ZANDER NEEDS TO BE IN COMMAND AT FREE-KICKS

HE HAS been left stranded by two top-drawer free-kicks from Niall McGinn and James Tavernier in recent games. Now St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark admits he is acutely aware of the dead-ball threat posed by Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths in tonight’s Betfred Cup encounter. The Perth No 1 was left helpless when McGinn grabbed a 20-yard leveller for Aberdeen and Rangers skipper Tavernier followed it up with another stunner whipped over the defensive wall in Sunday’s 5-1 Ibrox rout. Now Clark has warned Perth defenders to cut out cheap fouls around the penalty box. ‘The free-kick goals we’ve conceded in the last two games have been great strikes,’ he admitted. ‘But they have come from silly fouls we don’t need to make. We need to cut that out and stay on our feet. ‘Celtic have their own dead-ball specialist in Griffiths. ‘Everybody remembers the two he got for Scotland against England at Hampden last year. ‘And he’s a player who can go either side.’ Tommy Wright’s men have not lost on home turf since February and Clark suspects they will go back to basics to preserve that proud record. ‘You could say that,’ he continued. ‘But we’ve got plenty of options both offensively and defensively. ‘I’m sure the manager will come up with a game plan.’ Both teams go into the McDiarmid Park tie licking their wounds after weekend setbacks. But despite dropping league points on the road to Hearts, St Mirren and Kilmarnock, Clark (right) insists Brendan Rodgers’ slow-burning Celts are still a force to be reckoned with. ‘They’re a team packed full of quality,’ he said. ‘There are times when teams go through sticky patches but you have to get it into perspective. They still command great respect. ‘It’s incredible what they’ve done over the last couple of years and they’ll want to get the first trophy in the bag this season as well. ‘But we’re both 90 minutes away from a semi-final. ‘At the start of every season, we speak about the importance of a good cup run. ‘The cups are our only hope of silverware. ‘If we’re on top of our game, solid at the back and can impose ourselves on them in attacking areas, then we’ll give ourselves a good chance.’