WRIGHT ISSUES HIBS WARNING Beware wounded capital side
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright reckons Hibernian will be treating this weekend’s Premiership battle like a cup final.
The capital city men head for Perth sitting third-frombottom of the table having secured just one victory in their opening 11 league matches.
That has resulted in pressure mounting on Easter Road boss Paul Heckingbottom, whose side lost 5-2 to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semifinal on Saturday.
Wright has guided his players to back-to-back wins, the latter coming against Hearts – which proved to be Craig Levein’s final game in charge of the Tynecastle club.
“It’s a ruthless business and Hearts and Hibernian are big clubs,” Wright told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“From Hibs’ perspective, it seems to be that it’s going to be a cup final at the weekend, this early in the season.
“That just tells you the size of the club. We’re not happy with our league position, but they’ve spent a lot of money in the summer. I’m sure they’ll be looking to be one of the teams to get into the top four never mind top six.
“But I’ll just get on with my job and try to win the next game. I’ve no doubt people will be saying Saints have won two games in 11 – but I look at it that we’ve won two in two.
“And now we’re trying to get an unbeaten run together.
“Even when we’re flying, I don’t look beyond winning the next game.”
Wright’s drive to succeed is greater than ever and he says past achievements do not mean he can put his feet up.
“Your focus when on a bad run is to simply get out of it, that’s all you can do,” he continued.
“I think I’m coming up to 240 league games so I have enough experience to deal with it. I know how difficult it is to manage in this league. People seem to think it’s easy.
“Loads of managers have come up from England then haven’t done good enough jobs. I’ll never rest on what
I’ve done in the past. You need to keep your drive.
“For me to be sitting on 240-odd league games at one club means I must know something.”
Saints, who were without a game at the weekend, have been nursing a handful of injuries. But Wright hopes they will all be given the green light for the Hibs clash.
“Matty Kennedy had an injection on his ankle last week but should be fine,” Wright said.
“Murray Davidson is feeling his leg a little bit but I imagine he will also be fine. David Wotherspoon hasn’t trained.
“Ali McCann has an ankle problem which will hopefully clear up. If we had a game at the weekend there would have been four missing when you include Liam Gordon.
“I’m confident they will all clear up before the weekend.”
• Turn inside to read our feature with Ali McCann