JUST DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY
Proud Wright tells in-form Saints to show Accies respect
Tommy Wright admits he could not have asked for any more from his players in the last four games.
But the Perth manager has warned his squad will need to find top form again to dispatch a Hamilton side who deserve “total respect”.
Saints welcome the men from South Lanarkshire to McDiarmid Park on Saturday intent on bagging a fifth consecutive Premiership win.
Victories over Motherwell, St Mirren, Livingston and Hibernian have conjured up a positive run of form to edge back into the top six.
And Wright said: “With four wins after the Celtic defeat we have come up with the perfect response. I could not have asked for more from the players – well maybe by scoring a penalty or three.
“They have responded magnificently. They have played well individually and as a team, looking solid with four clean sheets and carrying a real goal threat.
“But the danger would be getting carried away with it all.
“We go into Saturday’s game giving Hamilton total respect.
“There’s never much between us and we have to make sure we are right again. “I said a few things after the Celtic game, with a reminder of the good things we had done in that bad four-game run. “When I left they had words with each other, which is important. “Players in a dressing room sometimes have to say things to each other that maybe a manager shouldn’t. I felt that was one of those times. “We have had these sort of meetings before in my time here when there is negativity after a run of defeats. We have had bad runs before, longer ones.
“This was down to losing 6-0 to Celtic. Luckily I haven’t had too many big defeats.
“It’s always important to pick out the positives and analyse it without going overboard.
“Negative people might say Celtic took their foot off the gas that day, but it was a positive that we only conceded one goal while down to 10 men.
“We were almost drawing a line in the sand with that meeting because I knew the capabilities of this squad of players.
“We are all working hard together, staff and players, and we have turned
Boss Tommy it around.” Wright insists he was never panicking during a recent run which witnessed Saints ship 14 goals in four games, losing them all in the process.
“I have suffered bad runs in Ireland and in Scotland,” he said.
“But I have over 500 games under my belt now and have experienced staff and some experienced players here.
“While other people might panic, we don’t. I have a belief in my players. I have always put trust in the players I have worked with.
“I have taken over a club in the Irish league that was bottom of the table without a win in 10.
“But when a manager takes over at any club they are maybe not your signings but they are your players.
“We have brought down the age with this squad and that was key over the summer when I sat down with the chairman.
“I think we drew with Celtic last year with the oldest average age of any team in the UK at 31 or 32.
“Now it is down to 26 in the team and 24 or 25 in terms of the squad.
“We have had to evolve the squad and we have recruited well in the last window.
“There is a younger group with a vibrancy about them and a willingness to work hard and improve.”
Tony Watt was nursing a tight hamstring earlier in the week but is expected to lineup this weekend, as is Murray Davidson.
“Tony Watt didn’t train earlier in the week but hopefully he will be ok for Hamilton,” Wright said.
“Murray came back into training and we expect him to make Saturday. Ando and Blair are making good progress, as is Brian Easton.
“A couple of the loan players have picked up injuries. Greg Hurst hurt his knee and unfortunately Callum Hendry broke his wrist in a fall so he will be out for a while.”
Saints are planning a short remembrance ceremony prior to tomorrow’s match and supporters are asked to be in their seat no later than 2.50pm.
Players will also be wearing one-off commemorative jerseys which will be auctioned after the match with all proceeds going to the Black Watch Association and Help for Heroes.