Rodgers’ remarks are compliment, says Wright

Tommy Wright says his players should take the post-match comments of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers as a compliment. The McDiarmid Park boss (left) guided Saints to their second deserved draw of the season at Parkhead on Sunday as both nets remained empty. Rodgers, who thought a point apiece was a fair reflection on the game, is surprised with the Perth club’s inconsistent form this season. After the 0-0 stalemate, he said: “There’s a question there for Tommy’s players. He’s a fantastic manager and I’m sure he walks away happy with a point. But he’s probably really frustrated.

“How can you win a game at Ibrox 3-1 on December 16 and then not win again right through apart from the Albion game?

“The next big result is away at Celtic. So the question is with the St Johnstone players.

“They were committed, fighting, running. If they do that in every single match they would win a lot more games.”

Perth manager Wright reckons the comments were not a dig at his squad.

He said: “I have seen Brendan’s comments and the players should take it as a compliment on their performance on Sunday.

“We know we haven’t been at that level in every game this season, it’s a fact.

“I spoke to Brendan after the game and he had nothing but praise for my players.

“I don’t think he’s questioning their integrity, nobody thinks there has been a lack of effort from my players.

“I don’t think a single person who has seen them would say that. We have made mistakes, made bad decisions and haven’t played as well as we can, but nobody has been cheating anyone.

“I read some people interpret what he said along those lines but I don’t think that’s what Brendan was getting at.

“He didn’t say that, he stated a fact that

our level of performance was so good and why can’t we do that every week.

“We went to Ibrox, dominated the game and won and we have also done it in other matches.

“I have been scratching my head about it — and the players have been scratching their heads about it, too.

“We spoke ourselves before the game about how we’ve done it at Celtic Park in the past, how we went to Ibrox and won and how we beat Hibs at Easter Road.

“So he didn’t really say anything we haven’t discussed ourselves.”

Wright was delighted with the heart shown by his team on an afternoon where loan signing George Williams made his debut for the club.

He said:“I thought George was very good for us and he’s only about 75 per cent fit at the moment.

“He will keep getting better the more fitness he gets because he’s not played a lot of football lately.

“And I thought Matty Willock also looked really lively when he came on, so he will keep improving too.

“I couldn’t fault any of the players, Chris Millar came into the team and controlled things for us at times, while Murray Davidson is like a man possessed at the moment.

“Steven Anderson and Macca also showed a few people it has been a bit early to be writing their obituaries.”

Richard Foster picked up a second half injury and was forced off.

Wright said:“Richard is still being assessed but it looks like he will be out for a couple of weeks.”