 4- 2 to Livi at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.
Fans are set to boycott Rangers’ visit to Perth in protest at the club’s decision to hand the visitors three stands while charging £ 30 for an adult ticket, and £ 20 for concessions. Yesterday, Davidson ‘ half begged’ swithering supporters to come out and back his struggling side, one he now believes may need extra reinforcements in the coming weeks.
“It has a little bit,” he replied when asked if defeat to Livi had changed his signing plans. “I think I was probably satisfied. I think we brought in 12 to 14 players in the summer. When you keep having a revolving door and make changes it’s difficult to get settled.
“I was pretty settled with the squad and probably had too many players. But now maybe it’s now looking again on what we really need in depth. Hopefully we’ll get one or two in and one or two will go out.”
Davidson, at the very least, expects maximum application when Rangers arrive at McDiarmid, insisting the way out of a dismal run starts with knuckling down. But he hinted that a change in personnel is also on the cards, praising the impact his subs made against Livi.
“The way they pick themselves up is to play with energy, play with passion, have a go,” Davidson said. “That’s the way as a player, you always pick yourself up. Sometimes you get criticised in football, and sometimes rightly so. So, for me, it’s about their attitude. I want to see an attitude and desire to win tackles, win headers, not to let the ball in our box and then, at the other side, go and be ruthless in the final third.
“Could I make more changes? Quite possibly, yeah. I wasn’t particularly happy; I was pretty flat because it was my selection, although I felt a few players let me down.
“The players that came in played with energy and desire to try and win the game. It’s always easier ( to make changes) when you’re getting beat, but it’s good for me that I’ve got them.
“I’ve got changes I can make, whereas last year I probably didn’t have that. It’s up to up each individual, if they want a starting place, to go and prove it.”
After coming from behind to beat Kilmarnock 3- 2 on Wednesday night, Rangers remain unbeaten under Michael Beale. They did, however, lose in Perth before the World Cup shutdown. Davidson, though, sees a team who are subtly evolving under Beale, but suspects they may find underfoot conditions tricky.
“There’s not a lot of difference, they have good players,” he said. “He hasn’t changed too much but, what I will say is they are more direct in the way they try to go and score. I watched them play and they’re not frightened to put the ball in behind, they’re not just possession- based. They have a lot of good players who can make things happen.
“They’re welcome to St Johnstone’s pitch, which isn’t the best. I’m not sure what it will be like after this weather. Hopefully, it’ll be a proper cup tie.”
In real need of a result, the upcoming fixture list has not been kind to Davidson. Their next four matches involve playing Rangers twice and then hosting leaders Celtic. Tucked in between those tests is a potentially pivotal meeting with Motherwell, who are also toiling to escape the mire at the bottom end of the Premiership.
“We have tough fixtures, but it’s one of those where we get through them,” Davidson said. What I’m looking for these next four games is that energy, passion, and desire to go and do things right. If we don’t get the top six after that, that’s us finished with Rangers and Celtic. For me, we can win other games.”
David Martindale, meanwhile, insists he is determined to ‘ rectify’ Livingston’s Scottish Cup record and make it all the way on the road to Hampden.
The Lions have not gone further than the fifth round since Martindale first joined the management team at the club in 2016 and have not tasted any success in the competition since reaching the semifinals in 2001.
By contrast, they reached the League Cup final in 2021, beating this weekend’s opponents Stenhousemuir on the way, only to lose out to St Johnstone.
He said: “It’s the one cup, outwith amateur, I’ve not really had a lot of success in, personally.
“Over the years, you look at the draws and you think some teams’ pathways to the cup final have been fortuitous. They’ve maybe had a tough semi- final but let’s say it’s been very positive for the Premiership club.
“So, I think you’ve got to be a wee bit lucky in the Scottish Cup, in terms of who you draw and who you play against, home or away.
“But it’s something I’d like to try to rectify as soon as possible.”