We need to find our clinical edge

Wright urges his table-toppers to sharpen up

Tommy Wright has challenged his players to sharpen up at both ends of the park to avoid another defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle.

The St Johnstone manager (right) is planning to maintain the Perth side’s unbeaten start in the Scottish Premiership with a home win this weekend.

Confidence is high within the McDiarmid camp and Wright wants no repeat of the performance which recently witnessed Saints tumble out of the Betfred Cup against the Jags.

“This time it is quite simple, we have to defend better and take our chances,” Wright explained to the Perthshire Advertiser. “We have to be better at both ends of the pitch than we were in the cup game.

“We certainly defended much better against Motherwell and when the chances came we were clinical. We have to take those positives into this match.

“But it’s not about us looking for revenge. If you need that to motivate you it doesn’t help. The motivation is to win three points.

“There’s a feel good factor here but we try not to get a carried away too much with ups and downs. The extremes prompted by wins and losses are for the supporters to live with, not players.

“We know it’s a long season. This has only been a good start but we want to build on it. We know the likelihood is that we won’t be

top of the league at the end of the season so we just have to enjoy this week and try to get a win which takes us closer to 10 points and our initial target.”

Wright believes Partick’s recent additions in the forward department, Conor Sammon and Miles Storey - who Saints had an eye on - will make them a stronger side.

The Perth boss continues to look for a striker and said:“Every manager will think they have done well with their transfer business but only time will tell.

“Their two additions up top certainly makes them stronger on paper but players have to do well and go out and perform.

“How quickly players settle into a new club is also a factor but Sammon and Storey have both been in Scotland and know the league so that limits the risk factor. They are two good acquisitions for Partick.

“But we are happy with what we have done so far. Our business has been pretty good but we do need a striker in.

“With Kane going out and the emergence of Hendry we aren’t weaker in terms of quality but we are one down. It’s no secret we have been looking for a striker for a while now but he has to be one who will come in and make a difference, not just be a squad player.

“We have missed out on one or two who I feel would have done a job. But if I don’t get anyone who I feel can make the squad better I will go with what I have got.

“As a manager I have got the two players I wanted over the summer and the last one will be the hardest to get.

“Everyone wants a striker and we are all probably looking at the same ones. We have to make sure we get the right one in.

“Sammon played left the other night and while he probably prefers to play through the middle he is adaptable. The new men will give them a bit more flexibility and a bit of power and pace up front.”

Squad-wise,Wright hopes midfielder Blair Alston can shake off a niggle to be available for selection tomorrow.

“Alston has a thigh niggle which we will assess again,”Wright said.“He picked up a dead leg a couple of weeks again but it seems to have flared up a bit.

“If there is any doubt we won’t risk him but hopefully he will be ok.”