KILMARNOCK...0 V ST JOHNSTONE...0 SHEET METTLE Defender’s delight at not conceding a goal as Saints dig deep to earn a point
His season has been more stop-start than he would have hoped.
But St Johnstone defender Liam Gordon is relishing the chance of an extended run in the team to help secure more pleasing shutouts.
The towering centre-half returned from injury – his second of the campaign – to guide Saints to a valuable point in a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock on Wednesday night. Gordon was one of five changes to the Perth line-up from last week’s Motherwell defeat and is now hoping the solid performance is a sign of things to come.
He admitted: “I’ve not had the easiest season so far with the two injuries I’ve picked up. But that’s just part and parcel of football.
“Now I could go five years without another one. You just need to hang in there during the injury and now being back in the team, I want to be keeping clean sheets.
“As defenders it’s what we pride ourselves on. To get the clean sheet, especially at a place like Rugby Park, is a tough ask.
“For us to go out and do it, after the performance last week and with how we conceded the goals, was great. We showed the fans what we’ve got.
“The manager made a few changes which he needs to take credit for. It shook things up a bit.
“The boys who have been taken out of the team, it might give them a little kick up the backside.
“That’s sometimes what you need and at this stage of the season it’s time to kick on. We’ve got a December with games that are all very winnable.
“We want to be going into the January break in a good position in the league and not down near the bottom.”
Perth-born Gordon made one key intervention, in particular, in the second half of the midweek Rugby Park tussle.
He bravely prevented Dario Del Fabro from a certain goal at the back post and Gordon said: “I’ve had to get back to get anything on the ball.
“It wasn’t the best because I went right into the post after it, hitting my bad knee. But you are happy to take the knocks if it means getting a point for the team.”
Fellow defender Callum Booth, a left-back, was handed a first start for the club on Wednesday – and
Gordon was impressed.
“I’ve been in training with Callum for a number of months now and all of the boys know what he’s capable of,” he told the PA.
“We knew w hat w e were going to get with him coming into the team. For him, on a personal level, it was a great performance.” Saints manager Tommy Wright was a happy man when assessing the defensive performance of his team, who had shipped four goals a few days prior.
“We would have taken a point before the game but not many teams keep a clean sheet here and keep them quiet,” he said. “It was a difficult night for both teams – the wind was swirling and it was a lively pitch. “I was pleased with the performance, especially after coming away from Fir Park with a 4-0 defeat. “Callum Booth hasn’t played for I don’t know how long and did well. “The ones who came in did extremely well. Liam Craig did well, Chris Kane was immense in terms of his work rate and Michael O’Halloran looked a threat.”